Releases – June 19, 2014
Your nation needs you. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary assists the Coast Guard in non-military and non-law enforcement programs such as public education, vessel safety checks, safety patrols, search and rescue, maritime security, and environmental protection. Wear the Auxiliary uniform with pride, and former military can wear their ribbons.
Criminal background check and membership are required.
For a flotilla near you, visit www.cgaux.org, or call (252) 393-2869 if interested in the flotilla in Morehead City, NC.
A new rule, effective July 16, 2014, will change the coastal migratory pelagics permit requirements and restrictions, including modification of the sales provisions and income requirements.
For the Gulf of Mexico, the rule prohibits the sale of king and spanish mackerel caught under the bag limit unless those fish are either caught on a for-hire trip and the vessel has both a for-hire and commercial vessel permit, or the fish are caught as part of a state-permitted tournament and the proceeds from the sale are donated to charity.
For the Atlantic region, the rule prohibits the sale of king and spanish mackerel caught under the bag limit unless the fish are caught as part of a state-permitted tournament and the proceeds from the sale are donated to charity.
In addition, the rule removes the income qualification requirement for king and spanish mackerel commercial vessel permits.
NOAA Fisheries with the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils developed an amendment to the management plan for coastal migratory pelagics containing these management measures. The final rule implementing the regulations published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2014.
This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.
Electronic copies of the amendment, final rule, supporting materials, and frequently asked questions may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries website at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_sa/cmp/2014/am20a/index.html.
On July 4, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission invites anglers and would-be anglers of all ages to go fishing—for free.
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 (www.ncwildlife.org) 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:
(1) Call the Commission at (888) 248-6834. 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;
(3) Visit a local Wildlife Service Agent.
For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit the Fishing page online at www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently celebrated the opening of its first Boating Access Area (BAA) in Lenoir County with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Kinston Boating Access Area, located at 963 Hwy 11-55 in Kinston, features a floating dock and two launch ramps. Other amenities include a paved parking lot with 31 trailer spaces and 11 single-vehicle spaces. ADA-compliant parking also is available.
The 5-acre site provides access to the Neuse River, which supports a typical coastal river fishery, according to Christian Waters, a fisheries program manager with the Wildlife Commission. Anglers can expect to catch striped bass, American and hickory shad in the spring, and catfish, largemouth bass, sunfishes, and crappie throughout the year, Waters said.
Like many other BAAs built by the Wildlife Commission, the Kinston Boating Access Area is a joint partnership between the Commission, local government, and the business community. Lenoir County provided the land and will maintain the site. The Commission designed and constructed the site and also has committed to making future repairs as needed to major infrastructure, such as boat ramps, docks, and the parking area. Construction was funded through motorboat receipts.
Kinston business leader Russell Rhodes, president and CEO of Neuse Sport Shop, initiated the effort to get Lenoir County its first boating access area. He contacted the Commission in 2010, inquiring about the agency providing public access to the Neuse River and helping identify potential sites for the new boating access area.
“This is a good example of a local community and the Wildlife Commission partnering to provide access to a great public resource like the Neuse River,” said Erik Christofferson, chief of the Commission’s Division of Engineering Services and Land Management. “Construction of these boating access areas truly is a user-pay, user-benefit system.”
For more information on boating in North Carolina, including the locations of more than 200 free, publicly accessible boating access areas, visit the Commission’s online locater map at www.ncwildlife.org. For more information on fishing in North Carolina, including where to fish, visit the fishing page on www.ncwildlife.org.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will participate in Operation Dry Water on June 27-29—a nationwide campaign to build awareness of the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol.
“We want everyone to enjoy their time boating,” said Maj. Chris Huebner, the state’s boating safety coordinator. “Drinking affects the skills necessary to operate a boat, including reaction time and rational decision-making. Having a designated driver, whether boating or driving, is always a good idea.”
In North Carolina, penalties for operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs include up to $1,000 in fines and possible jail time.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard began Operation Dry Water in 2009 with a goal to reduce boating fatalities involving alcohol. In North Carolina, Operation Dry Water is incorporated into the multi-agency “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” initiative to promote safe summer travel.
For more information on safe recreational boating or to enroll in a free boating education course, go to www.ncwildlife.org/boating or call (919) 707-0031.
