Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Sunday, January 24, 2016, the following restrictions will apply to the taking of flounder in a commercial fishing operation in Internal Coastal Waters:
I. MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT
It is unlawful to possess flounder less than 15 inches total length.
II. GEAR RESTRICTIONS
A. It is unlawful to possess flounder taken from anchored large mesh gill nets with a stretched mesh length less than 6 inches.
B. For the purpose of this proclamation an anchored large mesh gill net is any gill net in Internal Coastal Waters with a stretched mesh length of 4 inches through 6 ½ inches that is anchored by any means at either or both ends of the net.
III. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 03H .0103; 03M .0503 and 03M .0512.
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 03H .0103.
C. The intent of this proclamation is to manage the commercial flounder fishery in Internal Coastal Waters in accordance with Supplement A to Amendment 1 of the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan.
D. Additional gill net restrictions are found in the most current M-type proclamations and are still in effect.
E. In accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15 NCAC 03M .0503 it is unlawful to possess flounder less than 14 inches total length taken from the Atlantic Ocean in a commercial fishing operation.
F. In accordance with N.C. General Statute 113-221.1(c). All persons who may be affected by proclamations issued by the Fisheries Director are under a duty to keep themselves informed of current proclamations.
G. Contact N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557 252-726-7021or 800-682-2632 for more information or visit the division website at www.ncmarinefisheries.net/.
H. This proclamation supersedes Proclamation FF-68-2015, dated December 17, 2015. It makes it unlawful to possess flounder taken from anchored large mesh gill nets with a stretched mesh length less than 6 inches. It also maintains the 15 inch total length minimum size limit for flounder in a commercial fishing operation in Internal Coastal Waters. This action is being taken in accordance with Supplement A to Amendment 1 of the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan.