M-19-2007

PROCLAMATION

RE: COMMERCIAL GILL NETS - PAMLICO SOUND GILL NET RESTRICTED AREA (PSGNRA)

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 3:00 P.M., Thursday, November 15, 2007, the following management measures will be implemented for commercial gill net fisheries in Pamlico Sound:

PAMLICO SOUND AREA
In the internal waters of Pamlico Sound south and west of the 35° 46.3000 ‘N latitude line, east of the 76° 30.0000’W longitude line, and north of the 35° 00.0000’N latitude line.

GILL NET RESTRICTIONS:
It is unlawful to use gill nets (greater than 4 ¼ inch stretched mesh) until midnight on December 15, 2007.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G. S. 113-134; 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103, 3I .0107, 3I .0113, 3J .0103, 3O .0506 and 3R .0201.

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

C. This action is being taken due to excessive interactions with green sea turtles. The large mesh gill net fishery is authorized by a Section 10 Permit from National Marine Fisheries Service.

D. The intent of this proclamation is to implement management measures in the fall gill net fisheries in southeastern Pamlico Sound that are expected to reduce interactions with threatened and endangered sea turtles through December 15, 2007. These actions are expected to provide increased levels of protection for threatened and endangered sea turtles in Pamlico Sound gill net fisheries.

E. This proclamation supersedes Proclamation M-12-2007, dated August 7, 2007.

November 13, 2007
2:45 P.M.
M-19-2007
/sab