Releases – April 28, 2011
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the Town of Emerald Isle celebrated the opening of the Emerald Isle Boating Access Area—the largest public boat launch facility on the North Carolina Coast—during a grand opening ceremony on Friday morning, April 15.
The Emerald Isle Boating Access Area, on N.C. 58, has four launch lanes and parking for 18 single vehicles and 112 vehicles with trailers. The town eventually plans to construct additional park amenities.
“We are grateful for this partnership with the Town of Emerald Isle that has allowed us to build this coastal region site,” said Erik Christofferson, chief of the Commission’s Division of Engineering Services. “The four launch lanes and ample parking will allow boaters from across the state more convenient access to Bogue Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway. We are grateful to all the partners that contributed to this project.”
Friday’s commemoration included remarks from state and local officials, as well as a ceremonial first boat launch.
The Commission paid for the construction of the access area through funding from motorboat registration receipts and sport fish restoration funds. The Town of Emerald Isle purchased the land for the site, generating the $4.25 million necessary from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Carteret County, the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the N.C. Division of Coastal Management Public Waterfront Access Grant Program, and sales of the N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing License.
“The project is the result of a great partnership and a lot of hard work by all parties over the past 2 years and 9 months,” said Frank Rush, town manager of Emerald Isle. “The new facility is a model boat launching facility, and includes exemplary storm water management practices to help protect water quality in Bogue Sound. We are all very proud of the project and the great partnership between state and local government. ”
The commercial sector for vermilion snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic from, Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina (35°15.19′ N. latitude), to Key West, Florida, will reopen, effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) May 1, 2011, until 12:01 a.m. May 8, 2011. NOAA Fisheries Service has determined the January – June 2011, commercial quota of 315,523 pounds has not yet been met.
Commercial harvest of vermilion snapper closed on March 10, 2011, because NOAA Fisheries Service projected landings would reach the quota by that time. However, an updated report shows that less fish were landed than expected. Based on 2011 daily landings rates and the pounds remaining on the quota, NOAA Fisheries Service has determined commercial harvest of vermilion snapper can reopen for 7 days. May 1, 2011, was chosen as the opening day based on feedback from the fishing industry and weather concerns.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper may not fish for or possess vermilion snapper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, May 1, 2011, and must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such vermilion snapper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, May 8, 2011. The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to sale or purchase of vermilion snapper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, May 8, 2011, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
Commercial harvest of vermilion snapper will remain closed until 12:01 a.m., July 1, 2011. During the closure, all harvest and possession of vermilion snapper 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 vermilion snapper 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.
Figuring out what fisheries agency is responsible for what fishing regulation can sometimes be confusing to the public. Here’s a short primer to help untangle those regulatory lines:
N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is a nine-member board appointed by the governor, to three-year terms. The purpose of the Marine Fisheries Commission is to manage, restore, develop, cultivate, conserve, protect, and regulate the marine and estuarine resources of the state.
Coastal waters of the state include saltwater rivers and sounds and the ocean out to three miles from shore.
By law, the commission consists of three commercial fishermen, with one of those being a licensed dealer, processor or distributor; three recreational fishermen, with one of those being involved with the sports fishing industry; one fisheries scientist; and two at-large. There are also residency requirements and earned income thresholds set out in the statute.
The commission meets at least four times a year to debate and vote on fishing rules and other management decisions. Issues are vetted through a fishery management plan process that includes extensive review by advisory committees and ample opportunity for public comment.
The commission has the authority to delegate decisions on opening and closing fishing seasons, size and harvest limits, and gear requirements to the director of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. The commission has delegated this authority on many species, but retains the right to overrule the director’s decisions.
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is the state agency that collects and analyzes data necessary to recommend management actions to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission. The agency then implements the rules and policies passed by the Marine Fisheries Commission.
The division is comprised of nine sections that collectively work together to accomplish this task. Staff duties include researching the stock status of species and recommending fisheries management actions, selling fishing licenses and analyzing statistics, enforcing fisheries rules, educating the public about fisheries issues, reviewing environmental permits for impacts to fisheries, building artificial reefs and other resource enhancement projects, and monitoring fisheries for interactions with protected species.
The director of the Division of Marine Fisheries has authority to open and close fishing seasons and set size and harvest limits and gear requirements for many species. However, the Marine Fisheries Commission may overrule the director’s decisions.
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission oversees freshwater fishing in inland waters. The Division of Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources Commission jointly regulate brackish waters of the state. Maps of boundary lines can be found at ncfisheries.net/maps/coastal_inland/index.html.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regulates federal ocean waters between three miles and 200 miles from shore. Regional councils develop fishery management plans for NMFS. North Carolina sits on two.
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is a NMFS council that focuses on species primarily associated with waters south of Hatteras.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is a NMFS council that focuses on species primarily associated with waters north of Hatteras.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is a federally mandated cooperative that coordinates fisheries management in state waters between the East Coast states.
North Carolina has the opportunity to increase the economic impact of fishery management to the entire state with a single bill—H.B. 353—a bill to make striped bass, red drum, and speckled trout gamefish.
According to a study released this week by Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina, the economic impacts of recreational angling for those three species dwarf those of the commercial sector and make a compelling case for legislative measures that enhance recreational fisheries.
“For the first time ever, we have an opportunity in this state to take an objective look at how we can best use our marine resources, and economics should be a key factor in that determination,” said CCA NC President, Jim Hardin. “Using an extremely conservative evaluation of the state’s own economic data, this assessment shows clearly that recreational angling is a far greater economic engine for North Carolina than commercial fishing. And that engine will rev even higher with the passage of H.B. 353.”
Even though the study by Gentner Consulting Group used the most optimistic commercial figures from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries against the most conservative numbers for recreational fishing, the report nonetheless shows the overwhelming economic power of recreational angling.
Recreational spending across all three species totals $81 million in the state, and supports $120.8 million in total sales, $38.5 million in income and 1,536 jobs. Recreational fishing for striped bass alone generates more economic activity ($12.1 million in expenditures) than commercial fishing does for all three species combined.
“From a commercial fisheries standpoint, these species do not appear to be very important to the viability of commercial fishing communities in North Carolina,” says Gentner, who ran the recreational economics data collection program for the National Marine Fisheries Service for eight years before starting his own company. “Even including the commercial processing, wholesaling and retail sectors, recreational fishing generates 6.5 times more jobs and 12.5 times more sales than the entire commercial industry from the harvester to the plate.”
H.B. 353 was introduced last month and has been unfairly attacked by some commercial fishermen as a threat to their communities. Gentner’s analysis clearly demonstrates that the upside for striped bass, red drum, and speckled trout as gamefish far outweighs the status quo management of these species for a few individuals.
“When you filter out the emotion and rhetoric, this debate comes down to a decision of what is best for the people of North Carolina. That has not always been a priority in the management of our marine resources in the past, but we believe it is now time for a fresh look at the facts surrounding these fisheries,” said Greg Hurt, CCA NC Legislative Committee Chairman. “Do we just want to keep repeating history, or do we want to create new pathways for economic growth? We believe the gamefish bill is the path to a better future for North Carolina.”
