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Contact: Patricia Smith PUBLIC MEETINGS TO GAIN INPUT ON ARTIFICIAL REEFS MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold two meetings in June to gain public input on plans to enlarge two estuarine artificial reefs off Bayview and Oriental. Division staff will detail plans to enlarge and place additional material on the Bayview Reef (AR-291) in the Pamlico River and the Oriental Reef (AR-396) in the Neuse River. Public comment periods will be held following the presentations. The meetings are set for: Monday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 17 at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Jim Francesconi, the division’s artificial reef coordinator at 1-800-682-2632, (252) 808-8063 or james.francesconi@ncmail.net. Contact: Patricia Smith MEETING SET TO DISCUSS BROAD CREEK CRAB POT AREA MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public meeting Thursday, May 22, to discuss a possible change to a designated crab pot area in the lower Neuse River. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington. The division is proposing closing the designated crab pot area along the north shore at the mouth of Broad Creek in the lower Neuse River from the secondary nursery line outward to Marker 2A The division wants to reduce the crab pot area and increase the open shrimp trawling area to avoid conflicts between shrimp and crab fishermen in the area. Shrimp trawl fishermen use the existing crab pot area to make turns. Depending on results of the meeting, the director could address the issue by proclamation. For more information, contact division Pamlico District Manager Katy West at 252-948-3884 or Katy.West@ncmail.net. Contact: Patricia Smith NEW WEB-BASED NEWSLETTER DISHES THE SCOOP ON MARINE FISHERIES ISSUES MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries today released a new Web-based newsletter designed for the general public. The first issue of Fish Eye News focuses on the agency’s efforts to implement the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan. “Identification and protection of essential fish habitats are critical to the division’s mission of sustainable marine resources,” said Division Director Louis Daniel. Implementation of the CHPP is one of the division’s top priorities. The newsletter also includes an article about a division push to get telephone numbers when anglers purchase the Coastal Recreational Fishing License. Another article discusses a concern that pharmaceuticals that flow into the rivers from waste treatment facilities could be affecting fish. The division plans to release an edition of Fish Eye News four times a year to draw attention to issues affecting marine fisheries in North Carolina and to promote a better understanding of agency functions. The newsletter can be found on the division Web site at http://www.ncdmf.net/fisheye/2008/MAY_fisheye.html. For more information, contact division Public Information Officer Patricia Smith at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632 or Tricia.Smith@ncmail.net. Contact: Patricia Smith SOME DARE COUNTY WATERS CLOSE TO TRAWLING MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding fishermen that the Dare County waters of Outer Shallowbag Bay and Kitty Hawk Bay/Buzzard Bay will close to shrimp and crab trawling at 12:01 a.m. May 15. The Marine Fisheries Commission has designated these bays as special secondary nursery areas. By rule, they close to trawling each year between May 15 and August 15 to protect small fish and shrimp as they grow. The rule allows the division director to reopen special secondary nursery areas in mid-August when the small fish and shrimp have moved out of these bays. Contact: Patricia Smith HEARINGS SET FOR OYSTER, CLAM AND OTHER FISHERIES RULES MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will hold a series of public hearings, beginning next week, on rules to implement updated Oyster, Clam and Interjurisdictional Fisheries Management Plans. If implemented, the proposed rules would: Change the oyster season closure date from May 15 to March 31 to reflect current management practices; There are also several proposed rules to correct typographical errors, reorganize and otherwise clarify existing rules in an ongoing division effort to make the state fisheries rulebook more user-friendly. Public hearings are schedule for 7 p.m. as follows: Monday, May 12 Wednesday, May 14 Monday, May 19 A complete list of the proposed rules can be found at the N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings Web site in the N.C. Register at http://www.ncoah.com/rules/register/Volume22Issue20April152008.doc. For more information, on proposed oyster and clam rules, contact Tina Moore, a biologist with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries or the division’s Central District Manager Mike Marshall at (252) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632. For information on other proposed rules, contact division biologist Katy West at (252) 946-6481 or (800) 338-7804. DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES OFFICES TO TEMPORARILY CLOSEMOREHEAD CITY – N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries offices in Washington, Wilmington, Wanchese, Columbia and Elizabeth City will be closed Wednesday, May 14 for a division-wide staff meeting. The Morehead City office will close at 9:45 a.m. and reopen at 4 p.m. |