December 5th, 2016 — Fishermen can earn $400 a day removing old fishing and crabbing gear from the waters of northeastern North Carolina.
The North Carolina Coastal Federation is accepting applications through Jan. 13. Watermen must have a valid commercial fishing license and guarantee availability for work from Jan. 18 through Feb. 7, according to a news release from the federation.
Those accepted will have to attend a training session to learn general project protocol and how to use equipment such as data collection tablets and side-scan sonars.
Each boat can earn $400 per day and is required to have two people on board for safety. The project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program and is intended to improve habitat and water quality, according to the release.
In January 2016, 11 crews, in partnership with state Marine Patrol officers, removed 753 crab pots, the release said. Combined with a shoreline cleanup, this project removed over 7.5 tons of fishing gear and marine debris.
Applications are available at www.nccoast.org/crab and can be mailed to P.O. Box 276, Wanchese, N.C. 27981.