Marine Fisheries Commission To Meet In Carolina Beach

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Jan. 23-25 at the Marriott Hotel in Carolina Beach.

Agenda items include an annual summary of the first year of the Coastal Recreational Fishing License. The Division of Marine Fisheries will present a socio-economic analysis of information garnered from the new license.

The commission is also scheduled to review and approve for public comment a draft update to the state’s Red Drum Fishery Management Plan. Key issues that have come up in the development of this plan include the possible extension of a gill net attendance season, the potential increase of the commercial trip limit and the implementation of a seasonal buffer zone from the shoreline for large-mesh gill nets.

Additionally, the commission will continue its examination of Limited Access Privilege Programs. DMF will present mock fisheries management scenarios for striped bass, Southern flounder and king mackerel.

The commission business meeting begins at 9 a.m. Jan. 24 and 8:30 a.m. Jan. 25. A public comment session will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 for anyone who wishes to address the commission about coastal fisheries issues.

For more information, contact Nancy Fish, the Division of Marine Fisheries’ liaison to the Marine Fisheries Commission, at (800) 682-2632 or (252) 726-7021.

The meeting agenda is attached.

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nr-06-08


MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING
THE MARRIOTT, CAROLINA BEACH, N.C.
JANUARY 23-25, 2008

Executive Order One mandates the Chair inquire as to whether any member knows of any known conflict of interest or appearance of conflict with respect to matters before the commission. If any member knows of a conflict of interest or appearance of conflict, please so state at this time in accordance with N.C.G.S. 138A-15(e).

January 23
7 p.m. Public Meeting
January 24
9 a.m. Call to Order*
Executive Order One
Roll Call
Approval of Agenda**
Approval of November Business Meeting Summary**
9:15 a.m. Public Comment
9:45 a.m. Request for Declaratory Ruling
10:15 a.m. Issues from Commission Members
10:30 a.m. Chairman’s Report
- MFC Advisor Appointments
- Action Update
- Fisheries Forum
10:45 a.m. Committee Reports
- Habitat and Water Quality – Dr. B.J. Copeland
- Northeast – Sara Winslow
- Southeast – Rich Carpenter
- Crustacean – Mikey Daniels
- CRFL – Nancy Fish
- Strategic Habitat Area Advisory Committee – Anne Deaton
- CHPP Report – Jimmy Johnson
Noon Lunch
1:30 p.m. Red Drum FMP – Lee Paramore
- Review Draft FMP
- Approve to take to Public Meetings**
3:30 p.m. Management Overview of Striped Mullet – David Taylor
4 p.m. Suspension of Rules – David Taylor
- Snapper Grouper**
- Striped Bass Permit (two rules)**
4:15 p.m. Mid-Atlantic Council Nominations – Red Munden
4:45 p.m. Rules - Notice of Text**
Oyster and Clam FMPs
- 15A NCAC 03I .0101 Definitions
- 15A NCAC 03K .0101 Prohibited Shellfish Areas/Activities
- 15A NCAC 03K .0103 Shellfish or Seed Management Areas
- 15A NCAC 03K .0105 Harvest of Crabs and Shellfish
- 15A NCAC 03K .0106 Taking/Unloading Oysters & Clams on Sun. or at Night
- 15A NCAC 03K .0108 Dredges/Mechanical Methods Prohibited
- 15A NCAC 03K .0109 Shellfish Harvester and Dealer Tags
- 15A NCAC 03K .0201 Open Season and Possession Limit
- 15A NCAC 03K .0208 Seed Management Areas
- 15A NCAC 03K .0209 Oyster Sanctuaries
- 15A NCAC 03L .0209 Recreational Harvest of Crabs
- 15A NCAC 03O .0201 Standards for Shellfish Bottom and Water Column Leases
- 15A NCAC 03O .0203 Shellfish Lease Application Processing
- 15A NCAC 03O .0210 Shellfish Franchises
- 15A NCAC 03R .0116 Designated Seed Oyster and Management Areas
- 15A NCAC 03R .0117 Oyster Sanctuaries
Interjurisdictional FMP
- 15A NCAC 03M .0201 Striped Bass – General
- 15A NCAC 03M .0204 Striped Bass–Season, Size & Harvest Limit: Atlantic Ocean
- 15A NCAC 03M .0301 Spanish and King Mackerel
- 15A NCAC 03M .0501 Red Drum
- 15A NCAC 03M .0504 Trout
- 15A NCAC 03M .0505 Shark
- 15A NCAC 03M .0506 Snapper-Grouper
- 15A NCAC 03M .0511 Bluefish
- 15A NCAC 03M .0512 Compliance with Fishery Management Plans
- 15A NCAC 03M .0513 River Herring and Shad
- 15A NCAC 03M .0514 Scup
- 15A NCAC 03I .0101 Definitions
- 15A NCAC 03M .0518 Tuna
- 15A NCAC 03J .0105 Purse Seines Prohibited
- 15A NCAC 03M .0102 Unmarketable Food or Scrap Fish
- 15A NCAC 03M .0401 Menhaden & Atlantic Thread Herring – Season and Areas
- 15A NCAC 03M .0402 Menhaden & Atlantic Thread Herring – Foodfish Prohibited
- 15A NCAC 03M .0403 Menhaden & Atlantic Thread Herring – Fishing on Weekends & Holidays Prohibited
- 15A NCAC 03M .0404 Menhaden & Atlantic Thread Herring – Fish Spill Reporting Mandatory
Kingfish FMP
- 15A NCAC 03J .0202 Net Rules, Specific Areas – Atlantic Ocean
- 15A NCAC 03M .0518 Kingfish
5:30 p.m. Recess
January 25
8:30 a.m. Limited Access Privilege Program Examination
- Scenarios for Striped Bass, Southern Flounder and King Mackerel – Scott Crosson
10:30 a.m. CRFL Annual Summary – Doug Mumford/Chris Wilson
11:30 a.m. Director’s Report
- Gill Net Operation Disturbance in Primary Nursery Areas
- Legislative Update
- Coastal Recreational Fishing License
- Waterfront Access Marine Industry Fund
- ASMFC
-River Herring PID
-Coastal Sharks FMP
- Highly Migratory Species
- Southern Flounder Season Extension – Don Hesselman
- Summer Flounder – Don Hesselman
- Striped Bass Seasons – Sara Winslow
- Marine Patrol Report – Col. Rex Lanier
- Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Red Munden
- South Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Brian Cheuvront
- South Atlantic Regional Partnership – Michelle Duval
12:45 p.m. Adjourn

* Times indicated are merely for guidance. The Commission will proceed through the agenda until completed.
**Action Items

2008 Meeting Schedule
-April 22 & 23 City Hotel and Bistro, Greenville
-June 19 & 20 Brownstone, Downtown Raleigh
-September 25 & 26 Clamdigger Inn, Pine Knoll Shores
-November 6 & 7 Ramada Inn, Kill Devil Hills