Releases – May 12, 2011
The North Carolina Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA NC) recently donated limestone marl rock valued at $20,000 to the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). The rock will be deployed to refurbish Artificial Reef 392 located in the Neuse River just below downtown New Bern.
CCA NC purchased marl rock that will create about 11 acres of reef. The state creates mounds that provide additional habitat and structure for many different types of fish, shellfish, crabs, and other species with the added benefit of enhancing opportunities for recreational fishing.
NC DMF has additional enhancement of AR 392 planned including reef balls and concrete pipes. DMF is almost finished with the placement of the marl and hopes to complete this first phase very soon. The existing reef consists of tires deployed back in the 1970’s.
Spring is here and with it comes ideal fishing weather. If you plan to invest in new equipment, think twice before throwing out your old rod and reel. Rick Wilkinson, a surf-fishing instructor at the North Carolina Aquarium, volunteers his spare time rebuilding donated fishing gear. He then hands over the good-as-new rigs to area youth and adult groups.
The refurbished equipment goes to groups like Big Buddy, Community Boys and Girls Club, the Brigade Boys and Girls Club, and St. Mary’s Social Ministry. “I really like bringing old fishing gear back to life,” Rick says. “And if a fishing rod I reworked can make someone’s life a little happier, then that’s just great.”
How to Donate
Anyone wanting to donate a used rod and reel can drop the gear off 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.
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is located just south of Kure Beach, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, on U.S. 421. The site is less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. For general information, you can visit www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has made two changes to its Saltwater Fishing Tournament, popularly called the Citation Program, effective Jan. 1, 2011.
The tournament is not a competition but a longstanding certification program that recognizes outstanding saltwater catches. The tournament year runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.
For 2011, the division will remove red snapper from the program due to a federal fishery closure. The closure went into effect Jan. 4, 2010, and is not expected to be lifted anytime soon.
Additionally, requirements for a bluefin tuna citation will change to promote the release of larger fish. Currently, a fisherman may receive a citation for landing an 80-pound bluefin tuna or releasing one of any size. Beginning Jan. 1, released bluefin tuna must be at least 70 inches curved fork length to receive a citation. Landed fish must weigh at least 200 pounds.
For more information, contact Carole Willis, DMF sport fishing specialist, at (252) 726-7021 or carole.y.willis@ncdenr.gov. A list of 2011 requirements can be downloaded at www.ncfisheries.net.
NOAA is again surveying saltwater anglers across the nation to update and improve estimates of the overall economic contributions of saltwater recreational fishing to the U.S. economy.
“The money that millions of recreational anglers spend on fishing trips each year produces tens of thousands of jobs and billions in sales revenue,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “This year’s survey is a chance for saltwater anglers to help NOAA get an updated, accurate picture of how recreational fishing translates into economic vitality and jobs for Americans.”
NOAA and the saltwater angling community need timely economic data to help evaluate the economic importance of recreational fishing activities. The data gives a more accurate look at the economic effects of fishing regulations and changes in the ecosystem caused by natural or manmade events. The information gathered in the survey will contribute to more informed decisions on a variety of recreational fishing issues.
“By surveying the recreational fishing community, we are following through on one of the recreational fishing community’s top priorities identified at the 2010 sportfishing summit,” said Eric Schwaab, assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “The survey will ensure that NOAA and the fishery management councils have the best data when considering management actions that affect anglers.”
Throughout 2011, NOAA will survey a random sampling of the more than 15 million saltwater anglers in each of the 23 coastal states and Puerto Rico for the 2011 National Marine Recreational Fishing Expenditure Survey. The survey will include a random sampling of people who fish from shore, from docks, from party or charter boats, and from privately owned boats. Field interviews have begun and will continue throughout the year. Surveying began in January in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, California, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. It will begin in the remaining Atlantic states and Texas in March and April, and in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington in May. This is NOAA’s second national survey focusing on how much saltwater anglers spend on their sport.
NOAA and its state partners will ask anglers how long their fishing trips last and how much they spend on bait, boat fuel, ice, charter fees, and other expenses. Anglers will also be asked to participate in a follow-up survey that will ask them to estimate what they spend on durable goods such as boats and fishing tackle used for saltwater angling for the previous 12 months. Those who participate in both parts of the survey will help NOAA produce accurate economic information.
Economists from NOAA’s Fisheries Service throughout the country as well as regional and state partners are assisting with the 2011 survey. Once the economic data is collected, they will be analyzed and released as a NOAA report. The most recent economic study in 2009 showed that anglers’ expenditures generated $59 billion in sales and supported more than 385,000 jobs.
Donovan Twyne already knows a good deal about his new job as District 1 captain of the N.C. Marine Patrol.
The district encompasses all state coastal waters from Ocracoke to the Virginia state line, and Twyne has worked in it since he came to the Marine Patrol in 1994.
He started as a patrol officer, working the Manteo/Wanchese area. For the past seven years, he has served as the district’s lieutenant. But he has more than just work experience in the area.
Twyne grew up in Dare County, graduating from Manteo High School in 1984.
“His knowledge of the area, his rapport with the local residents, and his extensive knowledge of marine fisheries regulations impacting his area of responsibility made him the right man for the job,” said Marine Patrol Col. Rex Lanier.
Twyne, 45, received his captain’s bars Monday in a pinning ceremony at his parents’ home in Manteo, making him first in command in the district. His duties as captain officially began Sunday.
“I want to continue the service for the people and try to make District 1 the best district it can be,” Twyne said.
For more information, contact Twyne at (252) 808-8131 or Donovan.Twyne@ncdenr.gov.
The sportfishing industry champions bipartisan legislation that would halt efforts to federally ban traditional fishing tackle and ammunition. The chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus–Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and John Thune (R-SD) and Representatives Jeff Miller (R-FL) and Mike Ross (D-AR)–introduced the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act (S. 838 and H.R. 1558) to help ensure that any future regulations on fishing tackle are established based on scientific data instead of unjustified petitions. This legislation will put an end to attempts to overregulate the recreational fishing and hunting industries and protect the rights of anglers and hunters who choose to sustainably enjoy their sports.
“The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act will help protect one of our nation’s greatest pastimes from unwarranted regulation,” said American Sportfishing Association (ASA) Vice President Gordon Robertson. “The sportfishing industry applauds the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus leadership and the additional sponsors of this legislation for addressing an issue that urgently needs a dose of common sense.”
Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dismissed a petition filed by several organizations seeking to ban the manufacture and trade of lead fishing tackle and ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) because the petitioners did not demonstrate that such a ban is “necessary to protect against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.” The new legislation supports and reinforces the EPA’s decision by clarifying the TSCA exemption for ammunition and establishing a similar exemption for fishing tackle.
Anglers can visit www.KeepAmericaFishing.org to voice their support for this important legislation and to learn more about the issue.
