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April 29, 2004
FISHERIES HEARINGS SCHEDULED
MOREHEAD CITY - The Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will be holding a series of five public hearings in eastern North Carolina in May and June.
The MFC will receive public comment on the following proposed rules at these hearings:
All hearings begin at 7 p.m.
May 27 N.C. Aquarium at Roanoke Island
Manteo
June 3 Fire Station, 25 Oyster Creek Road
Swan Quarter
June 10 Carteret Community College
C-MAST Building, Room 306
Morehead City
June 17 Swain Auditorium, 101 Court Street
Edenton
June 24 Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources' Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive
Wilmington
Written comments may be submitted by mail to Belinda Loftin, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557 or by e-mail at belinda.loftin@ncmail.net until July 19, 2004. The MFC will vote on these proposed rules at their July 20-21 business meeting in Jacksonville.
For more information about these hearings, please contact Jess Hawkins by e-mail at Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.
April 29, 2004
MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION TO MEET MAY 11-14
MOREHEAD CITY - The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will meet May 11 - 14 in New Bern.
The meetings are open to the public.
On May 11, the MFC will hold a public meeting beginning at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton for anyone that wishes to discuss fisheries issues with the commission.
On May 12, the MFC will hold a business meeting at the Sheraton beginning at 9 a.m. The meeting will open with a public comment period, followed by reports from the MFC chairman and the various advisory committees. The highlight of this day's activities will focus on blue crabs, with a presentation of the latest stock assessment by Dr. Dave Eggleston and approval of a draft Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan.
On May 13, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a socioeconomic workshop at the Riverfront Convention Center. Discussions will focus on social and economic issues facing fishermen, their associated industries and fishing communities, and how to best use this information in developing management strategies. The meeting concludes with a panel discussion comprised of commercial and recreational fishing interests, state fisheries managers and meeting presenters.
On May 14, the MFC will resume its business meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Riverfront Convention Center with the final adoption of the Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan; other highlights include review of the MFC Advisor's Workshop held last February and a vote on the draft Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan to take out to public meetings.
For more information, contact Jess Hawkins by e-mail at: Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.
Please be sure to visit http://www.ncdmf.net/mfc/advisor.html to review summaries of past commission meetings.
Meeting Agenda Attached NR-19-04
April 27, 2004
CULTCH PLANTING MEETINGS TO BE HELD IN MAY
MOREHEAD CITY - The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will hold public meetings in May to receive suggestions and comments on cultch planting - where shells and rock are placed on formerly productive shellfish beds to restore the habitat. Oysters, clams and other aquatic life are attracted to the cultch and will begin to immediately colonize the material.
The DMF's Shellfish Rehabilitation staff constantly looks for ways to improve the program, so annual meetings are held to provide fishermen and interested parties the opportunity to provide advice and input regarding planting sites, methods, materials and quantities. Previously, the program only worked with oysters, but has expanded to include clams.
All meetings begin at 7 p.m. at the following locations:
Monday, May 3
Ocracoke Fire Department
Ocracoke
Tuesday, May 4
Roanoke Island Festival Park
Manteo
Tuesday, May 4
Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive
Wilmington
Wednesday, May 5
Mattamuskeet School Cafeteria
20370 US 264
Swanquarter
Thursday, May 6
Pamlico County Courthouse
Bayboro
Monday, May 10
Carteret County Courthouse
District Courtroom
Beaufort, NC
For more information about these meetings, please contact Craig Hardy, by e-mail at craig.hardy@ncmail.net or by calling 800-682-2632.
April 27, 2004
WORKSHOP SLATED ON SOCIOECONOMICS OF FISHING
MOREHEAD CITY - Want to learn more about the value and importance of marine fisheries in North Carolina? If so, plan on being at the Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern on May 13, beginning at 8:30 a.m., for a free day-long socioeconomic workshop.
The state Division of Marine Fisheries, host of the meeting, encourages anyone interested in fisheries management or socioeconomics to attend. Discussions will focus on social and economic issues facing fishermen, their associated industries and fishing communities, and how to best use this information in developing management strategies. The meeting concludes with a panel discussion comprised of commercial and recreational fishing interests, state fisheries managers and meeting presenters.
Questions on the workshop should be directed to Brian Cheuvront, the division's socioeconomic program manager and moderator of the workshop, by e-mail at brian.cheuvront@ncmail.net or by calling 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.
April 13, 2004
IT'S RENEWAL TIME FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSES
MOREHEAD CITY - Commercial fishermen are urged to renew their fishing licenses by mail beginning May 1.
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) has mailed approximately 9,000 applications for the upcoming commercial fishing year, which begins July 1, 2004. The applications are already filled out - fishermen just have to review them, make needed corrections, and return the forms and the payment by mail, or in person, to the NCDMF.
License holders are encouraged to take advantage of the mail-in renewal process because they can avoid waiting in line to process their licenses.
There is a new requirement for any fish dealers that handle shellfish. Before their license can be issued, dealers must have a current certification as a Shellstock Dealer by the Division of Environmental Health, Shellfish Sanitation Section. This certification is required for both in-state and interstate sales and shipment of shellfish. For more information on this certification, please call Shellfish Sanitation at 252-726-6827.
Beginning May 1, NCDMF license offices will also begin processing walk-in renewals at all six of their offices along the coast. Fishermen are reminded to bring in current licenses and photo identification for walk-in renewals.
Even though renewals can be processed earlier, 2004/2005 licenses are not valid until July 1, 2004. If fishermen renew their licenses through the mail by June 15, they should receive their new licenses prior to July 1.
The Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) expires one year from the date of purchase. RCGL licenses can be renewed through any NCDMF license office or by visiting an authorized Wildlife Resources Commission license agent.
For more information about NCDMF licenses, please call 252-726-7021 or 1-888-254-2024 (toll free).
NR-16-04