Releases – September 26, 2013
NOAA Fisheries is increasing catch limits for black sea bass in the South Atlantic (effective September 23, 2013) and implementing an annual prohibition on the use of black sea bass pots from November 1 through April 30 (effective October 23, 2013). The actions are specified in the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 19).
Catch Limits
This rule increases the commercial and recreational annual catch limits as indicated:
2013-2014: Commercial annual catch limit 780,020, Recreational annual catch limit 1,033,980.
2014-2015: Commercial annual catch limit 780,020, Recreational annual catch limit 1,033,980.
2015-2016: Commercial annual catch limit 780,020, Recreational annual catch limit 1,033,980.
2016-20173: Commercial annual catch limit 755,274, Recreational annual catch limit 1,001,177.
The fishing years are from June 1 through May 31. Values are in pounds whole weight. The annual catch limits for 2016-2017 will remain in place until modified.
According to a 2013 population assessment, the black sea bass population is not undergoing overfishing (fish being removed too quickly), is not overfished (too few fish in the population), and is rebuilt. The assessment results suggest the black sea bass catch levels may be increased without jeopardizing the health of the population.
Harvest Prohibition Using Pot Gear
This rule also prohibits the use of black sea bass pots annually from November 1 through April 30. The prohibition is a precautionary measure to prevent interactions between black sea bass pot gear and whales listed under the Endangered Species Act during large whale migrations and the right whale calving season off the southeastern coast.
More information, including Frequently Asked Questions for Regulatory Amendment 19, may be found online at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2013/reg_am19/index.html
Additional information on management of black sea bass in the South Atlantic may be found at:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/bsb/index.html.
Issues concerning the American and hickory shad fisheries, as well as the black drum fishery, are slated for discussion by three advisory committees to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission at meetings in October.
The Finfish Advisory Committee and the Southern and Northern regional advisory committees will discuss whether to recommend that the Marine Fisheries Commission issue a moratorium on commercial and recreational harvests of American and hickory shad in North Carolina waters under jurisdiction of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries effective Jan. 1, 2014.
The Marine Fisheries Commission, at its August meeting, discussed whether to ask the director of the Division of Marine Fisheries to implement the moratorium by proclamation due to biological impacts, bycatch issues, and user conflicts.
The committees also will discuss what black drum harvest limits to recommend the Marine Fisheries Commission adopt. An Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan requires states to implement possession limits and a minimum size limit of at least 12 inches by Jan. 1, 2014, and at least 14 inches by Jan. 1, 2016.
The meetings are set for:
Southern Advisory Committee, 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 2, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wilmington Regional Office, 127 Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington.
Northern Advisory Committee, 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 3, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Washington Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington.
Finfish Advisory Committee , 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 15, Craven County Cooperative Extension Office, 300 Industrial Drive, New Bern.
For more information on the shad issue, contact Division of Marine Fisheries Northern District Manager Kathy Rawls at (252) 264-3911 or Kathy.Rawls@ncdenr.gov.
For more information on the black drum issue, contact division biologist Chris Stewart at (910) 796-7370 or Chris.Stewart@ncdenr.gov.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries today signed an agreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service that implements a statewide incidental take permit for sea turtles in the estuarine large and small mesh gill net fisheries.
The permit authorizes the limited take of sea turtles in these fisheries and will allow the state to reopen some waters to gill net fishing that have been closed since July.
“This is the result of a lot of hard work by dedicated division staff,” said Louis Daniel, director of the Division of Marine Fisheries. “The flounder gill net fishery is an important economic factor in Eastern North Carolina, and this permit will allow it to continue on a limited basis while protecting threatened and endangered sea turtles.”
The division is considering when to reopen different waters based on the presence of sea turtles, because the number of allowed takes in some areas is low, Daniel said.
“A lot of these waters are going to close with one interaction,” Daniel said.
Also, the number of allowed takes for each area is for the entire period of Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 each year, so if an area must close, it closes the entire year.
The permit carries the same restrictions on soak times and gear requirements and requirement for observer coverage as was previously implemented through a lawsuit settlement agreement between the state and the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.
In addition, the area previously known as the Pamlico Sound Gill Net Restricted Area now falls under the same soak times, gear requirements, and observer requirements as other areas.
Daniel stressed the importance of fishermen complying with these regulations, including allowing observer coverage.
“If we do not meet the required percentage of observer coverage, the National Marine Fisheries Service can revoke this permit, which would close the fishery,” Daniel said.
Another new requirement is that all commercial and recreational gill netters must report any incidental capture of a sea turtle to the division at (252) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632. This includes all gears.
The permit and implementing agreement can be found on the division website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/ under Hot Topics.
For more information, contact the division’s Protected Resources Section Chief Chris Batsavage at (252) 808-8009 or Chris.Batsavage@ncdenr.gov.
The N. C. Coastal Federation is accepting applications for fishermen to help get marine debris out of the water this winter.
In January 2014, the federation and the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will begin a pilot project to remove abandoned fishing gear from northeastern North Carolina waters. With a grant from NOAA and North Carolina Sea Grant, commercial watermen will be employed to help N.C. Marine Patrol during the period when the wire mesh crab pots are supposed to be out of the water, typically from Jan. 15-Feb. 7. This project is intended to improve habitat and water quality and support commercial watermen in northeastern North Carolina.
The collection will take place from the Currituck Sound southward to Oregon Inlet, including parts of the Albemarle Sound. Local fishermen with knowledge of these waters will be given preference. Side-scan sonar will be used on a limited number of boats to detect abandoned gear underwater.
To qualify, fishermen must have filed at least one commercial landing trip ticket with the division’s Trip Ticket Program within the past year. Fishermen will receive $300 per day, and their mates will receive $100 per day. Three days of work are guaranteed with acceptance to the program. About 12 fishermen will be accepted, and volunteers are also needed.
Applications are due on Oct. 15. Participants will be notified of acceptance by Nov. 1.
For more information and an application, contact Ladd Bayliss at (252) 473-1607 or laddb@nccoast.org.
