Final DMF Observer Call-In Program Meetings and ASMFC Recap
The two final Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) observer call-in system outreach meetings are being held:
May 8
NC Cooperative Extension Currituck
County Center
120 Community Way,
Barco
6pm – 8pm
May 9
Hatteras Community Building
57689 NC Hwy 12
Hatteras
6pm – 8pm
This is a great opportunity to provide input on the new anchored gill net observer call-in program beginning this fall. If you fish anchored gill nets you WILL BE REQUIRED under the conditions of our state sea turtle and sturgeon ITPs to call in BEFORE you fish once this program begins. DMF staff wants your input and ideas to help make this program work best for all parties involved. We have been attending these meetings and DMF staff is listening to everyones ideas and taking notes. During this development stage your input is wanted and needed.
ASMFC Meeting Recap
http://asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2023SpringMeeting/2023SpringMeetingSummary.pdf
The Spring Meeting of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) was held last week. You can read the full meeting summary at the link above but here are a few highlights.
Sciaenids Management Board
The black drum benchmark stock assessment and peer review find the stock to not be overfished nor experiencing overfishing. The stock assessment and peer review were voted on and accepted for management by the board.
The board also agreed not to perform Traffic Light Analyses (TLAs) for croaker and spot for 2023. This decision was made to reduce workload and let the Atlantic croaker and spot Technical Committees focus on conducting benchmark stock assessments for both species which are underway and scheduled to be completed in 2024.
Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
Ocean recreational striped bass harvest increased 91% from 2021 to 2022. New stock building projections using this explosive increase in recreational removals lowers the estimates of the spawning stock rebuilding to its biomass target by 2029 from 97% to less than 15% if the higher rate of removals seen in 2022 were to continue.
In response to this information the board enacted emergency action and voted to implement a 28” to 31” slot limit in all recreational fisheries, excluding the Chesapeake Bay trophy fisheries. A few Commissioners did bring up recreational dead discards (which have averaged around 2.5 million striped bass annually) but there was no real discussion on this issue nor any data presented to determine whether or not this reduction in harvest would or would not just lead to more recreational dead discards.
The board also approved the most restrictive option in Addendum I:
To allow, board discretion of commercial quota transfer provision except no transfers if stock is overfished.
(Note: These regulations only apply to the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay striped bass fisheries, it does not affect North Carolina estuarine striped bass regulations.)
Coastal Sharks Management Board
A proposed rule will be published later this month for Draft Amendment 15 to the HMS FMP, which considers two issues: (1) modification, data collection, and assessment of four commercial longline spatial management areas, and (2) administration and funding of the HMS pelagic longline electronic monitoring program.
Under this proposed rule North Carolina pelagic long liners could be responsible to pay over $20,000 a year to install and maintain their electronic monitoring systems!
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2023-05/Amendment-15-EM-poster-for-website.pdf
Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board
Motion failed to continue discussion to add little tunny and Atlantic bonito as an ASMFC managed species but the chair did encourage parties with an interest in managing these species to work together to explore state management and report back if they decide further action by the Commission may be necessary.
Thomas Newman
Fisheries Liaison
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: 5.8.2023
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The past 2 weeks have been very hectic as legislators were trying to move bills that were subject to the crossover deadline on May 4th. This week will be rather light but committees will be meeting. Glenn & I have appointments over the next 2 weeks to go over provisions that we hope will get passed and oppose H-655.
REST IN PEACE
Our commercial fishing community has lost two individuals recently, both from Wanchese.
WILLIAM TYNDALE DANIELS or PUNK, was 77 and died on Sunday, April 23rd.
KATHY DANIELS RUHLE was 76 and died on May 4th.
Both were very much a part of the Wanchese community as a whole and the commercial fishing community in particular. Punk was one of 14 children who built Wanchese Fish Company, now owned by Cooke Seafood. His funeral was April 29th.
Kathy was married to Jimmy Ruhle who has spent his entire life on the water and very active in fisheries management and former member of the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Kathy in her own rite was also active both in the family business and with fisheries management issues before Alzheimers silenced her voice. Her funeral is Tuesday, May 9th.
OUR CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS from the NCFA Board, Staff and Members to the Daniels and Ruhle families.
“Punk Daniels”
William Tyndale “Punk” Daniels, 77, of Wanchese, North Carolina, died on Sunday, April 23, 2023, at Chesapeake Health and Rehabilitation Center.
A native of Wanchese, Punk was the son of the late Maude Etheridge Daniels and Malcolm Spencer Daniels. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sister Faith Daniels Miller, and brother Thomas William “Tom Bill” Daniels.
As a commercial fishing boat captain with Wanchese Fish Company, Punk spent countless hours on the water, providing for his family, and contributing to the local economy. In addition to his work as a captain, Punk was a co-owner of Wanchese Fish Company. Punk’s expertise in the fishing industry was legendary, and he was widely known in fishing ports on both coasts of the United States. Punk was also well known for his trademark whistle; if you heard it, you knew it was him and that he would “see you around like a donut.”
Punk is survived by five children, Billy Daniels, Dana Daniels Grindle and husband Mark, Jeremiah Daniels, Maria Daniels, and Asher Daniels, and seven grandchildren, Olivia Daniels and husband Cole Gruninger, Elayna Daniels, Dirk Daniels, Cole Grindle, Lauren Grindle, Macon Morrill, and Mamie Morrill. Also surviving are his nine brothers, Kenny Daniels and wife Cheryl, Malcolm “Apple” Daniels and wife Luciano, David Daniels and wife Kay, Michael Daniels and wife Sue, Timmy Daniels, Joey Daniels and wife Vicki, Chris Daniels and wife Cammie, Mark Daniels and wife Cathy, Sam Daniels and wife Theresa, and three sisters, Esther Daniels Wilder and husband Jimmy, Nanette Daniels Channer and husband Mark, and Amy Daniels Lanier and husband Arnold, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Punk is also survived by his faithful canine companion, Macy.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, April 29th at Wanchese Assembly of God, with burial at the Cudworth Cemetery.
Kathy Ruhle
Kathy Daniels Ruhle was born into this world on November 26, 1946, on Jovers Lane just yards from where she left us to be with the Lord on May 4, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
To say Kathy was a homemaker is an understatement. She was a housekeeper, chef, teacher, taxi, secretary, accountant, travel agent, navigator, writer, sewer, quilter, hostess, and preacher (when needed).
Kathy completed 12 years of school with absolutely perfect attendance. She loved school and was responsible for helping some of her children and neighborhood kids graduate. Kathy was also an active and faithful lifetime member of Bethany United Methodist Church. She loved and trusted in the Lord with all her heart.
Kathy is survived by the love of her life Jimmy, whom she faithfully stood by for over 57 years; her older sister, Ann D. Mihovch; a younger brother, Johnny Daniels (Connie); her four children Darana, Betsy, Bobby (Ina), and Stevie (Stephanie); four grandchildren Laurin, Lexi, Ethan, Kate; and her service granddog Dolly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty and J.T. Daniels, and her oldest son Jim.
Kathy was the rock of her family and the glue that held it together. Although she has been gone for some time and will be greatly missed, we seek comfort knowing her fight is over and she rests peacefully in heaven.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at Bethany Church of Wanchese with a graveside committal to follow in Tillett Cemetery.
