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Contact: Patricia Smith MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION MEETS NEXT WEEK IN RALEIGH MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission has a full slate of topics involving fishery management plans scheduled for its meeting next week in Raleigh. The commission will consider proposals involving several fishery management plans, including tentative approval to a draft amendment to the Red Drum Fishery Management Plan that will start the process of adopting rules to implement recommendations in it. The draft red drum amendments proposes prohibiting the use of J hooks larger than the manufacturer’s size 4/0, except for non-offset circle hooks, from July through September each year, while fishing with natural bait in Pamlico Sound and its tributaries. It also recommends splitting the existing 250,000-pound annual commercial cap into two seasons and expanding commercial gill net attendance requirements. Other fishery management plans slated for final approval and adoption of rules to implement them are a Kingfish Fishery Management Plan, amendments to the Oyster and Clam Fishery Management Plans and amendments to the Interjurisdictional Fishery Management Plans. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries also plans to release its 2008 stock status report. The commission business meetings begin at 9 a.m. June 26 and 8:30 a.m. June 27 at the Brownstone Hotel in Raleigh. The commission also will hold a public comment period at 7 p.m. June 25 at the same location. |