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LICENSE RENEWAL PACKAGES ARE IN THE MAIL

MOREHEAD CITY – Spring is the time for renewal – for trees, for flowers and commercial fishing licenses.

Beginning in May, commercial fishermen can renew their licenses via the mail or by visiting any of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries offices in Elizabeth City, Columbia, Wanchese, Washington, Morehead City and Wilmington.

Approximately 9,000 license renewal packages have been mailed to commercial fishermen for the upcoming commercial fishing year, which begins July 1, 2005. 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 any DMF office.

License holders are encouraged to take advantage of the convenient mail-in renewal process to avoid waiting in line. If fishermen renew their licenses through the mail by June 15, they should receive their new licenses prior to July 1. Fishermen who choose to renew their applications in person are reminded to bring in current licenses and photo identification.

All DMF license offices will be closed Tuesday, May 3, so staff may attend a training workshop.

For more information about N.C. commercial fishing licenses, please call 252-726-7021 or 888-254-2024 (toll free).

FISHERIES LICENSE OFFICES TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE MAY 3

MOREHEAD CITY - The Division of Marine Fisheries’ license offices in Elizabeth City, Columbia, Wanchese, Washington, Morehead City, and Wilmington will be temporarily closed on Tuesday, May 3, so staff may attend a training workshop. The offices will resume regular office hours on May 4.

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:

• Commercial fishermen cannot use more than 3000 yards of flounder gill net per vessel, in internal waters;
• Require 5 ½ inch stretched minimum mesh size for all flounder gill nets in internal waters, this will require the prohibition of gill nets from 5 inch to less than 5 ½-inch stretched mesh, from April 15 – Dec. 15;
• 500-yard minimum distance between pound nets and gill nets in Albemarle Sound, from August 15 – December 31;
• Flounder pound nets must have an escape panel 5 ½ inches or greater to allow small flounder to escape;
• Recreational large mesh gill nets (5 ½ inches or larger stretched mesh) must be attended at all times, south and west of the Emerald Isle Bridge (Hwy. 58) in internal and ocean waters;
• Exempt flounder aquaculture operations from size and season requirements;
• Create a permit and training requirements for dock owners to cultivate oysters in containers under their docks;
• Modify shellfish lease fee rules to compliment statutes; and
• Allow 80 percent of the commercial ocean-caught flounder quota to be harvested during the winter season, beginning Jan. 1 of each year.

All hearings begin at 7 p.m.

May 12
Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources' Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive
Wilmington

May 17
N.C. Aquarium at Roanoke Island
Manteo

May 26
Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources' Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington

June 9
Carteret Community College, C-Mast Building, Room 306
303 College Circle
Morehead

June 27
Clarion State Capitol Hotel
320 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh

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 May 27, 2005. The MFC will vote on these proposed rules at their June 28-29 business meeting in Raleigh.

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.

IMPLEMENTATION PROPOSALS NOW ON-LINE FOR

COASTAL HABITAT PROTECTION PLAN

MOREHEAD CITY – Enhancing oyster restoration and reducing pollution caused by storm water runoff are among a list of actions proposed by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources to begin implementation of North Carolina’s Coastal Habitat Protection Plan.

The proposed list of actions, which also includes preparing a comprehensive coastal beach and inlet management plan, is available for public comment and review.

On Feb. 11, DENR Secretary Bill Ross, signed the CHPP – a landmark conservation package designed to protect and restore critical fisheries habitat. DENR, along with the Marine Fisheries, Coastal Management, and Environmental Management commissions, is required to adopt measures to implement the CHPP by July 1, 2005.

DENR is already taking action by enhancing enforcement of existing rules protecting fish habitat, developing a set of indicators to gauge the on-going health of the estuaries and habitats and reporting on those trends, expanding oyster restoration efforts and educating the public about the importance of these habitats.

WITTEN NAMED MARINE PATROL OFFICER OF THE YEAR

MOREHEAD CITY - Carter Witten has been named 2004 Marine Patrol Officer of the Year by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. The award is given in recognition for overall outstanding conservation efforts and achievements.

The mission of the Marine Patrol is to ensure sustainable marine and estuarine fisheries for the benefit of the people of North Carolina. Their jurisdiction includes all coastal waters and extends to 3 miles offshore. Officers monitor 2.5 million acres of water and over 4,000 miles of coastline.

Witten began his career with Marine Patrol in 2001, as a field officer in Swan Quarter. Currently, his patrol area includes Carteret and Craven counties. He previously served on the Havelock Police Department.

"Carter Witten is an exceptional officer who is equally as effective educating school children about our coastal treasures as he is working on the water protecting our fisheries,” said Col. Joe Lynch, head of the Marine Patrol. "He has earned the respect and confidence of all who have worked with him."

Witten, along with his wife Joy and their son Taylor, resides in Carteret County and attends the Christ Church of New Bern. During his free time Carter enjoys scuba diving and hunting.

(Carter Witten photo below. Click image to download larger version.)

MARINE PATROL ANNOUNCES NEW HIRES

MOREHEAD CITY - The North Carolina Marine Patrol, law enforcement branch of the state Division of Marine Fisheries, is pleased to announce the following new hires:

Jonathan Hall is a new field officer working in the Hatteras / Dare County area. He graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training in August of 2003. Prior to his employment with Marine Patrol, Hall worked as a police officer with Fremont Police Department.

Simon Sabella is a new field officer working in the Columbia / Tyrrell County area. He graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training in December 2004 and holds a BA Degree in Parks and Recreation Management. Prior to his employment with Marine Patrol, Sabella was employed with Tarheel Solid Surfaces.

The Marine Patrol has 59 sworn law enforcement officer positions along the coast and its jurisdiction includes all coastal waters extending to 3 miles offshore, and out to 200 miles offshore for some federally regulated species. Officers monitor 2.5 million acres of water and over 4,000 miles of coastline. Along with inspecting commercial and recreational boats, Marine Patrol officers also check seafood markets, fish dealers, restaurants, piers, beaches and vehicles carrying seafood.

For more information please contact Colonel Joe Lynch, N.C. Marine Patrol, by e-mail at joe.lynch@ncmail.net or by phone at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

Jonathan Hall (Click photo for larger version)	Simon Sabella (Click photo for larger version)

Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries
Phone: 252-726-7021
Date: April 12, 2005

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION TO MEET APRIL 20 -22, 2005

Morehead City – The Marine Fisheries Commission will meet April 20 – 22 at the Clarion Oceanfront Hotel in Kill Devil Hills, NC. The meeting is open to the public.

On April 20, a public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. where the public is invited to comment on the proposed rules listed below.

On April 21 – 22, the Commission will hold a business meeting starting at 9 a.m. on April 21.

(See Agenda Below)

For more information, contact Jess Hawkins by email at: Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling

1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.

The MFC will receive public comment on the following proposed rules at these hearings:

• Require white-line peeler crabs be held separately from pink and red-line peelers;
• Shorten attendance period for crab pots from seven days to five days;
• Unlawful to possess trawl-caught finfish in designated crab pot areas during certain times of the year;
• Restrict the taking of blue crabs by channel nets, except for bycatch that cannot exceed 50 percent of the catch or 300 lbs., whichever is greater;
• Extend the crab pot clean-up period to Jan. 15 – Feb. 7 of each year;
• Prohibit the use of yellow or pink buoys for crab pots;
• Give the DMF director proclamation authority to settle user conflicts;
• Establish a conflict resolution process;
• Allow the DMF director to implement a 6 ¾ inch size limit for female crabs and culling tolerance if the spawning stock biomass falls below levels set in the Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan;
• Expand the DMF director’s proclamation authority to increase crab trawl mesh size to minimize waste;
• Allow possession of white-line peeler crabs for use in permitted shedding operations;
• In order to stay in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, it is unlawful to possess an American lobster with a carapace less than 3 3/8 inches or greater than 5 ½ inches;
• In order to stay in compliance with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, allow the sale of recreationally-caught dolphin and wahoo by for-hire charter boats possessing appropriate state and federal permits, establish bag and trip limits and dealer and operator permits for dolphin and wahoo;
• Revoke dealer permit for ocean-intercept shad fishery because fishery is closed;
• Technical adjustments to the Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan;
• Change the boundary lines of the Mallard’s Bay primary nursery area to exclude the mouth of the waterbody; and
• Change the designated pot area boundary descriptions to a standardized 6-ft. depth contour in Hyde, Beaufort, Pamlico and Craven counties.

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA
CLARION OCEANFRONT HOTEL, KILL DEVIL HILLS
APRIL 21-22, 2005

April 21, 2005

9 a.m. Call to Order

Invocation

Roll Call

Approval of Agenda and Minutes*

Public Comment

Issues from Commission Members

9:30 a.m. Chairman’s Report

• Primary Nursery Area Rule Suspension-Mallard Bay [NCAC 15A 03R.0103(d)] (Action)
• Spiny Dogfish Compliance Advisory Panel
• 2005 Public Hearings for Rulemaking- Southern Flounder FMP rules
• Conflict Mediation Update
• Fisheries Resource Grant (FRG) Update
• Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council Nomination update
• Saltwater Fishing License Update

10 a.m. Committee Reports / Action Items

• Oyster Sanctuaries (Action)
• Krimmel, Pasquotank County (Action)
• Oyster FMP Amendment 2 (Action)
• Whale Take Reduction Federal Rules (Action)
• NMFS Shark Management (Action)
• Stone Crab Measures (Action)

Noon Lunch

1:30 pm Coastal Habitat Protection Plan (CHPP) Implementation

• DENR
• Marine Fisheries
• Water Quality
• Coastal Management

3 p.m. Draft Striped Mullet FMP

• Stock Assessment
• Overview
• Discussion
• Public Meetings for Review

5 p.m. Adjourn

April 22, 2005

8:30 a.m. ASMFC American Eel FMP Public Information Document

• Comments (Action)

9:30 a.m. Shellfish Sanitation Section New Shoreline Survey Methodology Presentation- Steve Murphey

10:30 a.m. Commercial Atlantic Ocean Striped Bass Fishery Limited Entry Proposal

Noon Lunch

1:30 p.m. Southern Flounder FMP Implementation Schedule (Action)

2 p.m. Atlantic Sturgeon ASMFC FMP Amendment 1 (Action)

2:30 p.m. Director’s Report

• Legislative Update
• Summer Flounder
• Striped Bass
• River Herring
• Under Dock Oyster Culture
• Incidental Take Permit Application – Pamlico Sound
• Marine Patrol Report - Col. Joe Lynch
• MAFMC Update - Red Munden
• Highly Migratory Species Update - Dr. Louis Daniel
• SAFMC Update - Dr. Louis Daniel

4 p.m. Adjourn

* Times indicated are merely for guidance. The Commission will proceed through the agenda until completed.

2005 Business Meetings : June 28-29 Raleigh

August 30-31 Atlantic Beach

November 17-18 Ocracoke

MEETINGS TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL PAMLICO SOUND GILLNET RESTRICTIONS

MOREHEAD CITY – Staff from the Division of Marine Fisheries will hold public meetings to discuss possible management changes in the fall flounder gillnet fishery throughout the Pamlico Sound Gillnet Restricted Area to reduce interactions with sea turtles.

Meetings will be held at the following locations:

Friday, April 22 at 10 a.m.
Community Center - Ocracoke

Friday, April 22 at 2 p.m.
Fessenden Center - Buxton

Friday, April 22 at 5 p.m.
O’Neal’s Seafood - Wanchese

Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m.
Mattamuskeet Seafood - Engelhard

Saturday, April 23 at 4 p.m.
Claudia Cahoon’s - Swan Quarter

CULTCH PLANTING MEETINGS TO BE HELD IN APRIL

MOREHEAD CITY - The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will hold public meetings in April 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, April 18 at 6 p.m.
Carteret County Courthouse District Courtroom
Beaufort

Tuesday, April 19 at 6 p.m.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive
Wilmington

Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m.
Roanoke Island Festival Park
Film Theater Room
Manteo

Monday, April 25 at 6 p.m.
Ocracoke Fire Department
Ocracoke

Tuesday, April 26 at 6 p.m.
Fire Station
Swan Quarter

Wednesday, April 27 at 6 p.m.
Pamlico County Courthouse
Bayboro

For more information about these meetings, please contact Craig Hardy, by e-mail at craig.hardy@ncmail.net or by calling 800-682-2632.

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE - PROPOSED POUND NET SET

In accordance with NC Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03J .0107, notice is hereby given that a public meeting will be held April 18, 2005 at 7 p.m. in the District Courtroom, Beaufort, N.C. to receive comments on a proposal by Marcus J. Goodwin to permit two pound net sets in Carteret County at the following locations:

1. Core Sound, in the vicinity of Marker 19 (Harris Lump). The proposed set will be approximately 1954 yards in length and have 6 pounds.

2. Core Sound, in the vicinity of Dump Island (Old Drum Inlet). The proposed set will be approximately 558 yards in length and have 2 pounds.

The public is invited to attend and comment on the proposed pound net sets. Questions concerning the meeting or the proposed pound net sets should be directed to:

Mike Marshall, Central District Manager
Division of Marine Fisheries
3441 Arendell St.
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632
or email: mike.marshall@mcmail.net