Tag Archives: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Unanimous N.C. Appeals Court Rules State Can Be Sued for Failing to Protect Fishing Rights
The decision could eventually lead to new restrictions on commercial fishing. The Appeals Court agreed to affirm a trial judge’s ruling in the case, Coastal Conservation Association v. State of N.C. The trial court had rejected the state’s attempt to have the case thrown out because of sovereign immunity. “Plaintiffs alleged the State breached this constitutional duty by ‘mismanaging North Carolina’s coastal fisheries resources.’ Specifically, Plaintiffs alleged the State has mismanaged the fisheries by ‘permitting, sanctioning, and even protecting two methods of harvesting coastal finfish and shrimp in State public waters’ — shrimp trawling and ‘unattended’ gillnetting,,, >click to read< 12:49
Shrimp industry vital to Eastern North Carolina economy
A recent proposal from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is shining new light on the impact the shrimping industry has on eastern North Carolina.,, That original proposition was voted down by state commissioners Thursday,,, Yet many shrimpers, and other county residents, are still reeling from the close call. One of those is 5th generation Shrimper, Cayton Daniels, who makes his entire living off of shrimping. He says he wouldn’t have survived the proposal’s closures. photos, >click to read< 08:41
Texas to Suspend Flounder Season as stocks continue to decline throughout the Gulf and South Atlantic
One of the most sought after saltwater fish on the Texas Coast will be off limits to commercial and sport fishermen starting Nov. 1. Citing negative trends and large scale declines in flounder populations over the past several decades, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will suspend the year round flounder season during a six-week period ending on Dec. 15.,, The fish’s native range stretches from North Carolina southward into Mexico, and nearly all of the states in this coastal region are witnessing similar population declines. >click to read< 12:30
After Florence: With local North Carolina shellfish likely off-limits this season, how will fisheries adjust?
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries has ruled out shellfish harvesting for the time being, a decision that its spokesperson said will likely stick around during the coming months. – As the public learns about new contaminants and spills into local waterways daily, many, including fisherman, are concerned about whether its safe to harvest in public waters in the wake of Hurricane Florence. With oysters, clams, and other shellfish likely out for the season, local fisheries are working to catch up with remaining aquaculture that’s still fair game. >click to read< 10:34
Tiny glass eel draws big money, political muscle and poachers
During the past few years, the GOP-controlled General Assembly has slashed the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries budget by about 40 percent, leaving departments understaffed and some employees bending under heavy workloads. At the same time, a review of more than 3,000 public documents shows that several elected and former state Department of Environmental Quality officials prompted what appears to be hundreds of hours of DMF time finding ways to justify obtaining a share of the federal glass eel quota to benefit just one company in Jones County — American Eel Farm, owned by Rick Allyn. click here to read the story 11:26
Frustrated fishermen meet with new NC fisheries director Braxton Davis
About 50 exasperated, even angry, commercial fishermen gathered Monday to meet the new director of the North Carolina agency that governs how these watermen make a living. They came to the Dare County offices from towns east and west of the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds, ranging from Hatteras Village to Elizabeth City. They came to voice frustrations and ask questions about what they believe are unfair and arbitrary regulations that shrink their livelihood. Southern flounder harvest restrictions and sea turtle conservation efforts were sore points. Sea turtles are best with “taters and onions,” said Sharon Peele Kennedy, a member of the board of directors for Outer Banks Catch, a group that advocates for local fishing and seafood. This fight is old for fishermen on the Outer Banks, but their opponent has a new face, Braxton Davis, who in April became director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and the Division of Coastal Management after the last director resigned. Davis was not tanned. His hair was neatly coiffed and he wore a button-down collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He said he’s experienced in coastal issues, but acknowledged his fishing experience was limited to occasional recreational trips. Read the rest here 19:04
Their proposal would hurt North Carolinians – Jerry Schill, President, North Carolina Fisheries Association
In response to a letter to the editor, “Thoughts on marine fisheries,” Wednesday, March 16, I offer the following comments. It should be noted that the Kinston authors sent the letter to several media outlets. On the subject of shrimp trawling, the writers fail to acknowledge the many studies done by researchers over the years that have documented bycatch associated with this fishery and that despite decades of trawling, overall benthic productivity is dramatically increased. They also ignore the efforts by commercial fishermen to work proactively to reduce bycatch. Those studies began in the late 1980s and resulted with bycatch reduction devices in shrimp trawls. Currently, even though North Carolina is ahead of federal requirements to reduce bycatch, there is cooperative research ongoing to reduce it even further. Read the rest here 10:11
Exit of Fisheries chief Louis Daniel III remains unexplained and unannounced
The sudden resignation of 
as director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries last week caught supporters, critics, employees and members of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission by surprise. Among the reasons that have been speculated on include mounting pressure of the job Daniel had held since 2005, potential fallout from a state audit of the commission’s activities, as well as political pressure from members of the General Assembly. More puzzling is the lack of even an official statement from the state that Daniel had stepped aside. Read the rest here 10:45
The Division of Marine Fisheries, and its Commission, use inadequate science to regulate fisheries
What if…humans can’t actually control nature to make it behave the way some humans want it to behave? North Carolina participates in a federally dominated system that attempts to regulate the fishing industry. They do this by setting quotas on when, where, how and how many fish can be harvested from the state’s waters (from the “inland” waters–approximately the tidewater area–to the three mile federal limit off our coast.) The legal premise upon which this regulatory system is based is that the fish and other life forms in those waters are a “public trust” and belong to The People. Read the op-ed here 12:57
More absurdness from the Division of Marine Fisheries
On January 1 we will have imposed on commercial fishermen (those who fish with nets) and people who like fresh seafood bought either from the local fish market or prepared in a local restaurant an example of the worst kind of government. That is, the imposition of regulations for the sake of regulation, without valid or reliable science or even common sense. The Division of Marine Fisheries will impose absurd regulations on the catching of in North Carolina’s coastal waters. The purpose of the regulations, plus the mission of the DMF in general in recent years, could be said to extinguish commercial fishing in the state’s waters. Read the article here 20:14
“With one stroke of the pen, they wipe out your livelihood,” Captured sea turtles causes closure of gill net fishing
The capture of five sea turtles in northeastern North Carolina waters has led to a decision to close the gill-net fishing season. Beginning at 5 p.m. today, the closure area includes the Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan and Roanoke sounds for all anchored gill nets, according to a news release from the . The ban will be lifted no sooner than Sept. 1, when the new season is scheduled to begin, but it could continue longer if sea turtles are still abundant in the affected waters, the agency said. Read the rest here 22:02
NC Commercial Fishing Stopped At Peak Season, Here’s Why – No Excuse
North Carolina Fisheries Association President Jerry Schill says his group supported closures when sea turtle populations were low. “But when they start to come back – and they are – when they’re recovering, there are so many sea turtles that you can’t avoid them at all,” Schill said. “So, no matter what you do, it’s just one restriction after another.” Schill says the fisheries closure is a burden, and is hitting the fishermen hard. Read the rest here 13:02
N.C. gill net limits hurt watermen’s livelihoods
John Norris stiffly eased down into his flat-bottom boat using a small step ladder and a helping hand from his fishing partner and wife, Brenda. If he tilts too far, he falls over. Norris, a 68-year-old commercial waterman, is being treated for cancer. He’s had operations on both knees and shoulders, and he carries vertical and horizontal scars more than 12 inches long crisscrossing his torso. Read more here 09:57
N.C. seafood tonnage down again, but values increase in 2013
For the third year in a row, commercial tonnage of seafood was down in 2013, partially due to shoaling at Oregon Inlet, while dockside values were up, the 
says. Commercial fishermen sold 50 million pounds of fish and shellfish at state docks in 2013, a 12 percent decrease from 2012 and 21 percent less than the five-year average, according to the division’s Trip Ticket Program. Read more here 11:07
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries to hold public meetings on shellfish habitat
The meetings will begin Wednesday in Bayboro, followed by one Thursday in Morehead City. Meetings also will be held Feb. 4 in Swan Quarter, Feb. 5 in Manteo, Feb. 6 in Ocracoke, Feb. 11 in Wilmington and Feb. 12 in North Topsail Beach. Read [email protected] 08:06
