October 12, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:
COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN NEEDED TO REMOVE MARINE DEBRIS
The North Carolina Coastal Federation is currently accepting applications for its annual Derelict Fishing Gear Recovery Project. This project is open to commercial fishermen in northeastern North Carolina.
Watermen are accepted to this program annually to help N.C. Marine Patrol on select days during the “no-potting” period, typically from Jan. 15 – Feb. 7. The collection will take place in selected areas of Marine Patrol’s District 1, which includes the Northern coast from the Virginia state line, Manteo to Swanquarter, including the Outer Banks to Ocracoke. Local fishermen with knowledge of these waters will be given preference.
To qualify, fishermen must adhere to the following conditions: (1) have a valid Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL), (2) guarantee availability for work during the weeks of Jan. 18 and Jan. 25, 2016, (3) attend a mandatory training session to learn how to use project equipment (side-scan sonar and data collection tablets), as well as general project protocol.
Payment is $400 per boat, per day, and a captain and one mate is required. Three days of work are guaranteed with acceptance to the program. Approximately 12 boats (12 captains and 12 mates) will be accepted for the 2016 cleanup.
Funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, this project is intended to improve habitat and water quality, as well as support commercial watermen. Applications are due Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Applications are available at www.nccoast.org/ and can be mailed to 128 Grenville Street, Manteo, NC 27954 or faxed to 252-473-2402. For more information contact Ladd Bayliss at 252-473-1607 or laddb@nccoast.org.
STATE SEEKS FOR-HIRE STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY GROUP APPLICANTS
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is seeking members for a For-Hire Stakeholder Advisory Group. The group will be tasked with studying whether the state should require charter and guide boat operators to submit logbooks summarizing their catch. The division is required to submit findings of the study to the N.C. General Assembly in January.
The Division of Marine Fisheries is no longer considering a requirement for a for-hire logbook at this time. However, the group will be asked for input as to what type of logbook, if any, they might like to see in the future.
By law, the For-Hire Stakeholder Advisory Group is limited to those people who hold a For-Hire Coastal Recreational Fishing License or a Standard Commercial Fishing License and division staff. The membership should represent all major recreational fishing areas on the North Carolina coast.
Those who would like to serve on the stakeholder group should contact Don Hesselman, License and Statistics Section chief with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, at 252-808-8099 or Don.Hesselman@ncdenr.gov by 5 p.m. Oct. 19.
As the timeframe for the study is short, the division has tentatively scheduled a first meeting for Nov. 10. The location and time of this meeting will be announced later.
NMFS ANNOUNCES PROPOSED RULE TO IMPLEMENT ICCAT ELECTRONIC BLUEFIN TUNA CATCH DOCUMENTATION SYSTEM
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to implement recommendations by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to transition the current paper-based bluefin tuna catch documentation program (BCD program) to an electronic bluefin tuna catch documentation system (eBCD system). Comments are due Nov. 9, 2015. For more information see the news release.
NCFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESCHEDULED
The NCFA board meeting scheduled for today was canceled due to inclement weather. It has been rescheduled for Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at the Washington Civic Center located at 110 Gladden St. in Washington. As a reminder, members are welcomed and encouraged to attend, however, the board will be discussing the southern flounder management crisis at this meeting, and so we strongly urge all the fishery’s participants who are able to attend. We need your input on this critical issue.
INTERESTED CANDIDATES FOR SAFMC SEAT EXPIRING IN 2016
Members interested in serving in the obligatory seat for the South Atlantic Marine Fishery Commission, please let Lauren know. You can email or give her a call at 252-725-2468.
REGULATION AND RULE CHANGES:
–Commercial Scup Winter II quota and possession limits increase effective Nov. 1
DEADLINES:
Oct. 19 – For-Hire Advisory Group Applications
Oct. 29 – NMFS Proposed Rules for Snapper-Grouper, Dolphin and Golden Crab Comments
Nov. 4 – Atlantic HMS SEDAR Pool Nominations
Nov. 9 – NMFS Proposed Rule on ICCAT Bluefin Electronic Documentation Comments
Nov. 19 – Derelict Fishing Gear Recovery Project Applications
Dec. 16 – NMFS Draft Ecosystem-based Fishery Management Policy Comments
MEETINGS:
If you are aware of ANY meetings that should be of interest to commercial fishing that is not on this list, please contact us so we can include it here.
Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. – Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Meeting, Radisson Hotel Providence Airport, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI
Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m. – Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board Meeting, Department of Environmental Quality Regional Office, 127 N. Cardinal Dr. Ext., Wilmington, NC
Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. – Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel Meeting via webinar
Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. – Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee Meeting, Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City
Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. – NCFA Board of Directors Meeting, Washington Civic Center, 110 Gladden St., Washington, NC
PROCLAMATIONS:
No proclamations have been issued.