Salt water Anglers.....You have an opportunity to make your voice heard. Take action NOW!
Wildlife Federation Files Petition for Rule with North
Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission to Amend Shrimp Trawling Rules to Protect
Juvenile Fish and Nursery Habitat
The Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) is expected to vote on
this proposal on Thursday, August 22, 2019. The proposed Rule amendment would
place certain conditions on shrimp trawling to reduce the bycatch of juvenile
fish, mainly spot, Atlantic croaker, and grey trout. The fishing mortality on
these juvenile fish from shrimp trawling bycatch annually is unsustainable and
has led to major declines in the health of these fish populations over the past
twenty years.
The Petition calls on the MFC to:
- Designate new Shrimp Trawl Management Areas in the Pamlico Sound and other internal waters where juvenile fish are abundant;
- Allow the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to open the shrimp trawling season once shrimp in the Pamlico Sound reach a designated size (60 count) or by June 15 each Spring;
- Allow shrimp trawling on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays each week in new Shrimp Trawl Management Areas; and
- Limit the size of shrimp trawls to 110 foot headropes total length in new Shrimp Trawl Management Areas.
Implementation of these researched-based, common-sense
strategies will:
Put North Carolina's commercial and recreational fisheries
on the road to recovery by reducing juvenile fish mortality from trawling
bycatch thus allowing more fish to reach maturity and spawn at least once before
being harvested; and
Protect essential nursery areas necessary to the growth and
viability of fish species of ecological and economical significance.
The entire Petition can be accessed here:
Make your voice heard before final action is taken by MFC on
the Petition. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am on Thursday, August
22, 2019 in Raleigh, NC 27605 at the Doubletree by Hilton-Brownstone University,
1707 Hillsborough Street where you can provide remarks. You can attend or send
your support for the Petition by e-mail to: mailto:Dana.Gillikin@ncdenr.gov
You can copy, insert your name, and paste the following
statement to DMF at the given e-mail address. You may wish to compose your own
statement. Public input showing support for attention to the problem of shrimp
trawl bycatch and possible remedies set forth in the petition will be
important. Thank you, NC Camo.
Marine Fisheries Commission, as a concerned citizen and
fisherman (woman), I support the proposed Petition from the NC Wildlife
Federation that is before you today to adopt Rules to reduce shrimp trawling
bycatch of juvenile fish, which will improve survival of these fish to the age
of maturity and allow them to spawn at least once. This will improve the status
of finfish generally and begin the move toward sustainability. Thank you for
your consideration, ____________
An informed and engaged sporting community is important to
the traditions we all value.
Dick Hamilton NC
Camo Coordinator dick@ncwf.org NC Camo Coalition is a project of the NC
Wildlife Federation
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
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