Tag Archives: NCFA
NCFA Weekly Update for March 11, 2024
Advisory Comities Meet This Week to Discuss Shrimp Trawl Area Closure The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is proposing closing shrimp trawling in dozens of areas from Kitty Hawk to Sneads Ferry to protect submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). Thousands of acres that include a multitude of areas traditionally worked by small shrimp boats. more, >>click to read<< 10:19
NCFA Weekly Update for March 18, 2024
The South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (SAFMC) met the first full week of March in Jekyll Island, Georgia. The main items discussed at this meeting were king and Spanish mackerel tournament sales, Black Sea bass, red snapper, for-hire reporting, and the commercial permitting structure in the snapper grouper fishery. King and Spanish mackerel tournament sales were discussed by the council but no votes were taken on this issue. It is my understanding that the council wants to wait and see what the public has to say about tournament sales and many other mackerel related issues at the upcoming mackerel port meetings before making any decisions. As always if you have any questions or comment please reach out. more, >>click to read<< 10:46
NCFA Weekly Update for March 11, 2024
I was recently forwarded a copy of the CCA NC’s newsletter Tidelines which included a recap of the February 2024 meeting of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC). There was one item from their recap which I found particularly interesting titled “Issues from Commissioners.” During the Issues from Commissioners portion of the MFC agenda, Commissioners are allowed to put forward issues they’d like to discuss at future meetings or request clarification or information, from Division staff, on issues of personal concern to them. During this portion of the February 2024 meeting, three commissioners, Robert McNeil, Mike Blanton, and Tom Roller, chose to bring forward personal issues to the Commission. –>>click to read<< Weekly Update for March 11, 2024 15:50
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for April 04, 2022
Over the last couple of months, many NC anglers have reached out to the NCFA seeking to get a better understanding of what’s really going on in the world of fisheries management here in North Carolina. That said, there have been several anglers who have questioned our assessment of the CCA’s true agenda, which in our opinion is to reduce or even eliminate harvest of wild fish stocks in both the commercial and recreational sectors. I had an angler from Pamlico County tell me that the CCA had assured him that once the nets were gone recreational bag limits for Red Drum, Southern Flounder, and Speckled Trout would increase and nothing I write could convince him otherwise. This got me thinking that maybe he and other anglers would be more receptive to the truth if someone else wrote it. >click to read the attached article< 16:40
We would like to extend our Deepest Condolences to the family of Timmy Sobotka of Wanchese.
Timothy Ira Sobotka, 48, of Wanchese, NC died Thursday, January 9, 2020. Born in Riverhead, NY on October 1, 1971, he was the son of Frank John Sobotka and the late Phylis Irene Etheridge. Longline captain of his fishing vessel The Bluefin, Timmy was at peace when he was at sea. Big, beloved, devoted badass pirate fisherman, he was an avid and devoted commercial fisherman with a larger than life character and a big soft heart of gold. Family to all who knew him, he will be sorely missed by the Wanchese/Outer Banks community and all along the East Coast from Greenport, Long Island, New York to the Florida Keys. Calling hours, >click to read< 10:25
NCFA – More Hurricane Florence info on ice, storage facilities, hot showers and DMF info
Armistead Perry of Evans Seafood and Evans Transport said he has some freezer space available and cooler space if you need to get inventory from your facility to save it.,, Wanchese Fish Co. has offered the use of their cold storage facility in Suffolk VA for anyone that needs it.,, Regarding our industry helping others, also let us know what you may be able to do to help, such as ice or whatever else you can assist with. ,,, >click to read<10:01
Commentary: Spread the blame for proposed license change
Jerry Schill, Director of Government Relations for the North Carolina Fisheries Association, offers a response to Russ Lay’s commentary “CCA, GOP to blame for proposed license change”>click to read< on the proposed changes to eligibility rules for commercial fishing licenses in North Carolina. Back in December 2016, the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission sent a letter under the signature of Chairman Sammy Corbett to every member of the General Assembly requesting that they take a look at changes for commercial fishing licenses. >Click here to read the letter< To my knowledge, not one member of the General Assembly made any effort in 2017 to act on the MFC’s request. So where’s the boogeyman here, either Republican or Democrat? >click to read< 20:10
Maritime Angels to help fishing families
When Aundrea O’Neal, bookkeeper for the N.C. Fisheries Association, heard there were commercial fishing families who needed help for Christmas, she went into action. She approached the board of the N.C. Fisheries Association, a nonprofit trade organization that represents the state’s commercial fishermen, with the idea of helping struggling families with Christmas gifts, especially for the children. She also suggested the idea to the Carteret County Fishermen’s Association, the county affiliate of the state organization. click here to read the story 11:46
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for September 15, 2017
Click here to read the Weekly Update, to read all the updates, Click here for older updates click here 08:04
Jerry Schill, NCFA responds to outdoor columnist Ed Wall
In response to Ed Wall’s Outdoors column, “Fisheries should be managed for all, by all,” I offer the following comments. Mr. Wall mischaracterized my position on the referendum when he wrote that “Jerry Schill…is particularly disturbed by the fact that HB 1122 would allow a referendum on the issue by the state’s voters in the upcoming election in November. He is apparently concerned about citizens all across the state would be allowed to voice their opinions about something that he feels should be controlled solely by persons — and their representatives — in the coastal counties.” I never said such a thing. I do not favor an illegal action, and that is what it would be if the bill in question was passed as Rep. Billy Richardson suggests. On the subject of the net ban: Read the rebuttal here 22:38
Tensions build leading up to NC Marine Fisheries quarterly meeting
The fish up for debate is the Southern Flounder, which is one of the most sought after fish in North Carolina. The NCFA and commercial fishermen in the state are uneasy about the possible changes. The groups say it would mean drastic reductions in bag limits for fishermen, which would eventually lead to a sharp price increase for consumers and less dollars for the families and communities of fishermen. Many fishermen say conservationists and other politicians aren’t happy with North Carolina laws that allow gill net use. Read the rest here 08:23
