Tag Archives: North Carolina.
Will North Carolina give up even more sovereignty to the National Marine Fisheries Service?
Next week (June 1) will be a significant day if you are concerned about Federal control of our lives. There will be a meeting of an “advisory group” in New Bern to consider whether or not the state should sign a “Joint Law Enforcement Agreement” to impose greater Federal control over the regulation of fishing within the state’s waters. Note the last part…within the state’s waters. Click here to read the announcement. Most people, even including fishermen, will not be in New Bern on June 1. The decision of whether to recommend to give this power to the National Marine Fisheries Service will be made by a small group of people who serve on this panel representing various special interest groups who have a stake in fishing regulations. As always, the dominant special interests are recreational fishing interests vs. commercial fishing interests. Read the rest here 10:03
‘Wicked Tuna’ Star Captain Delivers Beatdown … Gets Arrested
One of the captains from “Wicked Tuna” got busted in port for smashing a guy’s face. Captain Tyler McLaughlin was charged this week for misdemeanor assault … according to the Perquimans County Sheriff’s Dept. in North Carolina. Cops say McLaughlin got into it with another fisherman last month near the docks. The Nat Geo star allegedly put the guy in a choke hold and punched him in the eye multiple times. We’re told the victim suffered a broken nose and 2 black eyes. McLaughlin bounced before cops arrived. Weeks later, McLaughlin turned himself in to cops, got booked but was immediately released on a $10,000 bond. We reached out to McLaughlin and Nat Geo … no reply at all. TMZ link 16:02
Penny Rich: Dangerous drilling
Last month, the Orange County Board of Commissioners told Gov. Pat McCrory and President Obama that we oppose offshore oil and gas exploration, drilling activities and seismic blast activities off the coast of . We are not alone. About 80 municipalities along the East Coast have opposed these activities, including 70 percent of the coastal communities in North Carolina. In addition, 92 members of Congress, roughly 500 local and state officials, more than 300 businesses and several fishing interest groups have weighed in with opposition. Read the rest here 19:55
Fish wars swirl – Commercial and recreational fishermen clash over southern flounder stock
Not the prettiest nor the most elusive of fish, the flat, oval-shaped southern flounder is nonetheless a tasty staple along the North Carolina coast, whether it’s caught by fishing rod or purchased in a seafood market or restaurant.These days the southern flounder is making waves that reach all the way to the state capital, pitting recreational anglers against commercial operators, setting a regulatory commission’s members against one another and their staff, and prompting legislators to wade into a controversy that is the territory of the executive branch. Accusations of political threats and retaliation abound. Read the rest here 08:04
Pledge to dredge will likely keep Oregon Inlet open in North Carolina
Dare County commissioners agreed Thursday to dedicate $1 million to pay the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the inlet. The move all but assures for the first time that the inlet remains open, said Dare County Commissioner Beverly Boswell. “We’ll have a dredge here when it’s needed,” she said after the vote. Oregon Inlet proponent and boat captain Harry Schiffman and others have pleaded with the county to pay for dredging for more than 20 years. Read the rest here 08:46
Blue crabs lead banner North Carolina fish catch
Blue crabs were the stars in a banner year for North Carolina commercial fishing. Fishermen sold 61.7 million pounds of finfish and shellfish in 2014, a 23 percent increase over the previous year, according to a news release from the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries. It was the first year landings had increased since 2010. The dockside value was $93.8 million, the most since 2002. “It’s certainly good news, and good news is needed,” said Jerry Schill, president of the North Carolina Fisheries Association. Read the rest here 22:36
North Carolina: Area lawmakers seek to protect, improve industry
Commercial fishing is a huge industry in coastal North Carolina, and easy access to and from the Atlantic Ocean, Pamlico Sound and Albemarle Sound are key to keeping that industry healthy. That’s why area legislators have filed bills or support bills dealing with commercial fishing and related items. From dredging to oysters, to commercial fishing, these Reps from North Carolina should be an example for other’s, Nation wide. BH Read the rest here 21:55
UNCW professor studies declining flounder population in the New River Estuary of North Carolina
Since 2005, professor of marine biology Fred Scharf along with his team of UNCW undergraduates and graduate students, have been studying the migration patterns and genetics of flounder in the New River Estuary of North Carolina. Read the rest here 12:07
Day at the Docks kicks off Thursday night – Hatteras, North Carolina
Day at the Docks was started to celebrate the “Spirit of Hatteras” when the village recovered from Hurricane Isabel in 2003 as an intact community, anchored by the commercial and charter fishermen. The day long event is a confirmation of the strength of community, heritage and living traditions of the waterman. Food, Fun, Exhibits. Something for everyone! Have a great time! Read about it here. 20:01
Scientists map sea floor off NC for potential wind energy
“North Carolina reportedly has some of the best conditions for wind in the Southeast United States,” said Chris Taylor, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research ecologist at the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science lab in Beaufort. “Our proximity to the Gulf Stream promotes relatively consistent strong winds that can have the potential for producing energy if utilized in the right way.” (what bullshit this is.) Read more here 17:52
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
Petitioning the state of North Carolina: Preserve the use of gillnets in North Carolina’s commercial fishing industry.
Petition by Supporters of Commercial Fishing in NC Fresh Local Seafood. The commercial fishing industry in North Carolina is a vital part of the coastal economy and is the only way some citizens of this state have access to the resource they own. Gillnets are the primary way a lot of species are harvested. Show your support and Sign the Petition change.org 18:39
North Carolina could reap a great deal of both the potential rewards and costs if the Atlantic coastline were to be opened up to oil and gas exploration.
Offshore development would require the construction of a massive support infrastructure, which could certainly negatively affect the important inland waterways and wetlands across Eastern North Carolina. And oil spills and drilling rig accidents are a fact of life in the coastal waters where offshore drilling is allowed in other parts of the country. Read more@rockymounttelegram 01:03
Oyster rising: Farmers work to propel aquaculture in NC
WILMINGTON — The bays and sounds of North Carolina once yielded hundreds of thousands of bushels of oysters a year, before pollution, overfishing , disease and other factors caused their populations to decline. Now a small group of scientists and growers is laying the groundwork to revive the industry by cultivating oysters in cages and bags. more@newsobserver06:23:59
Sometimes in fishing, less is more – (hmm)
Commercial fishermen caught fewer fish last year than in 2011, but may have pocketed more money, data from the state Division of Marine Fisheries shows. The watermen hoisted a total of 56.7 million pounds of seafood from North Carolina waters in 2012, a 16 percent drop from 2011, according to division’s Annual Fisheries Bulletin for 2012. But the value of that harvest jumped to $73 million, a 2.6 percent increase officials said was likely due to the shifting catch totals for different species of fish. [email protected]
North Carolina Finfish, shellfish harvests continue to decline
JDNnews.com – The commercial and recreational harvests of finfish and shellfish continued a decline in 2012. Commercial fishermen harvested 56.7 million pounds of seafood with an estimated dockside value of $73 million. That is down 16 percent from 67.5 million pounds the previous year. A contributor to the decrease on the commercial side is the shoaling of Oregon Inlet, which has particularly impacted fisheries such as summer flounder. continued
North Carolina Commercial Fishing Exclusion Bill, the Game-fish bill tabled in North Carolina
Washington Daily News – “I spoke with the bill sponsor this evening (Wednesday) after the bill was considered in the majority caucus and he assured me the bill will not be run or folded into the budget,” said Tine. “It was truly a bipartisan effort to defeat the bill, and it would not have happened without all the work of the opponents who made sure their voice would be heard in Raleigh.” continued
House bill would damage state’s commercial fishing – John Day, Saxapahaw, North Carolina
thetimesnews.com – One of the most beleaguered segments of the local food system is wild-caught seafood. It’s a story of cultural heritage and very healthy, tasty food running up against coastal developers, the sport fishing industry, imports and political agendas. continued
Outer Banks Watermen call for emergency action on inlet
Men and women employed in the commercial fishing, charter boat and boat building industries on the Outer Banks lined the perimeter of the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting room at the board’s Jan. 7 meeting, waiting for their opportunity to speak during public comment. Read more
N.C. to allow bay scallop harvest in Bogue Sound area
Seafood dishes and fishermen’s paychecks will get a little sweeter in North Carolina this winter. For the first time since a 2006 moratorium on bay scallop fishing, fishermen can harvest the tender mollusks in Bogue Sound and inner coastal waters south to the South Carolina line. North Carolina’s bay scallop fishing season will open Monday and run through April 1. Read more
BOEM seeks interest in North Carolina offshore wind
DECEMBER 17, 2012 — The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has published a Call for Information and Nominations to gauge offshore wind industry interest in acquiring commercial wind leases in three areas offshore North Carolina and to request comments regarding site conditions, resources and other uses within the Call areas. http://marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3345:boem-seeks-interest-in-north-carolna-offshore-wind&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=195
