November 29, 2016 — The North Carolina Coastal Federation is currently accepting applications from commercial fishermen interested in assisting with an on-water cleanup of lost fishing gear from coastal waters.
Watermen are selected to participate in the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project annually to help the federation and the North Carolina Marine Patrol remove lost fishing gear from coastal waters during the “no-potting” period, typically from Jan. 15 to Feb. 7.
In January of this year, eleven crews removed 753 pots from select areas in District 1. Combined with a shoreline cleanup, the project led to the removal of more than 7.5 tons of fishing gear and various marine debris from northeastern North Carolina waters, according to the NCCF news release.
The 2017 project will take place in select areas within all three Marine Patrol districts, statewide.
To qualify, watermen must have a valid Standard Commercial Fishing License and guarantee availability for work during the period of Jan. 18 through Feb. 7. They must also attend a mandatory training session to learn general project protocol and how to use project equipment.
Compensation is $400 per boat, per day. Each boat is required to have two people onboard for safety reasons. In some locations, more than one week of work could be possible for those accepted to this program.
The project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program and is intended to improve habitat and water quality, as well as support coastal economies.