SC-1-2010

PROCLAMATION
RE: BAY SCALLOP SEASON

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 7:30 A.M., Monday, February 1, 2010, the bay scallop season WILL OPEN in the area described below with the following restrictions and shall close at 4:00 P.M. April 1, 2010 unless superseded by an earlier proclamation:

AREA DESCRIPTION

PAMLICO SOUND

North of a line near Wainwright Island from a point 34° 59.7942’ N - 76° 14.6514’ W on Camp Point; running easterly to a point at 34° 58.7853’ N - 76° 09.8922’ W on Core Banks. The remainder of the State’s internal waters will remain closed to commercial and recreational harvest of bay scallops.

II. HARVEST TIMES AND METHODS

A. Scallops may be taken from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on designated harvest days. Scallops may be taken by hand, with hand rakes, hand tongs, dip nets and scoops.
B. Commercial harvest days shall be Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week.
C. Recreational harvest days shall be Saturday and Sunday each week.
D. IT IS UNLAWFUL TO TAKE SCALLOPS WITH DREDGES AND POSSESS DREDGES ABOARD A VESSEL USED TO TAKE SCALLOPS.

III. HARVEST LIMITS

A. For commercial purposes no person shall take, attempt to take, or have in possession more than five (5) U.S. standard bushels per person per day. No combined fishing operation, regardless of the number of persons or boats which may be involved, shall take, attempt to take, or have in possession more than ten (10) U.S. standard bushels per day. No person shall transfer scallops from the catching vessel to any other vessel or transport scallops by any vessel other than the vessel from which they are harvested.
B. For recreational purposes, no person shall take or have in possession more than ½ bushel of scallops per person per day not to exceed one bushel if two or more persons are on a vessel.

IV. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 03H .0103, 3K .0501.
B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority per 15A NCAC 03H .0103.
C. The recreational harvest limit cannot be combined with the commercial harvest limit.
D. The harvest of bay scallops from any properly posted Research Sanctuary is prohibited by Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03I .0109.
E. This action is being taken to allow harvest of bay scallops according to the provisions of the Bay Scallop Fishery Management Plan.

January 29, 2010
1:00 P.M.
SC-1-2010