 |
|||
 |
|||
| DMF Home | About DMF | Contact DMF | DMF Offices |
 | |||
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries
Date: May 27, 2005 Phone: (252) 726-7021NEW FLOUNDER RULES REMINDER
MOREHEAD CITY – Both recreational and commercial fishermen are reminded new harvest limits for southern flounder went into effect April 1.
The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission approved conservation measures as part of the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan, which was designed to protect declining stocks of the state’s inshore flounder population. The current flounder stock is comprised primarily of very young fish, with few older, more productive spawners. A healthy stock generally has fish of all ages.
The new restrictions include:
Additional flounder restrictions will be forthcoming in future months.
For more information on these new management measures, contact Chris Batsavage by e-mail at chris.batsavage@ncmail.net or by calling 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries
Date: May 27, 2005 Phone: (252) 726-7021KNOW YOUR MACKEREL
MOREHEAD CITY – Recreational anglers need to pay special attention when landing mackerel to ensure they are abiding by North Carolina size and bag limits for the various species.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries reminds recreational fishermen that king mackerel have a 24-inch size limit, and anglers can keep up to three of these fish per day. King mackerel have a very pronounced dip in their lateral line.
Spanish mackerel have a 12-inch size limit and fishermen are allowed up to 15 per day. These fish have a very definite black spot at the beginning of their dorsal (top) fin.
Unfortunately, juvenile kings look very much like Spanish mackerel so make sure you can identify your mackerel and it measures up before you put that fish in your cooler.
Visit http://www.ncdmf.net/content/cont1/mackerel.htm to view a mackerel identification chart.
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries
Date: May 27, 2005 Phone: (252) 726-7021NEW TRAWLING RULES IN EFFECT FOR DARE COUNTY
MOREHEAD CITY – Fishermen are reminded of new trawling restrictions in the Dare County area.
Last summer, Outer Shallowbag Bay and Kitty Hawk Bay/Buzzards Bay were designated as special secondary nurseries - areas that have large numbers of juvenile fish and shrimp during late spring and early summer. Because of the presence of the juveniles, special secondary nursery areas automatically close to trawling May 14 - August 16, each year. The areas may open, by proclamation, August 17 - May 13, each year.
For more information on these new rules, please contact Beth Burns with the Division of Marine Fisheries in Wanchese at 252-473-5734.
MAY 26, 2005
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER (202)289-6400
STATES SCHEDULE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO GATHER COMMENT ON DRAFT ADDENDUM XVII TO THE SUMMER FLOUNDER FMP
Washington, DC – The Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved Draft Addendum XVII to the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan for public comment and review. The Draft Addendum proposes a program that allows the Board to subdivide the recreational coastwide allocation into regions as an option under conservation equivalency. It also initiates a public dialog to discuss the ability to average multiple years of data as well as multiple years of landings to establish recreational management programs.
Atlantic coastal states from Massachusetts through North Carolina have scheduled the dates and times of their public meetings to gather comment.
The specific details of those meetings follow:
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
July 5, 2005; 7:00PM
Plymouth Harbor Radisson
180 Water Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
Contact: Melanie Griffin at 617-626-1528
Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
June 28, 2005; 6:00PM
URI Narragansett Bay Campus
Corless Auditorium
South Ferry Road
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Contact: Brian Murphy at (401) 423-1941
Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection
July 7, 2005; 7:00PM
Marine Headquarters Office Education Center
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Contact: Dave Simpson at (860) 434-6043
New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
July 12, 2005; 7:00PM
205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1
East Setauket, New York
Contact: Gordon Colvin at (631) 444-0430
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
June 29, 2005; 6:30PM
Atlantic County Library Galloway Township
306 East Jimmie Leeds Road
Absecon, New Jersey
Contact: Bruce Freeman at (609) 292-2083
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
July 13, 2005; 7:30PM
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, Delaware
Contact: Rick Cole at (302) 739-4782
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
July 7, 2005; 6:30PM
Ocean Pines Library
Worcester County Library
11107 Cathell Road
Ocean Pines, Maryland
Contact: Howard J. King, III at (410) 260-8281
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
July 13, 2005; 6:00PM
2600 Washington Avenue
Fourth Floor Conference Room
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead at (757) 247-2247
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
July 14, 2005; 7:00 PM
Classroom 1, Crystal Coast Civic Center
3505 Arendell Street
Morehead City, North Carolina
Contact: Preston Pate at (252) 726-7021
The management options within Addendum XVII respond to concerns expressed by fishermen and managers regarding the potential variability of data from the Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey (MRFSS) when used on a state-by-state basis. By adopting regional or coastwide management approaches, MRFSS coverage area increases while data variability decreases, thereby enhancing the credibility of both the data and the management program. The Addendum also initiates a public dialog to discuss the ability to average multiple years of data and multiple years of landings to establish recreational management programs.
When state-specific conservation equivalent measures are adopted, water bodies used by fishermen from several states (such as the Long Island Sound) may have multiple or conflicting regulations. These differing regulations create confusion for fishermen fishing in that area. Regional approaches to summer flounder recreational management could potentially minimize differences in adjacent states fishing on the same water body.
The Board will meet in August to review public comment on the Draft Addendum and consider its final approval. Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Addendum either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. Copies the Draft Addendum can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on July 20, 2005 and should be forwarded to Toni Kerns, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (fax) or tkerns@asmfc.org. For more information, please contact Toni Kerns at (202) 289-6400 or tkerns@asmfc.org.
*************************
Tina Berger
Public Affairs Specialist
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1444 I Street. NW, Sixth Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202)289-6400
FAX: (202)289-6051
Email: tberger@asmfc.org
www.asmfc.org
ASMFC Vision: Healthy, self-sustaining populations of all Atlantic coast
fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015.
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries
Date: May 16, 2005
Phone: (252) 726-7021
2004 SEAFOOD HARVEST FIGURES RELEASED
Mixed Bag for North Carolina’s Fisheries
MOREHEAD CITY – The state’s commercial fishing harvest, including two fishery mainstays, blue crabs and shrimp, experienced declines in 2004, according to harvest data recently released by the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.
At the same time, recreational fishing trips in coastal waters continue to expand, resulting in a record-high catch.
The 2004 commercial harvest of finfish and shellfish totaled 134 million pounds, valued at $79.7 million – an 11-percent decrease from the previous five-year average of 149 million pounds. Landings fluctuate for a variety of reasons – availability of seafood, weather, market demand, prices, low-cost imports, the number of people fishing and harvest restrictions all impact the amount of seafood harvested. Each of these factors came into play during North Carolina’s 2004 fishing year.
Menhaden landings, which vary significantly from year to year, have historically ranged from 42 million pounds up to 300 million pounds. One of the reasons this large fluctuation in harvest occurs is because there are only two processing plants on the East Coast, one in North Carolina and one in Virginia. There are times when the fish are landed at the North Carolina plant, and there are instances when the menhaden are landed in Virginia. 2004 had the third lowest menhaden catch on record at 50.6 million pounds, impacting the state’s overall catch.
Blue crab harvest was at 32.6 million pounds, compared to the previous five-year average of 40.6 million pounds. Shrimp landings were 4.9 million pounds, down from the previous five-year average of 8.1 million pounds. Trip data show fewer crab pot and shrimp trawl fishing trips were made in 2004. The higher cost of fuel, the lower market value of shrimp due to imports, and the scarcity of crabs and shrimp, all contributed to decreased effort and landings in these fisheries.
The top-five species commercially harvested were:
By Value* By Pounds Landed
Blue Crabs (Hard) $20.2 million Atlantic Menhaden 50.6 million
Shrimp $9.4 million Blue Crabs (Hard) 32.6 million
Summer Flounder $ 7.6 million Atlantic Croaker 12 million
Atlantic Menhaden $4.5 million Shrimp 4.9 million
Southern Flounder $3.9 million Summer Flounder 4.8 million
Other commercial landings down from the previous five-year average include amberjack, bay scallops, catfishes, soft blue crabs, black drum, red drum, southern flounder, red and snowy grouper, harvestfish, Spanish mackerel, monkfish, river herring, striped mullet, white and yellow perch, porgies, speckled trout, gizzard shad, sharks, dogfish, beeliners, and weakfish.
On a brighter note, the state’s oyster harvest was 69,479 bushels – 24,814 bushels over the previous five-year average of 44,666 bushels. The increase in oysters is most likely attributed to higher levels of rainfall than in previous years, which created better growing conditions. Increased harvest quotas for two recovering stocks – summer flounder and striped bass - resulted in higher landings in 2004. Summer flounder landings topped out at 4.8 million pounds, a 45-percent increase over the previous five-year average, while striped bass landings increased to 911,473 pounds, a 57-percent increase over the previous five-year average.
Compared to the previous five-year average, other increased commercial landings in 2004 were bluefish, butterfish, peeler crabs, croaker, dolphin, American eel, Atlantic and king mackerel, sea basses, sea scallops, scup, hickory shad, squid, swordfish, and bluefin tuna.
2004 landings that remained relatively stable compared to the previous five-year landings include bonito, cobia, garfish, groupers (gag, scamp), grunts, hog snapper, jacks, pigfish, American shad, sea mullet, sheepshead, red snapper, spot, spadefish, stone cars, tilefish, triggerfish, little tunny (false albacore), bigeye and yellowfin tunas, and wahoo.
Year Active Fishermen Pounds Harvested Fishing Trips
1999 5,242 153,739,425 252,873
2000 5,031 154,229,116 259,746
2001 5,076 137,166,669 262,079
2002 4,694 160,164,722 230,618
2003 4,352 139,425,054 213,539
2004 4,255 134,094,431 194,527
In recent years, recovering populations of striped bass created a rapidly developing recreational winter fishery in the Atlantic Ocean along the Outer Banks. To capture data on this emerging fishery, collection of recreational hook and line estimates were expanded to cover the months of January and February for the first time in 2004. Growth in the striped bass recreational fishery, along with enhanced sampling efforts by the Division of Marine Fisheries, contributed to a more accurate recreational harvest estimate of 5.6 million pounds of this species.
The top-five fish recreationally harvested in 2004 by weight were:
Species Pounds
Striped Bass 5.6 million
Year Active Anglers Pounds Harvested Fishing Trips
1999 1,293,051 18,041,060 4,555,039
2000 1,811,725 21,220,463 6,090,985
2001 1,978,508 23,869,793 6,559,792
2002 1,755,283 18,020,846 5,562,885
2003 2,087,788 21,752,173 6,589,503
2004 2,073,237 24,905,130 7,083,841
The estimated harvest numbers for people who hold the Recreational Commercial Gear License also experienced a drop from 764,898 pounds in 2003 to 640,704 pounds in 2004. There was a slight decline in the number of RCGL trips from 110,792 in 2003 to 109,638 in 2004. The RCGL allows recreational fishermen to use limited amounts of commercial gear to harvest seafood for their personal consumption.
The top-five fish harvested by RCGL gear in 2004 by weight were:
Species Pounds
Striped Mullet 36,022
Visit the DMF’s Web site at www.ncdmf.net/statistics/index.html to view harvest statistics by species and by year, or go to http://www.ncdmf.net/download/index.html to download the annual fisheries bulletin. For information on commercial harvest statistics, contact Don Hesselman by e-mail at don.hesselman@ncmail.net or by calling 252-726‑7021 or 800-682-2632. For information on the RCGL harvest statistics, contact Chris Wilson by e-mail at chris.wilson@ncmail.net or by calling 252- 946-6481 or 800-338-7804. For information on recreational hook-and-line harvest statistics, contact Doug Mumford by e-mail at doug.mumford@ncmail.net or by calling 252-946-6481 or 800-338-7804.
Forwarded from:
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
CONTACT: Tina Berger
May 11, 2005
(202) 289-6400
Draft Addendum II to the Atlantic Menhaden FMP
Approved for Public Comment: States to Conduct Public Meetings this Summer
Alexandria, VA – The Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board approved sending forward Draft Addendum II to Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden for public comment and review. Most states will be conducting public hearings on the Addendum this summer; the times and locations of those hearings will be released once they become available.
The Draft Addendum was developed in response to concern regarding the possibility of localized depletion of menhaden stocks in the Chesapeake Bay. It presents a suite of management options to limit the catch of menhaden in both the Chesapeake Bay and coastwide, including various harvest caps, timeframes, and gears. The Draft Addendum also reviews current state rules and regulations for Atlantic menhaden and the roles these measures may have played in localizing menhaden harvest to the Chesapeake Bay, and coastal waters of Virginia and North Carolina.
Lastly, T the Draft Addendum also proposes initiating a research program immediately to determine the status of menhaden populations in the Chesapeake Bay and assess whether localized depletion is occurring. It identifies the following research priorities: (1) determine menhaden abundance in the Chesapeake Bay; (2) determine estimates of menhaden removal by predators; (3) evaluate the rate of exchange of menhaden between the Bay and coastal systems; and (4) conduct larval studies to determine recruitment to the Bay.
The Board will meet in August to review public comment on the Draft Addendum and consider its final approval. Copies the Draft Addendum will be available by May 23 the end of May and can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. Public comment will be accepted until mid-July and should be forward to Nancy Wallace Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202)289-6051 (fax) or comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Menhaden). For more information, please contact Nancy Wallace at (202)289-6400 or nwallace@asmfc.org.
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries
Date: May 12, 2005
Phone: 252-726-7021
This public meeting has been rescheduled for June 2, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sea Level Fire Department and Rescue Squad building, 608 Hwy 70, Sea Level, NC to receive comments on a proposal by Marcus J. Goodwin to permit two pound net sets in Carteret County at the following locations. Scheduling conflicts necessitated the change.
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.
approximately 558 yards in length and have 2 pounds has been changed.
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@ncmail.net
PRESS CONTACT: Tina Berger
May 11, 2005 (202) 289-6400
ASMFC WEAKFISH BOARD INITIATES DEVELOPMENT OF ADDENDUM TO ADDRESS STOCK DECLINES
Alexandria, VA – The Commission’s Weakfish Management Board authorized development of an addendum to Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Weakfish to address stock declines. The action is taken in response to the latest stock assessment, which indicates that total mortality has risen substantially since 1995, and biomass has sharply declined from 2000 to 2003. Weakfish biomass has fallen below Amendment 4’s biological reference points, triggering the requirement of state action to rebuild biomass to 30 percent of an unfished stock in six years or less.
“Amendment 4 requires the states to reduce weakfish mortality once the biological reference points are triggered. In initiating development of an addendum, the Board has taken an important first step in responding to decreased landings and biomass of weakfish,” stated Board Chair Dr. Louis Daniel of North Carolina.
The Board has tasked the Technical Committee with developing a range of management options to reduce fishing mortality, including the anticipated rebuilding effects of those options. The draft addendum will also propose revisions to Amendment 4’s biological sampling requirements in order to meet the data needs of the annual stock assessment. These data include information on age, length, and weight of weakfish landed commercially and recreationally. The Board will be reviewing the draft addendum in August.
For more information, please contact Braddock Spear, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or <bspear@asmfc.org>.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MAY 10, 2005
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER (202)289-6400
ASMFC Board Approves Addendum II to the Atlantic Sturgeon FMP
Addendum Allows for Commercial Aquaculture in North Carolina
The Commission’s Atlantic Sturgeon Management Board approved Addendum II to Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Sturgeon. The Addendum provides exemptions to Amendment 1 to allow a commercial aquaculture operation in North Carolina. The exemptions will permit importation of Atlantic sturgeon from a Canadian source and allow possession, production, and sale of cultured fish by a private company in North Carolina. It is anticipated that sale of cultured sturgeon caviar and meat would not occur for at least three years.
Amendment 1 establishes a moratorium on harvest and possession of Atlantic sturgeon to allow for recovery of spawning stocks to population levels that will provide for sustainable fisheries and viable spawning populations. The target of the Amendment is to have at least 20 protected age classes of females in each spawning stock, which may take 20 to 40 years from initiation of the moratorium in 1998.
Historically, the United States supported a large market for Atlantic sturgeon products. Addendum II seeks to reestablish part of that market by providing a domestic product through an environmentally and socially sound aquaculture operation. To ensure protection of wild stocks, the Addendum requires that the prior to the sale of caviar or meat from cultured sturgeon, the commercial aquaculture operation must prove to the Commission’s satisfaction that the caviar and meat were produced from cultured fish and not wild stocks. Additionally, the Addendum prohibits aquarium or pet trades to prevent the accidental or planned release of cultured sturgeon into the wild.
Copies the Addendum II are available via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. For more information, please contact Braddock Spear, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (202) 289-6400 or bspear@asmfc.org.
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries
Phone: (252) 726-7021
Date: May 4, 2005
MULLET MEETINGS PLANNED FOR MAY AND JUNE
MOREHEAD CITY – A new recreational limit and specific rules for placement of commercial nets are among a list of actions proposed in the draft Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan being discussed during a series of public meetings in May and June.
Since December 2002, an advisory group of commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and Division of Marine Fisheries staff, have been working to develop a fishery management plan for striped mullet. Management plans are required for all of the state’s significant fisheries. These plans describe the nature and problems of a fishery along with long-term regulatory recommendations that will correct any problems and ultimately conserve that fishery. Fishery management plans utilize all available scientific information that applies to the species and its fisheries.
Striped mullet support an important Tar Heel fishery and while the stock is not overfished, there are concerns. High market demand for mullet roe causes commercial fishermen to target roe-carrying females before they have spawned, potentially reducing the reproductive capability of the stock. Recreational harvest of large numbers of juveniles for bait is another potential problem.
Highlights of the proposed management changes include:
All meetings begin at 6 p.m.
May 10
Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources' Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive Ext.
Wilmington
May 23
Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources' Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington
May 26
College of the Albemarle
Building B, Rm. 202
1208 North Road Street
Elizabeth City
June 1
Duke Marine Lab Auditorium
Pivers Island
Beaufort
June 2
Department of Environment and Natural Resouces
Ground Floor Hearing Room, Archdale Building
Raleigh
The Marine Fisheries Commission will vote on which proposals to include in the draft Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan at their June 28-30 business meeting in Raleigh. The final adoption of the plan will be considered at the commissions’ business meeting Aug. 30-31 in Pine Knoll Shores.
For more information about these meetings, please contact Jess Hawkins by e-mail at Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.