State Marine Fisheries Commission to meet Aug. 17-19 in Raleigh

Pat McCrory, Governor

Donald R. van der Vaart, Secretary

Release: Immediate

Contact: Patricia Smith

Date: Aug. 8, 2016

Phone: 252-726-7021

State Marine Fisheries Commission to meet Aug. 17-19 in Raleigh

MOREHEAD CITY – The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Aug. 17-19 at the Doubletree by Hilton University Brownstone, 1707 Hillsborough St., Raleigh.

Public comment periods will begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 and 9 a.m. Aug. 18. The chairman will allow each speaker to comment for up to three minutes. Due to time constraints, those making comments will be asked to speak only once, either at the Aug. 17 or Aug. 18 session, but not during both public comment periods.

The business meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 18 and 8:30 a.m. Aug. 19.

The deadline for submitting written correspondence to the commission, including email, through the Marine Fisheries Commission Office is noon on Aug. 16. Those who wish to forego this process and give handouts to the commission during the public comment periods should bring at least 12 copies of the handout.

The public may listen to the meeting on the Internet. Up to 200 participants may listen to audio and view presentations in real-time on a first-come, first-served basis. Directions for participating in the webcast, including information on system requirements and testing, can be found at: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/listen-online. Following the meeting, an audio recording will be posted online.

Agenda items include:

·         Approval of a $21,412 grant from its Conservation Fund for a genetic study of striped bass from the Central/Southern management area.

·         Setting the number of Standard Commercial Fishing Licenses to make available in an Eligibility Pool for the upcoming year.

·         Presentations on 2015 commercial and recreational landings and the 2016 Stock Status Report.

·         An update on a meeting between Division of Marine Fisheries and Wildlife Resources Commission staff regarding management of striped bass in the Central/Southern management area.

·         Approval of its annual schedule for Fishery Management Plan reviews.

·         Approval of an annual report on the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan.

·         Beginning the rulemaking process for a slate of 15 proposed rules to:

–        Implement the Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 and Oyster Fishery Management Plan Amendment 4;

–        Establish the Permit for Weekend Trawling for Live Shrimp;

–        Relocate a 2003 requirement for a permit for dealers transacting in spiny dogfish from proclamation into rule;

–        Increase penalties for gear larceny;

–        Correct a coordinate in a boundary for Wade Creek;

–        Clarify license requirements for leaseholder designees;

–        Re-establish a rule delegating proclamation authority to the fisheries director to specify time, area, means and methods, season, size, and quantity of spotted seatrout harvested in North Carolina to allow for continued management  under the North Carolina Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan due to an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission plan to remove spotted seatrout from its managed species.

–        Modify the fisheries director’s proclamation authority for the protection of public health;

–        Align the method of commencement of proceedings to suspend or revoke a fishing license, permit, or certificate with other similar administrative proceedings by the division and commission.

A full meeting agenda and briefing book can be found at: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/mfc-meetings.

For more information, contact Marine Fisheries Commission Liaison Nancy Fish at 252-808-8021 or Nancy.Fish@ncdenr.gov.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny