COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN
Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, January 16, 2007, the following restrictions shall apply to the commercial flounder fishery:
I. HARVEST LIMITS
A. During the period beginning at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, January 16, 2007 and ending at 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 30, 2007, no commercial fishing operation, regardless of the number of people involved, may have total landings of more than 10,000 pounds of flounder taken from the Atlantic Ocean. These operations require a valid License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean flounder fishery will close immediately after the Director issues a public notice that the spring quota of flounder has been landed from the Atlantic Ocean, or at 6:00 P.M., January 30, 2007, whichever occurs first.
II. PERMITS
A. Finfish dealers may not buy more than 100 pounds of flounder per day per commercial fishing operation unless the dealer has a valid 2007 Atlantic Ocean Flounder Dealer Permit. Vessels landing more than 100 pounds of flounder per day from the Atlantic Ocean are required to possess a valid License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Permits will be issued only to those licensed fish dealers holding a valid license as authorized in G.S. 113-169.3. Dealers must abide by all conditions of the 2007 Atlantic Ocean Flounder Dealer Permit.
B. Dealers possessing a 2007 Atlantic Ocean Flounder Dealer Permit shall report daily by noon through FAX transmittal (252-726-3903) to the Division of Marine Fisheries flounder landings from the Atlantic Ocean for the previous day.
III. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-134; 113- 170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3M .0503 and 3O. 0503.
B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103.
C. The landing prohibition beginning at 6:00 P.M. on January 30, 2007 will allow the Division to review landing reports. Landings for the second harvest period may be adjusted by proclamation if the winter quota of flounder has not been taken.
D. For the purposes of this proclamation, fish shall be considered landed when fish are unloaded or the vessel is tied to the dock, whichever occurs first.
E. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3M .0503 (c) (1) states it is unlawful to land more than 100 pounds per trip of flounder taken from the Atlantic Ocean unless the vessel has been issued a North Carolina License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean. This is in addition to the normally required licenses.
F. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3M .0503 (c) (2) specifies that it is unlawful for a fish dealer to purchase or off-load more than 100 pounds of flounder taken from the Atlantic Ocean by a vessel that has not first produced a valid North Carolina License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean.
G. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I .0113 specifies that it is unlawful for any licensee under Chapter 113, Subchapter IV of the General Statutes to refuse to allow the Fisheries Director or his agents to obtain biological data, harvest information, or other statistical data necessary or useful to the conservation and management of marine and estuarine resources from fish in the licensee’s possession.
H. The intent of this proclamation is to establish trip limits and a reporting process for the taking of flounder from the Atlantic Ocean to assure that the winter, 2007 quota allocated to North Carolina in the joint Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council – Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Fishery Management Plan for Summer Flounder is not exceeded.
I. Atlantic Ocean Flounder Dealer Permits are available at no cost from all Division of Marine Fisheries License Offices.
RE: BLACK SEA BASS – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN
Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, January 16, 2007, the following restrictions shall apply to the commercial black sea bass fishery north of Cape Hatteras (35° 15.3’N. Latitude):
I. SIZE LIMIT
It is unlawful to possess black sea bass less than 11 inches total length north of Cape Hatteras. Total length shall be measured along the lateral midline from the tip of the nose to the tip tail, excluding the caudal fin filament.
II. HARVEST LIMITS
A. During the period beginning at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, January 16, 2007 and ending at 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 30, 2007, no commercial trawl, fish pot or hook and line fishing operation, regardless of the number of people involved, may have total landings of more than 5,000 pounds of black sea bass taken from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras. The Atlantic Ocean black sea bass fishery will close immediately after the Director issues a public notice that the quota of black sea bass has been landed from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras, or at 6:00 P.M., January 30, 2007, whichever occurs first.
B. During any closed season, vessels may land up to 100 pounds of black sea bass per trip taken from the Atlantic Ocean.
III. GEAR RESTRICTIONS
A. FISH TRAPS/POTS:
Black sea bass pots or traps must conform with the Federal rule requirements for escape vents specified in 50 CFR 648.144 (b)(2) and for degradable fasteners specified in 50 CFR 648.144 (b)(3)(i), (ii) and (iii). (See Section IV.H).
IV. PERMITS
A. Finfish dealers may not buy more than 100 pounds of black sea bass caught north of Cape Hatteras per day per commercial fishing operation unless the dealer has a valid 2007 Black Sea Bass – North of Cape Hatteras Dealer Permit from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Permits will be issued only to those licensed fish dealers holding a valid license as authorized in G.S. 113-169.3. Dealers must abide by all conditions of the 2007 Black Sea Bass-North of Cape Hatteras Dealer Permit as set out in Proclamation FF–2006, dated November 21, 2006.
B. Dealers possessing a 2007 Black Sea Bass – North of Cape Hatteras Dealer Permit shall report daily by noon through FAX transmittal (252-726-3903) to the Division of Marine Fisheries black sea bass landings from the Atlantic Ocean for the previous day.
V. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-134; 113- 170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182;113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3M .0503, 3M .0506 and .0512 and 3O. 0501.
B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103.
C. The landing prohibition beginning at 6:00 P.M. on January 30, 2007 will allow the Division to review landing reports.
D. For the purposes of this proclamation, fish shall be considered landed when fish are unloaded or the vessel is tied to the dock, whichever occurs first.
E. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I .0113 specifies that it is unlawful for any licensee under Chapter 113, Subchapter IV of the General Statutes to refuse to allow the Fisheries Director or his agents to obtain biological data, harvest information, or other statistical data necessary or useful to the conservation and management of marine and estuarine resources from fish in the licensees possession.
F. Federal regulations for Fisheries of the Northeastern United States specify in 50 CFR Part 648.4(a)(7) that “any vessel of the United States that fishes for or retains black sea bass in or from the EEZ north of 35°15.3’ N. lat., the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, NC, must have been issued and carry on board a valid black sea bass moratorium permit, except for vessels other than party or charter vessels that observe the possession limit established pursuant to §648.145.”
G. The intent of this proclamation is to allow North Carolina to comply with the requirements of the joint Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council-Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) and to manage the commercial black sea bass fishery under the state quota system established by the FMP. North Carolina is operating under a state quota and these trip limits and harvest periods are intended to constrain the harvest to the quota.
H. The minimum size limit for black sea bass south of Cape Hatteras remains 10 inches in total length for commercial purposes.
I. Copies of escape vent specifications for black sea bass pots north of Cape Hatteras are available via the Federal Register posted on the Internet at
COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN
Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, January 16, 2007, the following restrictions shall apply to the commercial flounder fishery:
I. HARVEST LIMITS
A. During the period beginning at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, January 16, 2007 and ending at 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 30, 2007, no commercial fishing operation, regardless of the number of people involved, may have total landings of more than 10,000 pounds of flounder taken from the Atlantic Ocean. These operations require a valid License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean flounder fishery will close immediately after the Director issues a public notice that the spring quota of flounder has been landed from the Atlantic Ocean, or at 6:00 P.M., January 30, 2007, whichever occurs first.
II. PERMITS
A. Finfish dealers may not buy more than 100 pounds of flounder per day per commercial fishing operation unless the dealer has a valid 2007 Atlantic Ocean Flounder Dealer Permit. Vessels landing more than 100 pounds of flounder per day from the Atlantic Ocean are required to possess a valid License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Permits will be issued only to those licensed fish dealers holding a valid license as authorized in G.S. 113-169.3. Dealers must abide by all conditions of the 2007 Atlantic Ocean Flounder Dealer Permit.
B. Dealers possessing a 2007 Atlantic Ocean Flounder Dealer Permit shall report daily by noon through FAX transmittal (252-726-3903) to the Division of Marine Fisheries flounder landings from the Atlantic Ocean for the previous day.
III. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-134; 113- 170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3M .0503 and 3O. 0503.
B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103.
C. The landing prohibition beginning at 6:00 P.M. on January 30, 2007 will allow the Division to review landing reports. Landings for the second harvest period may be adjusted by proclamation if the winter quota of flounder has not been taken.
D. For the purposes of this proclamation, fish shall be considered landed when fish are unloaded or the vessel is tied to the dock, whichever occurs first.
E. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3M .0503 (c) (1) states it is unlawful to land more than 100 pounds per trip of flounder taken from the Atlantic Ocean unless the vessel has been issued a North Carolina License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean. This is in addition to the normally required licenses.
F. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3M .0503 (c) (2) specifies that it is unlawful for a fish dealer to purchase or off-load more than 100 pounds of flounder taken from the Atlantic Ocean by a vessel that has not first produced a valid North Carolina License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean.
G. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I .0113 specifies that it is unlawful for any licensee under Chapter 113, Subchapter IV of the General Statutes to refuse to allow the Fisheries Director or his agents to obtain biological data, harvest information, or other statistical data necessary or useful to the conservation and management of marine and estuarine resources from fish in the licensee’s possession.
H. The intent of this proclamation is to establish trip limits and a reporting process for the taking of flounder from the Atlantic Ocean to assure that the winter, 2007 quota allocated to North Carolina in the joint Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council – Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Fishery Management Plan for Summer Flounder is not exceeded.
I. Atlantic Ocean Flounder Dealer Permits are available at no cost from all Division of Marine Fisheries License Offices.
RE: BLACK SEA BASS – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN
Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, January 16, 2007, the following restrictions shall apply to the commercial black sea bass fishery north of Cape Hatteras (35° 15.3’N. Latitude):
I. SIZE LIMIT
It is unlawful to possess black sea bass less than 11 inches total length north of Cape Hatteras. Total length shall be measured along the lateral midline from the tip of the nose to the tip tail, excluding the caudal fin filament.
II. HARVEST LIMITS
A. During the period beginning at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, January 16, 2007 and ending at 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 30, 2007, no commercial trawl, fish pot or hook and line fishing operation, regardless of the number of people involved, may have total landings of more than 5,000 pounds of black sea bass taken from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras. The Atlantic Ocean black sea bass fishery will close immediately after the Director issues a public notice that the quota of black sea bass has been landed from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras, or at 6:00 P.M., January 30, 2007, whichever occurs first.
B. During any closed season, vessels may land up to 100 pounds of black sea bass per trip taken from the Atlantic Ocean.
III. GEAR RESTRICTIONS
A. FISH TRAPS/POTS:
Black sea bass pots or traps must conform with the Federal rule requirements for escape vents specified in 50 CFR 648.144 (b)(2) and for degradable fasteners specified in 50 CFR 648.144 (b)(3)(i), (ii) and (iii). (See Section IV.H).
IV. PERMITS
A. Finfish dealers may not buy more than 100 pounds of black sea bass caught north of Cape Hatteras per day per commercial fishing operation unless the dealer has a valid 2007 Black Sea Bass – North of Cape Hatteras Dealer Permit from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Permits will be issued only to those licensed fish dealers holding a valid license as authorized in G.S. 113-169.3. Dealers must abide by all conditions of the 2007 Black Sea Bass-North of Cape Hatteras Dealer Permit as set out in Proclamation FF–2006, dated November 21, 2006.
B. Dealers possessing a 2007 Black Sea Bass – North of Cape Hatteras Dealer Permit shall report daily by noon through FAX transmittal (252-726-3903) to the Division of Marine Fisheries black sea bass landings from the Atlantic Ocean for the previous day.
V. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-134; 113- 170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182;113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3M .0503, 3M .0506 and .0512 and 3O. 0501.
B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103.
C. The landing prohibition beginning at 6:00 P.M. on January 30, 2007 will allow the Division to review landing reports.
D. For the purposes of this proclamation, fish shall be considered landed when fish are unloaded or the vessel is tied to the dock, whichever occurs first.
E. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I .0113 specifies that it is unlawful for any licensee under Chapter 113, Subchapter IV of the General Statutes to refuse to allow the Fisheries Director or his agents to obtain biological data, harvest information, or other statistical data necessary or useful to the conservation and management of marine and estuarine resources from fish in the licensees possession.
F. Federal regulations for Fisheries of the Northeastern United States specify in 50 CFR Part 648.4(a)(7) that “any vessel of the United States that fishes for or retains black sea bass in or from the EEZ north of 35°15.3’ N. lat., the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, NC, must have been issued and carry on board a valid black sea bass moratorium permit, except for vessels other than party or charter vessels that observe the possession limit established pursuant to §648.145.”
G. The intent of this proclamation is to allow North Carolina to comply with the requirements of the joint Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council-Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) and to manage the commercial black sea bass fishery under the state quota system established by the FMP. North Carolina is operating under a state quota and these trip limits and harvest periods are intended to constrain the harvest to the quota.
H. The minimum size limit for black sea bass south of Cape Hatteras remains 10 inches in total length for commercial purposes.
I. Copies of escape vent specifications for black sea bass pots north of Cape Hatteras are available via the Federal Register posted on the Internet at