Releases – August 29, 2013
The “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign enters its final holiday period of 2013 with the Labor Day weekend.
This multi-agency initiative is designed to combine law enforcement resources to ensure everyone can safely travel on highways and waterways during summer months. The campaign concentrates on three major holiday periods: Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.
Leading the campaign are the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, responsible for enforcing boating regulations; the State Highway Patrol, providing for highway safety; and the Alcohol Law Enforcement division, enforcing “Be 21!” underage drinking laws. The campaign is joined by local police and sheriff’s departments and supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
“We want to remind everyone to be careful while they enjoy Labor Day weekend,” said Col. Dale Caveny, chief of the Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement, which patrols public waterways. “We ask that motorists and boaters alike be mindful of the dangerous consequences of impaired driving.”
Boat operators can be charged if their blood alcohol concentration is .08 or higher, or if they are impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. The penalties for operating while impaired (OWI) in North Carolina include a maximum $1,000 fine and possible jail time.
There are more than 200 sworn, full-time wildlife officers across the state who patrol 5,000 square miles of inland streams, rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways and instruct certified boating safety education courses. The public can assist officers by reporting boating violations to (800) 662-7137.
For more information on recreational boating in North Carolina, go to www.ncwildlife.org/boating.
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher invites the public to “Reel Fun Fishing Day,” 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 21.
Visitors can catch best practices and tips from local fishing experts and discover the lure of cast netting at hourly demonstrations. Little anglers casting about for games and activities won’t be disappointed when they learn to tie helpful nautical knots and create take-home crafts. Guests explore more during hands-on programs including surf fishing classes, crabbing expeditions, and the opportunity to be an Aquarist Apprentice.
In addition, the Aquarium will host a volunteer group as part of the North Carolina Big Sweep to rid local beaches and fishing spots of trash and marine debris. Volunteers who register with the Aquarium group will meet at 9:00 a.m. and travel to the nearby boat basin and beach to collect trash. Bags and gloves will be provided.
“Reel Fun Fishing Day” is free with Aquarium admission. Classes and tours are an additional fee. Preregister for classes at www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher or call (910) 458-7468. Big Sweep volunteers may sign-up via phone or by emailing NCAFF.registrar@ncaquariums.com.
The 3-hour surf fishing workshop (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21) includes one hour of classroom discussion and surf fishing on the beach. All equipment and bait provided. Program is rain or shine, with extra activities added in event of bad weather (e.g. throwing a cast net). For ages 10 and older; children ages 8 to 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. $15 per person. Aquarium admission not included. Pre-registration is required.
Salt March and Crabbing is a hands-on program (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21) introducing the challenge of catching blue crabs. Lessons in crab biology and crabbing equipment prepare participants for an exciting expedition through the salt marsh to catch (and release) crabs. All bait and equipment is provided. Participants should wear closed-toed shoes. For ages 7 and older; ages 7-14 must be accompanied by a paying adult. $14 for ages 7 to 12; $16 for ages 13 and up. Aquarium admission not included. Pre-registration is required.
Join Aquarium staff on an Aquarist Apprentice behind-the-scenes tour (2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21), help prepare animal diets, and participate in some daily care and maintenance tasks. This program is a hands-on, up-close experience. Learn more about how an aquarium works. Participants should wear closed-toed shoes and be prepared to smell fishy. For ages 10 and up; children ages 10-14 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Aquarium admission is included. Pre-registration is required. $23 for ages 10-12; $25 for ages 13 and older.
The Secretary of Commerce recently announced appointments to the regional fishery management councils. The Secretary selects council members to fill obligatory and at-large seats on the councils based upon gubernatorial nominations. Members may be appointed or reappointed by the Secretary to serve three-year terms. The new terms begin August 11, 2013.
Chris Conklin has been appointed to serve on the Council as an obligatory member for South Carolina. A graduate of the Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Chris is currently involved in the management of the family-run wholesale and retail seafood businesses, C&C Seafood and Seven Seas Seafood in Murrells Inlet, SC. His responsibilities include management of a commercial fishing fleet of 10+ vessels along with seafood sales throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“Growing up in the commercial fishing industry, I have seen many changes in our fisheries,” said Chris. “I understand the urgent need for achieving sustainability so that our state’s fishing heritage and coastal economic vitality can be perpetuated.” Chris serves as a board member of the SC Seafood Alliance as well as the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce.
When not busy with the seafood business, Chris is an avid recreational angler, often participating in area fishing tournaments.
Owner of Crystal Coast Fisheries in Morehead City, NC, Jack Cox has been appointed to an obligatory seat for the State of North Carolina. Jack has a diverse background that includes commercial fishing, charter fishing, working as a SCUBA instructor, and graduate studies in business at East Carolina University. He has been involved in seafood sales for nearly two decades and in 1996 opened his own seafood wholesale company, acting as a broker for five snapper grouper boats.
“As a commercial seafood harvester, it is my duty to become a leader in the area of conservation,” stated Jack. “Conservation and management of living marine resources requires a partnership and shared effort.”
In 2005, he became a co-owner of Blue Ocean Seafood, a retail seafood market and member of the Carteret Catch Program promoting sustainable seafood. Jack has been actively involved in fisheries management, serving on the NC Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Marine Fisheries Advisory Board for Carteret County. He has also been involved in fisheries at the federal level, serving on the Council’s Limited Access Privilege Program Workgroup in 2007-2008 and more recently the Marine Protected Area Workgroup this past year.
Jack continues to be an avid diver, exploring the local waters off the Crystal Coast as well as Costa Rica and Panama.
The Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sept. 18 at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City.
The board will consider applications deemed complete and submitted by Aug. 26.
The board meets two to three times per year to consider license applications. Directions for applying for a commercial fishing license can be found on the division website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=8a88ec52-0028-4789-add2-275cf467f5ac&groupId=38337.
For more information, contact division License Eligibility Clerk Ann Bordeaux-Nixon at (910) 796-7261 or Ann.Bordeaux-Nixon @ncdenr.gov.
