SH-1-2006
PROCLAMATION

RE: PEELER CRAB TRAWLING

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 7:00 A.M., Monday, March 6, 2006, the following areas WILL OPEN to peeler crab trawling:

I. AREA DESCRIPTIONS
A. CARTERET COUNTY
1. Waters of Core Sound excluding designated nursery and shellfish management areas
2. Cedar Island Bay - to the Primary Nursery Area line
3. Nelson Bay excluding designated nursery and shellfish management areas
4. Brett Bay
5. Jarretts Bay, Middens Creek and Bell Island Area to the Primary Nursery Area lines
6. North River - to the Highway 70 Bridge
7. Ward Creek - downstream of the Shellfish Management Area line
8. Back Sound

B. ONSLOW COUNTY
Bear Island (Hammocks Beach) - south of the Intracoastal Waterway from Bear Creek to West Channel

C. DARE COUNTY
1. Outer Shallowbag Bay to the permanent Secondary Nursery Area line
2. Waters of Kitty Hawk Bay, Colington Creek and Buzzard Bay

II. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S.113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103, 3L .0202 and 3J .0104.

B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority per N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103.

C. This proclamation supersedes all proclamations affecting peeler crab trawling issued prior to March 6,2006, and brings together in one document all areas that are open to peeler crab trawling.

D. Shrimp taken in closed shrimp waters, incidental to peeler crab harvest activities, must be returned to the waters where taken.

E. In accordance with Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3L .0202, it is unlawful to use trawls with mesh length less than two inches or with a headrope exceeding 25 feet in length for taking soft or peeler crabs in the above areas.

F. All Primary and Permanent Secondary Nursery Areas and Shellfish Management Areas remain closed to all trawling activity.

G. All areas currently open to shrimp and crab trawling are open to peeler crab trawling.

March 2, 2006
8:30 A.M.
SH-1--2006
/sab