Releases – August 4, 2011
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will conduct a series of four public hearings from North Carolina to Florida regarding management measures proposed for red grouper. Amendment 24 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic would implement a rebuilding plan for red grouper in the South Atlantic as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act for species determined to be overfished and undergoing overfishing.
The intent of the rebuilding plan is to end overfishing immediately and increase biomass of the overfished stock to a sustainable level within a specified period of time. The amendment would also specify management parameters such as Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and Optimum Yield (OY) for the red grouper fishery.
In addition, Annual Catch Limits (in pounds or numbers of fish) and Accountability Measures (should the catch limits be exceeded) would be established for both recreational and commercial sectors of the red grouper fishery.
The public hearings will be held August 22-25, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Council staff will present an overview of the amendment and will be available for informal discussions and to answer questions. Local Council representatives will attend the meetings and take public comment regarding the amendment.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to go on record at any time during the meeting hours to record their comments regarding Snapper Grouper Amendment 24 for consideration by the Council.
A copy of the Public Hearing document for Amendment 24 will be available from the Council’s website at www.safmc.net beginning August 12, 2011, or by contacting the Council office at (843) 571-4366 or toll free at (866) SAFMC-10.
Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405, or via email to SGAmend24PHcomment@safmc.net. Written comments will be accepted from August 12, 2011, until 5:00 p.m. on September 1, 2011.
The North Carolina meeting time and place is as follows: Monday, August 22, 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Hilton Wilmington Riverside, 301 North Water Street, Wilmington, NC 28401, (910) 763-5900.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will hold a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. on Sept. 14 on four proposed fisheries rules. The hearing will be held at the division’s Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West in Morehead City.
The proposals include establishing a new rule, 15A NCAC 03O .0114, that changes the schedule for suspension, revocation, and reissuance of fishing licenses.
The N.C. General Assembly passed a law in 2010 directing the Marine Fisheries Commission to adopt such rules. The changes are necessary to provide a fairer method for suspension and revocation of licenses.
The current system often treats minor violations the same as major violations. For example, a violation of rules pertaining to gear identification (buoy markings) is equal to that of using prohibited gear in a primary nursery area. Additionally, the current system does not provide for the suspension, revocation, and reissuance of Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses.
Under the proposal, non-resource-related violations will not count toward the suspension or revocation of a license. There are 24 violations that are considered non-resource violations. They include improperly marked buoys or failure to notify the division of a change of address. Also, the new system will treat recreational violations the same as commercial.
The information below shows the current suspension and revocation schedule as compared to the proposed schedule for violations occurring within a three year period.
Current Suspension and Revocation Schedule:
2 Convictions = 10-Day Suspension
3 Convictions = 30-Day Suspension
4 or Subsequent Convictions = 6-Month Revocation
Proposed Suspension and Revocation Schedule:
2 Convictions = 30-Day Suspension
3 Convictions = 90-Day Suspension
4 or Subsequent Convictions = 1-Year Revocation
Major Violations Statutes:
Taking Shellfish from a Permanent Polluted Area (G.S. 113-187): Current = 10-Day Suspension, 6-Month revocation (2nd conviction w/in 3 years); Proposed = 1-Year Suspension, 1-Year Revocation (2nd or subsequent conviction w/in 3 years).
Taking Polluted Shellfish at Night (G.S. 113-209): Current = Felony Conviction, 10-Day Suspension; Proposed = Felony Conviction, 1-year Revocation.
Assault on a Marine Patrol Officer (G.S. 14-32 & G.S. 14-33©(4)): Current = No Suspension; Proposed = 2-year Revocation.
Littering (G.S. 14-399): Current = No Suspension; Proposed = 1 Misdemeanor conviction would count towards a suspension with a Felony conviction resulting in a 1-year Suspension.
The proposal to change the schedule for suspension, revocation, and reissuance of fishing licenses is expected to become effective Oct. 1, 2012. The three other proposed rules for the public hearing are as follows:
(1) Repeal rule 15A NCAC 03M .0504, which sets specific recreational size and bag limits for spotted seatrout. The size and bag limits for spotted seatrout changed in 2009, and were implemented under rule 15A NCAC 03M. 0512, which gives the division director authority to issue proclamations to implement measures from fishery management plans. Future changes will be implemented under this same proclamation authority. This proposed rule has an intended effective date of April 1, 2012.
(2) Amend rule 15A NCAC 03M .0519 so that it incorporates an American shad ocean closure that has been in place by proclamation since 2005. This proposed rule has an intended effective date of April 1, 2012.
(3) Amend rule 15A NCAC 03O .0111, which deals with the surrender of fishing licenses, to allow a notice of suspension or revocation of a license to be made by certified mail. This proposed rule has an intended effective date of Oct. 1, 2012.
Full text of the proposed rules can be found on the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries website at www.ncfisheries.net/rules/proposed_rules.html. Written comments will be accepted through Sept. 30, 2011, and may be sent to: Catherine Blum, Rulemaking Coordinator, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557; FAX: (252) 726-0254; Catherine.Blum@ncdenr.gov.
For more information, contact Blum at (252) 808-8013.
Ready Mixed Concrete Company/ARGOS USA, in conjunction with the SC DNR and the Jim Caudle Reef Foundation, has announced their ReadyReef Project, an ongoing initiative to recycle unused concrete into reef cones for use in the artificial reefs of South Carolina.
Engineers at Ready Mixed Concrete Company/ARGOS USA have worked for over a year in developing the mold for the cones. The mold utilizes both steel and rubber, a unique design that allows for multiple uses and further reducing waste. The first addition of these specially designed reef cones to the Jim Caudle Artificial Reef will take place off the coast of Little River in the next few weeks. This initial drop will place close to 100 cones on the structure, which provides a habitat for fish and helps create a sustainable underwater environment.
“At Ready Mixed Concrete Company/ARGOS USA, we aim to conserve natural resources and minimize waste through source reduction and recycling,” said Dexter Tart, Environmental Manger for Ready Mixed Concrete Company/Argos USA.
“We’re very pleased to add another partner to our Marine Artificial Reef Program,” said Robert Martore, Artificial Reef Coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. “These structures will create productive, long lasting habitats that will benefit the offshore environment as well as the numerous fishermen and divers who visit our reefs.” The Grand Strand coast is in particular need for the development of artificial reef systems due to its lack of natural structures.
South Carolina currently has 45 artificial reefs, the Jim Caudle Reef being the most visited, which, combined, bring $83 million to the South Carolina economy each year. Artificial reefs help to sustain the economy by preserving fishing in the area. All artificial reefs in South Carolina are located on flat featureless sand bottoms, which offered little interest to divers and fishermen prior to the placement of reef materials.
“The Jim Caudle reef has grown from a mere 40,000 cubic feet of structure to more than 260,000 cubic feet. The artificial reef currently contains a reef buoy, over 500 concrete cones, 175 steel pup tents, 6 deck barges, 8 BK barges, a concrete mixer, tanker trailer, the dredge Orion, 50 armored personnel carriers, and several hundred tons of concrete rubble,” explained Ron McManus of the Jim Caudle Reef Foundation. “Thanks to our community partnerships, such as this one, it will continue to grow and create a thriving environment.”
