Legislative Update
Nothing new to report from Raleigh this week.
NCFA Annual Board Meeting:
NCFA held its Annual Board Meeting on Monday, February 17 at the Inlet View Bar & Grill in Shallotte, NC. We would like to thank Samantha Hughes and her staff for the warm welcome and great southern hospitality. (As well as the great local seafood they provided). We also want to thank our Members and Board Members that took time out of their busy schedules to be in attendance.
Industry Funded Economic Survey–
It is very important that all fishermen fill out this survey when they receive it in the mail. This information is so NC can get an accurate value for our fishing industry. If you have any questions, feel free to call Glenn Skinner at 252-646-7742
Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment
Scoping and public comment meeting
Tuesday, Feb 25 6PM-8PM
NCDMF Office
943 Washington Street, Washington, NC
State to Review Small Mesh Gill Net Regulations
RALEIGH- The Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality has directed the Division of Marine Fisheries to conduct a thorough review of the regulations governing the use of small mesh gill nets in North Carolina fisheries. After decades of actions by numerous Marine Fisheries Commissions (MFC), the department, the division and federal agencies, the regulations have become complex, difficult for stakeholders to understand and create an enforcement challenge.
A review to simplify the regulations with a goal to reduce bycatch and sustain our stocks is important to commercial and recreational fishermen. The Division of Marine Fisheries will:
- Begin a review of existing MFC small mesh (less than 4 inches) gill net rules and proclamations to identify potential amendments with respect to minimum mesh size, total yardage and attendance requirements; and
- Issue a proclamation this spring to limit yardage for small mesh nets with reasonable upper limits based on analysis of average, minimum and maximum yardages currently used and address attendance requirements in certain ‘hot spot’ areas.
- Present rule change options to the MFC later this year.
We will provide a detailed update from the MFC meeting next week (hopefully on Monday or Tuesday). We want to get all motions that were passed in their full context.
