Weekly Update: January 18, 2019

 *****NCFA ANNUAL 2019 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE*****

We still have sweatshirts available for new memberships.

Quantities are limited, so there are no guarantees that we will have every size in every sweatshirt for long. This offer applies to an “Individual” $25 yearly membership. With your membership, you’ll receive a weekly update that is mailed, faxed, or emailed every Friday; to keep you current about all of the meetings and issues related to the commercial fishing industry. With your membership, you will also receive a subscription to our bi-monthly publication “Tradewinds”.

If you’d like to become a member, you can call our office at (252) 726-6232 or visit our website at ncfish.org/join-ncfa/

NCFA ANNUAL MEETING

All proxies need to be turned in to the NCFA office no later than January 18, 2019 for members not able to attend our Annual Meeting in Kill Devil Hills. If you need a proxy form, please call the office 252-726-6232 or email nikki@ncfish.org and we will be glad to email or fax one to you. We highly recommend that you as a member of NCFA try to attend. You can reserve a room if needed at our corporate rate, just let them know that you would like to reserve under “North Carolina Fisheries Association Room Block”.

Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk

Address : 5353 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949

Phone : (252) 261-1290 ext 103

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The big news this week is the lawsuit filed by the State of New York regarding summer flounder quota allocations. As has been noted for quite some time, New York is not happy that the states of Virginia and North Carolina have the largest allocations of the annual quota due to the process that the states agreed to in the early 90s with the adoption of the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan. The allocation was based upon historical landings with North Carolina showing the largest percentage of landings. The percentage for 3 of the states is as follows:

New York: 7.6%

Virginia: 21.3%

North Carolina: 27.4%

North Carolina was also the reason why several other states have their quota shares because the process was based on the location landed and not the homeport of the vessel. In other words, if North Carolina vessels landed in Connecticut, the landings were credited to Connecticut. If landed in New York by a North Carolina vessel, the credit went to New York.

This issue has tremendous repercussions for North Carolina, and needs to be defended vigorously by NCFA as well as our Governor and Attorney General.

From the press release from the State of New York:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Attorney General Letitia James today announced that New York has initiated a lawsuit against the federal government challenging the unfair quota allocated to New York’s commercial fluke (summer flounder) fishery. New York is seeking a revised allocation to give New York’s commercial fishermen and women an equitable share based on current data about the fishery. New York commenced this litigation in response to the adoption of federal regulations on December 17, which established state allocations for the 2019 fishing year that were based on 40-year-old fisheries data.

“New York’s commercial fishing industry is a critical economic driver that for decades has been held back by outdated federal restrictions,” Governor Cuomo said. “After countless attempts to work with the federal government to adjust the quota, New York is taking action and demanding fair treatment of the hardworking men and women of this industry. The message is loud and clear: we will fight this unfair quota until New York’s access to summer flounder is consistent with national standards.”

 

NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

As noted last week after Senate and House members were sworn in on January 9th, they will reconvene to conduct business on Wednesday, January 30th.

Rooms have been assigned to all legislators. Senate committees have been listed on the NCGA website, but not for the House.

Of particular note is the Senate Committee on Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources which will be chaired by Senator Norman Sanderson of Pamlico County and Senator Andy Wells of Hickory, NC.

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