PT-7-2009

PROCLAMATION

RE: CRAB, EEL, FISH AND SHRIMP POTS

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Friday, May 1, 2009 until midnight, November 30, 2009, the following will apply to crab, eel, fish and shrimp pots:

POTS MAY BE SET IN THE AREAS DESCRIBED BELOW:

I. ATLANTIC OCEAN - statewide

II. Designated nursery areas in all coastal fishing waters west and south of the Highway 58 Bridge at Emerald Isle which are listed in Rule 15A NCAC 3R .0103.

III. All coastal fishing waters west and south of the Highway 58 Bridge at Emerald Isle which are closed by N.C. Fisheries Rule or Division of Marine Fisheries proclamation to shrimping and/or crab trawling.

IV. All Shellfish Management Areas which have been designated by proclamation.

V. CARTERET COUNTY/ONSLOW COUNTY

A. That area between the Highway 58 Bridge and the Bogue Inlet Channel. (Map 1)
B. That area in White Oak River upstream from the Highway 24 Bridge at Swansboro. (Map 1)

VI. ONSLOW COUNTY

A. West Channel - Island Channel - from Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) Buoy #47A to ICW #45C. (Map 1)
B. West Channel - from ICW Marker #48 to Bogue Inlet. (Map 1)
C. Queens Creek - (Map 2)
D. Banks Channel - (behind Hammock Beach State Park) from Bogue Inlet to Bear Inlet. (Map 2)
E. Fosters Bay - (Map 2)
F. Saunders Creek - from ICW Marker #55 to Bear Inlet. (Map 2)
G. Bear Creek - (Map 2)
H. Muddy Creek - from Bear Creek to Saunders Creek. (Map 2)
I. New River - upstream of the Highway 172 Bridge. (Map 3)
J. New River - Hall's Point Bay as shown on attached map. (Map 3)

VII. PENDER COUNTY

A. That area 100 feet on either side of the ICW Channel from the Surf City Bridge to ICW Marker #49 at Morris Landing. (Map 4)
B. Topsail Sound - from ICW Marker #86 to Topsail Inlet. (Map 4)
C. Marker #98 Channel - from ICW Flasher #98 to New Topsail Inlet. (Map 4)
D. Green Channel - from ICW Marker #105 to Rich's Inlet. (Map 5)
E. Nixon Channel - from the ICW to Rich's Inlet. (Map 5)
F. Butler Creek (Utley's Channel) - from the ICW north of Marker #112 to Nixon Channel. (Map 5)
G. That area west of the ICW Channel from Marker #93 near Sloop Point to Marker #105 at Green's Channel, from the ICW Channel to the marsh line bordering the ICW. (Map 4)

VIII. NEW HANOVER COUNTY

A. Mason Channel - from the ICW opposite the mouth of Page's Creek to Mason Inlet. (Map 5)
B. Banks Channel - from the Highway #74 Bridge to Masonboro Inlet. (Map 5)
C. Stokley=s Cut (Old Moore Inlet Channel) - from the ICW near Marker #125 to Old Moore Inlet, including the dredged basin. (Map 5)
D. Lee Cut (Spring Landing Channel - from the ICW to Highway 74 Bridge at Banks Channel, including the area known locally as “The Lagoon.@ (Map 5)
E. Motts Channel - from the ICW near Marker #127 to Banks channel, including the area known locally as “The Borrow Pit@ or “The Everett Hole,@ located adjacent to Motts Channel from Marker #22 to near Marker #26. (Map 5)
F. Cape Fear River - all waters south of a line beginning at a point on the west shore 34° 04.6040’ N –77° 56.4780’ W; running easterly to a point on the east shore 34° 04.7920’N – 77° 55.4740’W. (Map 6)
G. Carolina Beach Boat Basin - from ICW Marker #161 to the municipal clocks. (Map 6)

IX. BRUNSWICK COUNTY

A. Elizabeth River - including Lower Dutchman Creek from the ICW to the Cape Fear River. (Map 6)
B. Eastern Channel - Montgomery Slough - from the ICW Marker #36 to Lockwoods Folly Inlet. (Map 7)
C. Shallotte River Inlet - from the ICW Marker #75 to the Atlantic Ocean. (Map 7)
D. Jinks Creek - from the ICW to Tubbs Inlet. (Map 8)
E. Bonaparte Creek - from the ICW Marker #111 to Little River Inlet. (Map 8)

X. 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 and 3J .0301.

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

C. The intent of this proclamation is to designate areas in the southern portion of the state in which pots may be set during a specified period of time.

D. In accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3J .0301(b), it is unlawful to use pots in any navigation channel maintained and marked by State and Federal agencies.

E. Hatched areas on the attached maps indicate areas open to potting by Items V. through IX. of this proclamation.

F. This proclamation will expire at midnight, November 30, 2009, unless superseded by another proclamation.

G. The Basin, Second Bay, Buzzards Bay, Cape, Bay and Bald Head Creeks were closed to trawling by N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 03J.0104 (b) (4) in April 2006 and are opened to crab potting.

April 28, 2009
7:45 A.M.
PT-7-2009
/sab