Releases June 20, 2013
Sister Mary Isaac Koenig understands the power of extending a helping hand and a fishing pole. For several years, the St. Mary Social Ministry/Tileston Outreach, in Wilmington, has received refurbished rods and reels from a donation program at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Sister Isaac in turn gives the fishing equipment to individuals in need, both children and adults.
“Children receiving the fishing equipment learn a wonderful skill to use throughout their lifetime,” Sister Isaac said. “Fishing brings quiet to the spirit and provides them time with a mentor.”
Children aren’t the only ones to benefit. One man battling alcoholism sought Sister Isaac’s help.
“He was trying to stay occupied and stay sober,” she said.
Sister Isaac’s plan? Give him a good-as-new rod and reel from the Aquarium program.
“It will provide him with food and [fishing] provides a quiet time to do something productive,” she explained.
This is the kind of benefit Rick Wilkinson, a long-time Aquarium volunteer, hopes comes from the donated fishing gear. Wilkinson founded the program and began rebuilding donated fishing gear in 1997. He gives the rigs to area organizations like St. Mary Social Ministry and Big Buddy. These efforts have put fishing poles into the hands of more than 400 people, according to Wilkinson’s estimates.
“I really like bringing old fishing gear back to life,” said Wilkinson, who started fishing when he was a child. “It makes me feel good to do this. And if a fishing rod I reworked can make someone’s life a little happier, then that’s just great.”
Used rod and reel donations can be made at the Aquarium Visitors Service Desk between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. any day. Even an old tackle box is welcome, especially if it has some lures and tackle inside. Please ensure that the rod and reel is in somewhat workable order and has no missing parts.
The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) advises the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to Fisheries and Aquaculture. MAFAC is considering if and how the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) should develop a sustainable seafood certification program for U.S. fishery products. Please take 5 minutes to complete this brief survey and share your opinions. The information you provide will be used to inform MAFAC’s recommendations regarding potential federal sustainable seafood certification.
The survey link is at www.surveymonkey.com/s/TZZHNZB.
On April 10, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council passed a motion supporting the development of a sustainability certification program for U.S. seafood harvested under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The New England Fishery Management Council approved a similar motion on April 25. The topic was further discussed at the Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries 3 Conference on May 5-7 in Washington, D.C., and was reflected in the summary of 128 recommendations developed by conference participants.
The MAFMC motion is that the Council recommend an amendment that would authorize NMFS to provide the US industry with a sustainability certification program and certification mark, which would provide the industry with the ability to promote and sell its seafood products, in both domestic and export markets, as sustainable based upon the requirements of the Act.
The NEFMC motion is that the Council recommend to add to the list of reauthorization priorities the need for a sustainable certification that would authorize NMFS to provide the U.S. industry with a sustainable certification program and certification mark, which would provide the industry with the ability to promote and sell its seafood products, in both domestic and export markets, as sustainable based upon the requirements of the Act.
The MONF3 recommendations related to MSA Certification Program is (1) consider a national sustainable seafood certification program, and (2) recognize certification of U.S. fisheries that meet the 10 MSA national standards.
MAFAC will soon be considering recommendations regarding a potential federal program to certify U.S. seafood as being sustainable. Your input in this survey will be used to inform these recommendations.
Fishing for a fun and inexpensive way to celebrate Independence Day? The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission invites anglers and would-be anglers of all ages to go fishing—for free.
On July 4 from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m., everyone in North Carolina—resident and non-residents alike—can fish in any public body of water, including coastal waters, without purchasing a fishing license or additional trout fishing privilege.
Although no fishing license is required, all other fishing regulations, such as size and creel limits and lure restrictions, still apply.
To give anglers a better chance of catching fish, the Commission stocks a variety of fish in waters across the state—including trout and channel catfish. The agency also provides access to fishing sites across the state, including public fishing areas and boating access areas. The interactive fishing and boating maps on the Commission’s website list more than 500 fishing and boating areas, many of which are free, that are open to the public.
Authorized by the N.C. General Assembly and started in 1994, North Carolina’s annual free fishing day always falls on July 4.
On all other days of the year, a fishing license is not required for anglers 15 years and younger, but anyone age 16 and older must have a fishing license to fish in any public water in North Carolina, including coastal waters.
To purchase a license, you can (1) call the Commission at (888) 248-6834. The hours of operation are 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., 7 days a week; (2) go to www.ncwildlife.org using a computer or mobile device; or (3) visit a local Wildlife Service Agent.
For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit the Fishing page at www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing.
As the CAMO recently advised, the NC Senate severely slashed the general fund appropriation to the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) by $9 million, which is a cut of about 49%. The Governor’s budget cut only 1% from the wildlife appropriation and no other agency was cut to this extent. The $18 million in annual appropriation to the WRC in past years has been to support the work of the agency in areas unrelated to hunting and fishing and is a sound investment in the programs and services of the agency.
The WRC cannot make up this deficit from hunting and fishing license fees or the Wildlife Endowment Fund without hurting the traditional programs of the agency. The WRC has put 120 ongoing projects on hold until the results of the budget proposal by the Senate is resolved. Without significant restoration of these funds, many of the projects will be scraped.
Slashed programs would include critical services such as law enforcement and widely used statewide infrastructure for boating and fishing access areas, game lands, shooting ranges, community fishing sites, and fish hatcheries.
The agency manages 2 million acres of public game lands; 49 lakes and ponds, including 31 dams; 73 waterfowl impoundments; 1,878 miles of roads; 6 fish hatcheries that produce 7 million fish annually; 58 public fishing areas; 211 public boating access areas; 1,400 navigational aids; and 137 buildings that range from storage buildings and field stations to education centers and a 73,000-square-foot agency headquarters and environmental education center.
Hunting and fishing is big business in NC. The wildlife-related outdoor industry gives a whopping $3.3 billion bonus to the state’s economy every year through direct expenditures by hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts. This stimulus comes from 1.2 million resident anglers
The $18 million in general fund appropriation to keep this powerful economic engine that requires very little input or maintenance running is a wise investment by any terms of evaluation.
Take a minute and take action by contacting your elected Representative to ask him or her to restore the full appropriation to the Wildlife Resources Commission’s budget for the Biennium.
