Releases – October 25, 2012
The commercial harvest of shallow-water grouper in federal waters of the South Atlantic from North Carolina to Key West, Florida, are closed, effective 12:01 a.m. (local time), October 20, 2012, through the remainder of the 2012 fishing year. A seasonal closure is in place for shallow-water grouper from January 1 until May 1. Therefore, commercial harvest of shallow-water grouper will not reopen until May 1, 2013.
The commercial annual catch limit for gag is 352,940 pounds. When the commercial annual catch limit for gag is met, NOAA Fisheries is required to close commercial harvest of all shallow-water grouper in the South Atlantic waters. Species included in the shallow-water grouper complex are gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, and coney.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and that is landing shallow-water grouper for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such shallow-water grouper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 20, 2012. The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to sale or purchase of shallow-water grouper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 20, 2012, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
Recreational Sector: The recreational sector will remain open until January 1, 2013. All harvest and possession of shallow-water grouper in or from closed federal waters of the South Atlantic is subject to the applicable bag and possession limits, and the sale or purchase of shallow-water grouper taken from closed federal waters is prohibited. In addition, those bag and possession limits, and the prohibition on sale or purchase, apply in state and federal waters of the South Atlantic for a vessel for which a valid federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued.
A seasonal closure is in place for shallow-water grouper from January 1 until May 1, therefore both recreational and commercial sectors will be closed from January 1 until May 1, 2013.
For additional information, please visit the Gag and Shallow Water Grouper Commercial Closure Frequently Asked Questions at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/faqs.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries reopened certain shallow water areas of Pamlico Sound to flounder gill net fishing Monday, October 15, with additional time restrictions. The division also reopened Core Sound, Back Sound, The Straits, and North River to the use of large-mesh gill nets with a maximum 1,000-yard gill net length restriction.
Large-mesh gill nets are generally used to target southern flounder. The Pamlico Sound Gill Net Restricted Area closed to large-mesh gill net sets Sept. 26 after the division documented four interactions with sea turtles in one week. This was in contrast to last year’s fishing season, when no turtle interactions were observed. The division has consulted with the National Marine Fisheries Service and determined that it can now reopen these waters and still remain within conditions of an incidental take permit.
The division will limit fishing to overnight soaks Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, due to the continued presence of sea turtles in these waters and in an attempt to prolong the fishing season.
By federal rule, Pamlico Sound closes to large-mesh gill net fishing from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30 each year. However, since 2000, the National Marine Fisheries Service has allowed a highly-monitored, large-mesh gill net fishery during the closure in limited areas of the sound under a series of incidental take permits. The division is bound by the conditions of this permit and will be required to close the waters again if interactions continue.
Core Sound, Back Sound, The Straits and North River closed to large-mesh gill nets May 13 due to increased interactions with sea turtles. The Marine Fisheries Commission voted to extend this closure for the rest of the summer and early fall after the division had determined that these waters accounted for the majority of the sea turtle interactions the state had documented since implementing a statewide large-mesh gill net observer program in 2010.
The commission voted at its August meeting to reopen southern Core Sound, Back Sound, The Straits, and North River to the use of large-mesh gill nets Oct. 15-May 7. However, due to the continued presence of sea turtles in these waters, and in an attempt to prolong fishing in these waters, the division will limit the maximum gill net yardage to 1,000 yards. The division is bound by the conditions of a sea turtle lawsuit settlement agreement and will be required to close the waters again if interactions with sea turtles continue.
For the specific regulations, go to http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamations and click on M-51-2012 for the Pamlico Sound Gill Net Restricted Area and M-52-2012 for Core Sound, Back Sound, The Straits, and North River.
For more information, contact the division’s Protected Resources Section chief Chris Batsavage at (252) 808-8009 or Chris.Batsavage@ncdenr.gov.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen and scientists to serve on the River Herring Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee.
The committee will assist the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries in updating the River Herring Fishery Management Plan. The commission uses fishery management plans as guides for implementing regulations and other management measures.
To qualify to serve on a committee, an individual may not have had a significant fisheries violation within the past three years.
Individuals interested in serving as an adviser should be willing to attend meetings at least once a month and actively participate in the committee process, which includes reviewing scientific documents and issuing papers to make recommendations on management strategies. Advisers will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties.
Applications are available online at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/mfc-advisory-committees, or at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices, or by calling (252) 808-8022 or (800) 682-2632. Applications should be returned by Nov. 5 to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557, Attention: Lauren Morris or Lauren.Morris@ncdenr.gov.
A recent presentation made by Ron McManus, Executive Director of the Jim Caudle Artificial Reef Foundation, along with Marc Jordan, President and CEO of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, has honored County Commissioner, Brent Schulz, along with other civic-minded leaders for their work in keeping the Intracoastal Waterway free of abandoned vessels.
“Not only does the work of these folks keep our waterway beautiful and safe for fellow boaters, but it plays an important role in growing our local economy,” said McManus. “These vessels, otherwise useless, find a second life as part of our artificial reef system.”
Schulz was praised for his sponsorship of a new ordinance that allows vessels deemed abandoned by the SCDNR to be removed in a timely manner and either sunk on the Jim Caudle Reef or sent to local landfills.
Along with Schulz, McManus praised ‘Chuggie’ Vereen of Vereen Construction, Brian Coggeshall, Towboat USA, and Ron Webber and Bobby Steele of Argos Ready Mixed Concrete of Socastee, whose companies and ongoing contributions have led to the success of the reef.
Located just 2 ½ miles off South Carolina’s Little River shoreline, the Jim Caudle Artificial Reef, also known as PA-01, is truly a South Carolina success story. “In 1993, this was South Carolina’s least visited reef,” said McManus. “Today it is the most visited! Since our early beginning over 200,000 visits have been made to the reef by fishermen as well as divers who enjoy its vibrant habitat.”
South Carolina’s artificial reef system not only benefits the fishermen, but also is a boon to the state and local economy. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, artificial reefs generate over $83 million annually and create in excess of 1,000 jobs in and around the communities in which they are located.
Speaking in regard to the addition of the abandoned vessels, the always good-natured McManus had this to offer: “These vessels find themselves in good company. The Jim Caudle Artificial Reef currently contains a reef buoy, over 700 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.”
For those who know Ron McManus and are familiar with his passion for the project, they know that the list above is just the beginning!
U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre recently met with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, to press three major coastal issues for Southeastern North Carolina. Congressman McIntyre stated, “The coast is critical to North Carolina’s economy, and we are continuing to press ahead on issues that are vital for our coast to remain strong and vibrant. Our meeting with Secretary Darcy was very productive, and we will continue to promote the importance of North Carolina’s beaches, waterways, inlets, and coastal communities so that they receive the resources and attention they deserve!”
McIntyre raised three issues at the meeting in the Rayburn House Office Building: 1) he stressed the importance of the Dredge Merritt and the key role it plays in keeping our waterways and inlets open; 2) he stressed the importance of North Carolina’s shallow draft inlets and the vital need for resources to be available for dredging; and 3) he advocated for finding a solution to ensure reauthorization of the Carolina Beach beach renourishment project.
