From Our Executive Director-Glenn Skinner
It is very important that anyone involved in the NC Shrimp or Southern Flounder fisheries attend next week’s NC Marine Fisheries Commission meeting.
The Commission will be voting on the NC Wildlife Federation’s petition for rulemaking on Thursday, August 22 and on Amendment 2 to the Southern Flounder FMP on Friday, August 23.
Public comment will be allowed at 6 pm on Wednesday, August 21 and at 9:30 am on Thursday, August 22.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!
The meeting will be held in Raleigh at the Doubletree by Hilton University Brownstone: 1707 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC.
The NCWF Petition Proposes:
- All internal coastal waters that are not currently designated as Nursery Areas or Trawl Prohibited Areas would receive the new designation of Shrimp Trawl Management Areas.
- Opening shrimp season in Shrimp Trawl Management Areas one the shrimp count reaches 60 shrimp per pound (heads on) during sample tows in Pamlico Sound, or once the harvest of shrimp exceeds the harvest of juvenile fish during sample tows in the Pamlico Sound or June 15, whichever is earliest.
- A three-day shrimping week in Shrimp Trawl Management Areas.
- Monday (12 am until 18:59)
- Wednesday (12 am until 11:59 pm)
- Friday (12 am until 18:59)
- A Maximum headrope length of 110 feet on all shrimp trawls for all internal waters of NC.
These changes WILL NOT go into effect if the petition is approved during the August 2019 meeting, instead it will start the lengthy process that the previous petition went through before being deemed dead in February 2019.
The Commission will also be taking their final vote on Amendment 2 to the Southern Flounder FMP at their August 2019 business meeting.
While multiple options ranging from a 31% reduction to a moratorium on harvest are still on the table, the Commissioners preferred option is to use season closures to achieve a 62% reduction in harvest in 2019 and a 72% reduction in 2020 for both Commercial and Recreational fisheries.
Both of these issues could be devastating to North Carolina’s coastal economy, so we encourage everyone to offer public comment to help guide the Commissioners in their deliberations.
If you would like to receive a copy of the petition by email- send requests to aundrea@ncfish.org
TRED BARTA:
We are deeply saddened to write that on Sunday, August 11, 2019, our industry lost a great ally – Capt. Tred Barta. Tred was a contributing writer for our Tradewinds publication. He was an avid sport fisherman and outdoorsman, as well as an outspoken advocate for the commercial fishing industry. Love him or hate him, he wasn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Tred’s fervent faith in God gives us comfort that he is no longer enduring the pains and struggles of this world, and that he has moved on to paradise to live with Jesus, his Savior. Tred did big things in his life and he made a lasting impact everywhere he went. He will be missed by many.
He had quite a reputation in hunting and sportfishing circles. Tred broke multiple International Game Fish Association world records while fishing from Montauk and Shinnecock and was equally well known for his brash and often offensive manner.
Mr. Barta was an accomplished hunter, fisherman and skier who roamed over the horizon in search of tuna and marlin and spent weeks on end in the wilderness stalking big game animals.
For several years he hosted a popular television show, “The Best and Worst of Tred Barta,” that followed his adventures. When he was left paralyzed below the chest after suffering a stroke caused by a rare form of blood cancer, the show shifted its focus to Mr. Barta continuing to pursue the physically demanding sporting activities he always had and the host became a celebrated role model for the abilities of people with physical handicaps.
He was 67 when he died in a single vehicle accident near the border of the Yukon Territories and British Columbia on Sunday as he was returning home to Carteret County from several months in Alaska.
He is survived by a sister, Susan Hadley of Park City, Utah; a son, Hunter, daughter in law, Nikki and Grandson, Skyler of Beaufort, North Carolina; a daughter Lauren, of Asheville, North Carolina and his beloved dog, Pepper.
The family has not yet made any announcement about services or a memorial.
NCFA’s Officers, Board of Directors, Members and Staff offer its prayers and most sincere condolences to the family.
Tred Barta, 67, Renowned Outdoorsman And Role Model For Those With Disabilities from 27east.com on Vimeo.
NEWS FROM RALEIGH-NCFA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
The General Assembly is still in session with nothing “fish-related” this week.
THIRD DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL RACE
The Election is September 10th; Early voting begins August 21st and ends September 6th.
Allen Thomas:
Saturday, August 16th; 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Havelock Meet & Greet
Monday, August 19th; 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Liberal Ladies who Lunch Meet & Greet; New Bern
Greg Murphy;
Friday, August 16th; 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Summer Cookout on the Pamlico River; Washington, NC
Contact Lynda Blount: 252-714-1164
Saturday, August 17th; 6:00pm; A Chicken Picking
Home of Sheldon & Leslie Daniels; Beaufort, NC
Contact Lindy Robinson: 252-241-2309
Tuesday, August 20th; 6:30 – 8:00pm; Sugar Hill Pizza in Kinston
No charge for the event; Contact John Nix: nixcjohn@gmail.com
Wednesday, August 28th; 5:30pm; Reception with
Guests Donald Trump, Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle
Copper Ridge on the Neuse in New Bern
Contact Lynda Blount: 252-714-1164