Releases – March 10, 2011
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), along with Cape Hatteras civic and business organizations, denounce the National Park Service’s (NPS) decision to adopt an off-road vehicle (ORV) management plan for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area (CHNSRA) that closes extensive areas of the seashore to the public and severely limits ORV access to one of the premier surf fishing locations on the East coast.
The NPS adopted its preferred management plan which severely curtails recreational fishing and other recreational activities beyond what is needed to address resource protection. The final ORV plan poses serious issues for the local economy, which is largely dependent upon tourism and recreation, such as surf fishing, because it prevents reasonable public access to many of the park’s best sportfishing areas.
“We are extremely disappointed with the Park Service and the Department of the Interior,” said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. “Their preferred alternative for ORV access far exceeds what is necessary for resource protection and betrays the promises they made to the recreational fishing industry and local government and business leaders regarding recreational use of the seashore. We fully understand and support the need to have healthy resources in the seashore, but the restrictions placed on Cape Hatteras go far beyond any sense of balance and fairness.”
Since 2008, the Cape Hatteras recreational area has been managed under an already-restrictive consent decree in anticipation of a final management plan. The consent decree is the result of a settlement reached after Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society filed an injunction asking that all ORV access, except for essential vehicles, be stopped. The consent decree has resulted in extensive restrictions on ORV access to key surf fishing spots in the Cape Hatteras recreational area and a significant economic burden on the local economy.
“At each stage of this process, the restrictions have become more and more onerous” said Bob Eakes, owner of Red Drum Tackle Shop, located in Buxton, NC, whose business depends on sportfishing access. “Decades ago, our community engaged with the NPS to manage the seashore with promises of reasonable access for the public to enjoy fishing and recreational activities. In fact, the first responsibility identified in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area’s enabling legislation is ‘the preservation of traditional, cultural, recreational and commercial values for the citizen visitors.’ While we have attempted to work with the NPS to seek a reasonable, balanced compromise in this plan, our input has been ignored. It saddens me beyond words to see my community suffering like this because of such overly restrictive, and unnecessary, management measures.”
“With this action, the National Park Service has effectively shut down some of the best surf fishing on the East coast because they are unwilling to work with anglers and the local community to come to a reasonable compromise,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman.
The NC Division of Marine Fisheries is seeking public input on the development of the Bayview Artificial Reef.
The division will hold a meeting March 16 to update the project and allow anglers, commercial fishermen, boaters, and others to comment on the plans. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Washington Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington.
The Bayview Reef is centered about 1.5 miles southeast of the mouth of Bath Creek in the Pamlico River, one-half mile from shore. There are 28,000 tires on this 17-acre reef that are still functioning as reef material. There is strong local interest in revitalizing and expanding the Bayview Reef.
This reef requires alternative construction material considerations because it sits on soft bottom. Thus, this reef is challenging, and construction, design, and permitting of the site has been delayed. In addition to new material types, an expansion into shallower water with firmer bottom is under consideration. The division is committed to finding a solution for the Bayview Reef or finding a more suitable location in the vicinity of the existing reef.
The division expects to design and construct the reef in two phases: a material testing phase followed by a construction phase. The division plans to use existing state, federal, and partnering funding to accomplish these goals.
During the March 16 meeting, the division wants to hear from fishermen and others regarding the types of activity that occur in this area. Crabbing and gill netting practices and recreational fishing and boating activities are of particular interest to the division.
Written comments will be accepted through March 30 and may be sent by mail to: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Program, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557 or by e-mail to Jim.Francesconi@ncdenr.gov.
For questions or comments prior to the meeting, contact Artificial Reef Program Director Jim Francesconi at (252) 808-8063 or Jim.Francesconi@ncdenr.gov, or Resource Enhancement Section Chief Craig Hardy at (252) 808-8046 or Craig.Hardy@ncdenr.gov.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is seeking input from the for-hire fishing industry about whether to restructure the current permit and license requirements, and if so, how to do so.
The division will hold three meetings to accept public comment on this issue at the following times and locations:
6:00 p.m., March 21, NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wilmington Regional Office, 127 Cardinal Drive, Wilmington
6:00 p.m., March 23, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City
6:00 p.m., March 29, Dare County Administration Building, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo
The state currently requires charter boat, head boat, and guide boat operators to either hold a blanket Coastal Recreational Fishing License or a for-hire vessel permit to charge to take people fishing. The blanket Coastal Recreational Fishing License is an optional license that for-hire vessels can purchase to cover the fishing license requirement for all those fishing on the boat. The for-hire vessel permit is free, but does not cover the fishing license requirement for all those on the boat.
To obtain either the license or permit, a for-hire boat operator must hold a U.S. Coast Guard license, show proof of vessel registration, and show photo identification. License or permit holders are required to participate in statistical surveys, if asked. The fees and qualifications are the same for both residents and non-residents.
The NC Marine Fisheries Commission has asked the division to establish whether there is public support for changing the requirements and, if so, to write a proposal. Any major changes would require approval from the NC General Assembly.
Issues that have been discussed at past commission meetings include: (1) should the state eliminate the free for-hire permit and require either the blanket Coastal Recreational Fishing License or create a new guide permit? (2) should the state require mandatory liability insurance or other certifications to obtain a for-hire license or permit? (3) should the state require captains to keep and submit logbooks? (4) should the state require for-hire captains to take first aid and CPR training, drug tests or physicals? (5) should the state require for-hire vessel inspections? (6) if the state should create a guide license, what should it cost for residents and non-residents?
Written comments may be sent to Don Hesselman, License and Statistics Section chief, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 796, Morehead City, N.C. 28557 or to Don.Hesselman@ncdenr.gov.
For more information, contact Hesselman at (252) 808-8099.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has scheduled four public hearings in late March to gather input on a proposed rule that would standardize regulations for sea trout (spotted or speckled), flounder, gray trout (weakfish), and red drum taken in inland, joint, or coastal fishing waters.
Regulations for saltwater fishes found in inland waters are set by the Wildlife Commission and typically mirror the rules established by the Marine Fisheries Commission in adjacent waters. However, because the rule-making timelines between the two agencies are not the same, it often takes up to a year or more to unify regulations across all jurisdictional waters.
The proposed rule would expedite this process by establishing the same seasons and size and creel limits for these four saltwater fish species when caught in inland waters by referencing those regulations set by the Marine Fisheries Commission.
If adopted, the proposed rule change would provide consistency for managing these four saltwater fish species and should minimize confusion for anglers fishing in different jurisdictional waters.
“The disparity in rule cycles between the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Commission often resulted in regulations being different for anglers fishing for the same species in coastal waters and those fishing in inland waters,” said Christian Waters, program manager for the Wildlife Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. “We’ve heard from a lot of recreational anglers that the current regulation framework for these four saltwater species is confusing, so we hope this proposed change to standardize regulations among the jurisdictional waters will eliminate their confusion, streamline future regulation changes, and improve communications with all our fishing constituents.”
All meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.
March 28, Elizabethtown, Bladen County Courthouse, 166 Courthouse Drive
March 29, New Bern, Craven County Courthouse, 302 Broad Street
March 30, Edenton, Chowan County Agricultural Center, 730 North Granville Street, Suite A
March 31, Raleigh, Wildlife Resources Commission Headquarters Centennial Campus, 1751 Varsity Drive
In addition to the four hearings, the public can provide comments by:
Mailing comments to 1721 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1721;
Visiting the Commission’s website at www.ncwildlife.org and clicking on the “Proposed Fishing Rule Changes Submit Comments” link on the right side of the page.
The public comment period for this proposed rule ends May 2, 2011.
For more information regarding management of spotted sea trout, gray trout, flounder and red drum, visit the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ website at www.ncdmf.net.
The NC Wildlife Resources Commission has completed renovations on the Ocean Isle Beach Boating Access Area, which will reopen to the public on Friday, March 4.
The Commission has expanded and paved the parking lot and also added additional stormwater treatment facilities.
“Our coastal region continues to be a popular destination for boaters across North Carolina, said Erik Christofferson, chief of the Commission’s Division of Engineering Services. “These renovations will make Ocean Isle a more convenient spot for boaters, and we are pleased to provide this improved access to our state’s waters.”
For more information on boating in North Carolina, including an interactive map of free, 24-hour boating access areas, visit www.ncwildlife.org.
