NEW FISHERIES RULES GO INTO EFFECT AUG. 1

MOREHEAD CITY – Fishermen should note that on Aug. 1 several new rules will go into effect in North Carolina coastal waters, including:

· The sunrise/sunset language weekend closure rules for trawling in state waters will change to specific hours. The old rule stated trawling was prohibited from  one hour after sunset on Fridays through one hour before sunset on Sundays.  The new rule  states trawling is prohibited from  9 p.m. on Fridays through 5 p.m. on Sundays.  The current closure rule, is difficult to enforce and requires fishermen to keep daily track of the sunrise/sunset tables. The new rule, with the set times, is more user-friendly.

· Outer Shallowbag Bay in Dare County will become a special primary nursery area, a designation that prohibits trawling. Nursery areas are waters with high concentrations of small fish, crabs and shrimp. In order to protect these juveniles, some nursery areas are permanently closed to trawling, while other areas are opened to trawling only after the young fish have migrated out of the vicinity. The director of the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) can open special secondary nursery areas by proclamation between Aug. 16 and May 14.  DMF’s intention is to open outer Shallowbag Bay to trawling Aug. 16 and manage it as it has been in the past.  Outer Shallowbag Bay will close to trawling by rule on May 14 of each year. 

· A nighttime trawling prohibition, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., in the Atlantic Ocean off Baldhead Island and in the New River will go into effect.  The New River area may reopen by proclamation on Aug. 16.

· It will be unlawful to use pots with leads or leaders to take shrimp.

· It will be unlawful to use gill nets or seines from May 1 – Nov. 30 in the Carolina Marlin Club on the Newport River in Carteret County.

· Sanders Creek off Bogue Sound in Carteret County will become a primary nursery area.  Trawling will be prohibited year-round in order to protect juvenile fish, crabs and shrimp.

· Rules regarding the harvest of Rangia clams have been modified to so they can be  coordinated with other rules regarding the harvest of other shellfish.  The harvest of Rangia clams has historically been for industrial purposes for the shell material and not for human consumption.  Because some fishermen have expressed an interest in marketing the clam meat, harvest rules have to be consistent with the harvest rules of other shellfish to address human health and habitat concerns.

Please contact Jess Hawkins for additional information by e-mail at je**********@nc****.net or by calling 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

NEW FISHERIES RULES GO INTO EFFECT AUG. 1

MOREHEAD CITY – Fishermen should note that on Aug. 1 several new rules will go into effect in North Carolina coastal waters, including:

· The sunrise/sunset language weekend closure rules for trawling in state waters will change to specific hours. The old rule stated trawling was prohibited from  one hour after sunset on Fridays through one hour before sunset on Sundays.  The new rule  states trawling is prohibited from  9 p.m. on Fridays through 5 p.m. on Sundays.  The current closure rule, is difficult to enforce and requires fishermen to keep daily track of the sunrise/sunset tables. The new rule, with the set times, is more user-friendly.

· Outer Shallowbag Bay in Dare County will become a special primary nursery area, a designation that prohibits trawling. Nursery areas are waters with high concentrations of small fish, crabs and shrimp. In order to protect these juveniles, some nursery areas are permanently closed to trawling, while other areas are opened to trawling only after the young fish have migrated out of the vicinity. The director of the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) can open special secondary nursery areas by proclamation between Aug. 16 and May 14.  DMF’s intention is to open outer Shallowbag Bay to trawling Aug. 16 and manage it as it has been in the past.  Outer Shallowbag Bay will close to trawling by rule on May 14 of each year. 

· A nighttime trawling prohibition, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., in the Atlantic Ocean off Baldhead Island and in the New River will go into effect.  The New River area may reopen by proclamation on Aug. 16.

· It will be unlawful to use pots with leads or leaders to take shrimp.

· It will be unlawful to use gill nets or seines from May 1 – Nov. 30 in the Carolina Marlin Club on the Newport River in Carteret County.

· Sanders Creek off Bogue Sound in Carteret County will become a primary nursery area.  Trawling will be prohibited year-round in order to protect juvenile fish, crabs and shrimp.

· Rules regarding the harvest of Rangia clams have been modified to so they can be  coordinated with other rules regarding the harvest of other shellfish.  The harvest of Rangia clams has historically been for industrial purposes for the shell material and not for human consumption.  Because some fishermen have expressed an interest in marketing the clam meat, harvest rules have to be consistent with the harvest rules of other shellfish to address human health and habitat concerns.

Please contact Jess Hawkins for additional information by e-mail at je**********@nc****.net or by calling 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

NEW FISHERIES RULES GO INTO EFFECT AUG. 1

MOREHEAD CITY – Fishermen should note that on Aug. 1 several new rules will go into effect in North Carolina coastal waters, including:

· The sunrise/sunset language weekend closure rules for trawling in state waters will change to specific hours. The old rule stated trawling was prohibited from one hour after sunset on Fridays through one hour before sunset on Sundays. The new rule states trawling is prohibited from 9 p.m. on Fridays through 5 p.m. on Sundays. The current closure rule, is difficult to enforce and requires fishermen to keep daily track of the sunrise/sunset tables. The new rule, with the set times, is more user-friendly.

· Outer Shallowbag Bay in Dare County will become a special primary nursery area, a designation that prohibits trawling. Nursery areas are waters with high concentrations of small fish, crabs and shrimp. In order to protect these juveniles, some nursery areas are permanently closed to trawling, while other areas are opened to trawling only after the young fish have migrated out of the vicinity. The director of the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) can open special secondary nursery areas by proclamation between Aug. 16 and May 14. DMF’s intention is to open outer Shallowbag Bay to trawling Aug. 16 and manage it as it has been in the past. Outer Shallowbag Bay will close to trawling by rule on May 14 of each year.

· A nighttime trawling prohibition, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., in the Atlantic Ocean off Baldhead Island and in the New River will go into effect. The New River area may reopen by proclamation on Aug. 16.

· It will be unlawful to use pots with leads or leaders to take shrimp.

· It will be unlawful to use gill nets or seines from May 1 – Nov. 30 in the Carolina Marlin Club on the Newport River in Carteret County.

· Sanders Creek off Bogue Sound in Carteret County will become a primary nursery area. Trawling will be prohibited year-round in order to protect juvenile fish, crabs and shrimp.

· Rules regarding the harvest of Rangia clams have been modified to so they can be coordinated with other rules regarding the harvest of other shellfish. The harvest of Rangia clams has historically been for industrial purposes for the shell material and not for human consumption. Because some fishermen have expressed an interest in marketing the clam meat, harvest rules have to be consistent with the harvest rules of other shellfish to address human health and habitat concerns.

Please contact Jess Hawkins for additional information by e-mail at je**********@nc****.net or by calling 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

NEW FISHERIES RULES GO INTO EFFECT AUG. 1

MOREHEAD CITY – Fishermen should note that on Aug. 1 several new rules will go into effect in North Carolina coastal waters, including:

· The sunrise/sunset language weekend closure rules for trawling in state waters will change to specific hours. The old rule stated trawling was prohibited from one hour after sunset on Fridays through one hour before sunset on Sundays. The new rule states trawling is prohibited from 9 p.m. on Fridays through 5 p.m. on Sundays. The current closure rule, is difficult to enforce and requires fishermen to keep daily track of the sunrise/sunset tables. The new rule, with the set times, is more user-friendly.

· Outer Shallowbag Bay in Dare County will become a special primary nursery area, a designation that prohibits trawling. Nursery areas are waters with high concentrations of small fish, crabs and shrimp. In order to protect these juveniles, some nursery areas are permanently closed to trawling, while other areas are opened to trawling only after the young fish have migrated out of the vicinity. The director of the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) can open special secondary nursery areas by proclamation between Aug. 16 and May 14. DMF’s intention is to open outer Shallowbag Bay to trawling Aug. 16 and manage it as it has been in the past. Outer Shallowbag Bay will close to trawling by rule on May 14 of each year.

· A nighttime trawling prohibition, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., in the Atlantic Ocean off Baldhead Island and in the New River will go into effect. The New River area may reopen by proclamation on Aug. 16.

· It will be unlawful to use pots with leads or leaders to take shrimp.

· It will be unlawful to use gill nets or seines from May 1 – Nov. 30 in the Carolina Marlin Club on the Newport River in Carteret County.

· Sanders Creek off Bogue Sound in Carteret County will become a primary nursery area. Trawling will be prohibited year-round in order to protect juvenile fish, crabs and shrimp.

· Rules regarding the harvest of Rangia clams have been modified to so they can be coordinated with other rules regarding the harvest of other shellfish. The harvest of Rangia clams has historically been for industrial purposes for the shell material and not for human consumption. Because some fishermen have expressed an interest in marketing the clam meat, harvest rules have to be consistent with the harvest rules of other shellfish to address human health and habitat concerns.

Please contact Jess Hawkins for additional information by e-mail at je**********@nc****.net or by calling 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.