Weekly Update: July 26, 2019

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ~ GLENN SKINNER

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) has submitted another Petition for Rulemaking to the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC). Like the previous petition this one proposes severe restrictions on shrimp trawling in the internal waters of 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

NEWS FROM RALEIGH~ NCFA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The Senate left town on Wednesday and won’t return for business until August 6th. The House will have votes next Monday. There’s very little committee work being done and I was once again assured no fish bills will be taken up before adjournment. With the budget stuff still going on, it’s impossible to project when adjournment might happen.

The only thing related to fisheries this week was H-597, WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION AMENDS, received a favorable report in the Senate Ag Committee on Tuesday and Finance Committee on Wednesday. It has one more stop in Rules before going to the floor.

Jerry

THIRD DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL RACE

Allen Thomas, Saturday, July 27th; 10:00am – 3:00pm Hog Island home of Bryce Pike

RSVP: daquan@allenthomascongress.com or 252-364-8851

Greg Murphy, Lenoir County Meet & Greet;

Tuesday, August 20th; 6:30 – 8:00pm; Sugar Hill Pizza in Kinston No charge for the event; Contact John Nix: nixcjohn@gmail.com

SAFMC Scamp Release

A citizen science project to collect data

on released Scamp Grouper

WHAT: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is launching the mobile app, SAFMC Release. This is our first Citizen Science Pilot Project to collect information on released Scamp Grouper.

WHY: The number of released fish in the South Atlantic is increasing and improving data on these fish is a priority research need. Better information on released fish could be useful to the upcoming Scamp stock assessment and for future management.

WHO: Participation in this project is needed from commercial, for-hire, and recreational offshore bottom fishermen – including you!

HOW: Fishermen will use the free mobile app, SAFMC Release, to collect data on released Scamp Grouper.

Data collected will include:

length, depth and location of released fish, & use of barotrauma reduction devices.

TO GET STARTED:

Contact Julia Byrd to set up a user account or fill out the online form!

Visit the website below for more details.

http://safmc.net/cit-sci/scamp-release/

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

If you’re interested in joining the project or hearing more about it, please contact:

Julia Byrd, Citizen Science Program Manager at 843-302-8439, Julia.byrd@safmc.net

Schedule change to TRADEWINDS page 21

“Celebrating our Island Heritage” Harkers Island Community Choir has been changed to “Lights of Home” and rescheduled for September 6, 2019 at 7:30 pm. Location: Free Grace Wesleyan Church, 140 Old Ferry Dock Rd, Harkers Island, NC.