MFC Business Meeting was held 11/17-18/05

[NCangler]

Marine Fisheries Commission Business Meeting
Ocracoke, North Carolina
Nov. 17 - 18, 2005

The Marine Fisheries Commission and the Division of Marine Fisheries continue to look for ways to keep committee advisors and the public informed about commission activities. It is our intent to publish the MFC Advisor after each business meeting, summarizing the meeting, and providing a list of motions and rulemaking proceedings. Hopefully, this bulletin will keep you better informed about commission activities. Your comments regarding this update are always appreciated – please contact Nancy Fish by e-mail at nancy.fish@ncmail.net or by phone at 252-726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632.

The MFC held a business meeting Nov. 17-18 at the Community Center in Ocracoke, North Carolina. The business meeting was called to order followed by an invocation. The following members were in attendance: Dr. B.J. Copeland – Vice Chairman, Charlie Adams, David Beresoff, Mac Currin, Dr. Barbara Garrity-Blake, Bryan Gillikin, Rusty Russ and Bradley Styron.

Jimmy Johnson is no longer chairman of the MFC. Johnson’s term expired on June 30, and he received notice from Governor Easley in October that his seat was being filled by Commissioner David Beresoff. Currently there is one commercial fishing seat vacant on the MFC. The MFC’s Vice Chairman, Dr. B.J. Copeland, ran the meeting.

Motions and Actions
Motion to approve minutes from the August and September MFC meetings as amended – passed unanimously.

Motion to approve agenda for current meeting – passed unanimously.

Motion to adopt a resolution on public access and send it to the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture – passed unanimously.

The following applicants were selected to serve on the Sea Mullet Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee:
Commercial Seats
Charlie Locke – Outer Banks
Paul Bierman - Beaufort
Sammy Corbett – Hampstead
Mike Cowdrey, Jr. – Sneads Ferry

Recreational Seats
Bill Berryhill – Raleigh
Jeff Weeks – Holly Springs
Cam Lee - Wallace
Rande Banks – Kill Devil Hills

Scientist Seat
Dr. Tom Lankford – UNCW

Marvin Taylor was appointed to the River Herring FMP Advisory Committee.

Jimmy Johnson was appointed to the Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee.

The commission denied a request to begin a process to allow the combining of licenses to land flounder.

The commission is considering holding a meeting with its advisors in the first quarter of 2006.

Motion to send letter to legislative leadership thanking them for their support for oyster restoration during the last legislative session – passed unanimously.

Habitat and Water Quality Permit Comments
Motion to send letter to Charles Jones with Division of Coastal Management recommending denial of a dredging permit for Ahoskie Creek because it has reverted to prime river herring spawning habitat – passed unanimously.

Motion to send letter to Melba McGee, environmental coordinator with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, opposing a solid waste material recycling site near the Alligator River and requesting a full Environmental Impact Assessment – motion passed.

Motion to send letters to the legislative leadership opposing landfills/dump sites in low-lying coastal areas of Camden and Hyde counties and requesting a statewide moratorium on large regional solid waste deposal sites – motion passed unanimously.

The commission decided not to send a letter to the EMC at this time regarding storm water rules.

River Herring FMP Interim Rules
Motion to approve the following interim measures for the 2006 river herring fishery:
100,000 pound total allowable catch for commercial fishermen in the Albemarle Sound Management Area; with 65,000 pounds going to the Chowan River pound net fishery; 30,000 pounds to the gill net fishery; and 5,000 for discretionary use; and a 12 fish daily bag limit for recreational fishermen – motion passed 4 to 3.

Motion to suspend the rules for the river herring quota and recreational bag limit – motion passed.

Fishery Management Plan Guidelines
Motion to adopt modified FMP/rulemaking guidelines to better coordinate the FMP development with the rulemaking process – passed unanimously.

Draft Bay Scallop FMP
Motion to adopt the goals and objectives of the Bay Scallop FMP, and identify research, habitat restoration and monitoring needs and their costs – passed unanimously.

Motion to approve the public information brochure for the draft Bay Scallop FMP –passed unanimously.

The following applicants were selected to serve on the Bay Scallop Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee:
Commercial Seats
Eugene Balance – Ocracoke
Verdon Smith – Swansboro
Ted Willis – Salter Path

Recreational Seats
John Barwick – Morehead City
Craig Hassler – Morehead City
John Speicher – Emerald Isle

Scientist Seats
Dennis Spitsbergen
Ami Wilbur

Draft Shrimp FMP
Motion to file notification of text for the Shrimp FMP rules – passed unanimously.

Draft Striped Mullet FMP
Motion to file notification of text for the Striped Mullet FMP, including options one and two – passed unanimously.

Motion to hold one public hearing in Washington, N.C. on the Shrimp and Striped Mullet FMP rules – passed unanimously

Upcoming MFC Meetings 2006:
Feb. 2-3 Northeast
April 27-28 Southeast
June 27-28 Inland
Sept. 28-29 Central/Morehead City area
Nov. 30-Dec.1 Hatteras area