Tag Archives: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries
Two N.C. fishermen behind bars -Found with more than 16 times the legal possession limit of red drum
When the Marine Patrol officers inspected the contents of the truck, they found 113 red drum weighing 657 pounds, including 14 fish that were greater than the legal size limit and weighed 106 pounds. Read the rest here 15:14
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries to consider new Commercial fishing-license applications
The Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board is scheduled to meet 10 a.m. Sept. 17 at the Division’s Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City. Read the rest here 14:00
North Carolina: New rules set for gill-net fishing
Gill-net fishermen have new requirements designed to protect an addition to the endangered species list. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently signed an agreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service that implements a statewide incidental take permit for Atlantic sturgeon in the estuarine large-mesh and small-mesh anchored gill net fisheries. Read more here 15:26
North Carolina – New rules set for gill-net fishing
Gill-net fishermen have new requirements designed to protect an addition to the endangered species list. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently signed an agreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service that implements a statewide incidental take permit for Atlantic sturgeon in the estuarine large-mesh and small-mesh anchored gill net fisheries. <Read more here> 13:50
North Carolina: Less seafood harvested in 2013
MOREHEAD CITY | A variety of factors contributed to an overall decrease in seafood harvested in North Carolina in 2013, but the dockside value showed an increase. But the value of the catch jumped to $79 million, a 9-percent increase over the $73 million in 2012. Read more here 09:37
Fuel costs, weather, and regulations contribute to smaller NC seafood harvests
“They just won’t let us fish,” Everett said. “People just can’t make it.” Everett’s father opened the business in 1942, and it shipped fish to Boston, Philadelphia and New York City. But, he said, with tightening restrictions on where fishermen can fish, how many fish they can catch and more, “There was no way to pay your bills.” Read more here 20:18
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries employee part of fishing operation cited for violation
An N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries employee was part of a commercial fishing operation that was recently cited for a fisheries violation. Derris Warren, a marine fisheries technician II in the division’s Fisheries Management Section, was fishing aboard the vessel Hannah Denise on April 3 when it was stopped by Marine Patrol officers Dean Nelson and Brian Gupton in Taylors Creek in Beaufort. Read more here 09:57
Red drum season closed for summer after commercial harvest exceeds annual quota – CCA-NC Very Concerned!
Commercial fishermen will go nearly a year without a red drum season following an unusually large harvest in the fall that has prompted a closure. The Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina “obviously very concerned about the significant amount that the commercial red drum quota was exceeded,” said CCA-NC Chairman Greg Hurt. jdnew.com Read more here 11:36
A familiar face at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is taking on a new role as Fisheries Management Section Chief
As Fisheries Management Section chief she will oversee 54 permanent, full-time employees and up to 13 temporary employees. Fisheries management staff includes biologists, technicians and stock assessment scientists, who work in four coastal districts of the state. Read more here jdnews.com 09:06
To be Served Today: Commercial fisheries groups plan to sue over turtle regs
The N.C. Fisheries Association teamed with the Carteret County Fisherman’s Association for the action and will be represented by local attorneys at Wheatly, Wheatly, Weeks, Lupton and Massie, a Beaufort firm. Those served notice of the intent to file legal action are several high profile individuals, including John Skvarla, secretary to the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources; Dr. Louis Daniel, executive director of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries; Gordon Meyers, head of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission; Sally Jewel of the U.S. Department of the Interior; Daniel Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; NOAA head Dr. Kathryn Sullivan; and Penny Pritzker, secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Read more here carolinacoastonline 13:56
NC General Assembly Proposal would establish Commercial Fishing Resources Fund
A proposal headed to the General Assembly would help the state meet requirements for the protection of sea turtles while also providing funds for projects that enhance the state’s commercial fishing industry. The plan, brought forward by the commercial fishing industry, calls for the establishment of a Commercial Fishing Resources Fund. Read more here 12:44
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Pulls the Plug on Speckled Trout
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries: Red drum commercial harvest closes
“Since many fishermen report their landings through paper trip tickets, the red drum landings may be above the harvest limit for this period,” said DMF Director Louis Daniel. Daniel issued a proclamation closing the fishery as of 8 a.m. today. more@jdnews 15:47
N.C.New rule limits licensed oyster-harvest methods
State law has changed and a Standard Commercial Fishing License with a shellfish endorsement now is required to mechanically harvest shellfish, according to N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. A Commercial Shellfish License now only covers hand-harvest methods. more@jdnews 17:03
People are pulling out their fire grates and steamer pans – Be safe when eating oysters
Oyster season begins Oct. 15, bringing back for the ‘R’ months a taste treat reputed also to be an aphrodisiac. “People are pulling out their fire grates and steamer pans, getting ready to slurp down the salty treats,” said Patricia Smith, public information officer for N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, “but before they indulge, consumers should take some basic precautions to prevent illness.” more@sunjournal 23:27
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries asking pound net fishermen to be turtle diligent in checking nets
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries issued a news release Friday in response to last week’s reported interactions with the sea turtles. In addition, the division is asking the public to promptly report turtles entangled or caught in fishing gear. [email protected] 22:24
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries remains cautious before opening fishery to gillnets
Fishermen remain unable to set gillnets in the state’s estuarine waters, despite an announcement last week that state officials had obtained a permit allowing the inland fisheries to reopen. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries shut down the fishery in August after sea turtles became entangled in the nets, a legal precaution necessary until the state received an “incidental take” permit allowing a certain number of interactions with the endangered species. more@starnewsonline 19:04
Rule prohibits gill nets within 100 yards of N.C. beaches – takes effect Sunday
A new rule — which governs the use of gill nets and takes effect Sunday — is designed to protect 
The rule prohibits small mesh gill nets within 100 yards of most North Carolina beaches. Two areas are exempt from the setback, however. The exceptions are between Cape Lookout and Bogue Inlet, and between Carolina Beach Inlet and the South Carolina line. more@jdnews 12:01
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N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries finalizes permit for minimal turtle by-catch
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries signed an agreement Wednesday with the National Marine Fisheries Service that implements a statewide incidental take permit for sea turtles in the estuarine large and small-mesh gill net fisheries. The permit authorizes the limited take of sea turtles in the gill net fisheries as part of an otherwise lawful activity. [email protected] 13:30
Commercial fishermen protest proposal as they anchor boats, pack public hearing
Fishermen showed their opposition on Tuesday as well, with nearly two dozen fish captains anchoring their commercial vessels in the Neuse River in protest and more than 600 people attending a public hearing on the petition at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center. Jimmy Ruhle, a third generation commercial fisherman from Wanchese, said he thought the petition was a back-door attempt to attack allocations. He also said banning trawls from the coastal waters would increase the problems with oxygen depletion in deep waters – due to trawls not being there to turn over the bottom and disperse toxins – and with invasive species not getting caught. continued@carteretcountynewstimes
SIGN THE PETITION Support the North Carolina Shrimp Fishermen Fight another Closure.
Local businesses, fishing families and coastal communities depend on catches from trawlers – namely shrimp – as a source of economic commerce, as well as locally-grown, organic protein. More than 90 percent of all shrimp consumed in the country is imported. By designating the state’s inland waters as permanent secondary nursery areas, they would be closed to trawling. If that were to happen, North Carolina would loose a considerable amount of income to foreign competition, as well as access to this bountiful resource and a historic profession among generations of coastal citizens. Secondary nursery areas are already in place to protect habitat in inland waters. Please don’t close the entire area to trawling. Petition
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries to close some waters to gill nets
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries announces that at one hour before sunset today (Wednesday), large mesh gill nets will be prohibited from certain internal state waters. continued@ccnewstimes
Ever wonder if federal officials jumped the gun in declaring the Atlantic sturgeon an endangered species?
In its listing proposal, the agency, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said that Atlantic sturgeon population numbers in the Carolina region had declined to less than 3 percent of historical levels. Data collected by state agencies seems to suggest otherwise. continued@starnewsonline
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries officials take critical look at shrimp trawl petition
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has not taken an official position on a petition for rulemaking that would effectively ban shrimp trawling in the state’s inshore waters by declaring them “secondary nursery areas,” but a top staffer last week said the agency would much prefer to address trawling bycatch issues through the shrimp management plan amendment process. continued@tidelandnews
Shrimp Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will meet 1 p.m. Tuesday
The meeting begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell St. Morehead City info
No more shrimp from Pamlico Sound?- North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission to Consider Trawl Ban – Petition
A possible reclassification of most internal waters of North Carolina will be the subject of a special meeting of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries later this month. This reclassification into “Permanent Secondary Nursery Areas” would b
e one of the biggest regulatory blows to the state’s commercial fishing industry – a complete ban on trawling in North Carolina waters. continued@okracokecurrent
Petition by Megan Spencer Ocracoke, North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission: Save local seafood! No permanent secondary nursery areas in NC!
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries meeting May 29-30,
A report on seafood landings for 2012 will be given during the upcoming meeting of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. The commission will meet today and Thursday, May 29-30, at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. The meeting begins at 6 tonight, May 29 and 9 a.m. Thursday and is open to the public. A presentation of the 2012 commercial and recreational landings will be made. continued
North Carolina Fisheries Managers Seek Public Input on Issues Impacting Commercial Summer Flounder Fishery
Cape Fear Business News — The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a meeting June 4 to discuss possible management strategies to address issue impacting the state’s commercial summer flounder fishery. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington. At this meeting, the division will seek stakeholder feedback on how to best use the state’s summer flounder quota, including: continued
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries to hold meeting on gill net restrictions
CAPE CARTERET — New gill net restrictions will take effect this month to help resolve an ongoing conflict between Cape Carteret residents and fishermen over nighttime net fishing activities. Read more
