Wednesday, May 31, 2006
New NC Saltwater License Creates Problems for Charter Captains
 North Carolina's new saltwater fishing license doesn't start until January 1st of next year but charter boat captains have found a flaw in the new law that could lead to extra red tape if they wanted to take a day off. In it's current form, the new saltwater license provides a blanket fishing license to a charter boat captain that covers all for-hire passengers. The problem is that the license is in the captain's name and not the vessel's. To make matters more complicated, the NC MFC has also instituted a rule requiring all captains to list their vessels on the license to help with data collection. This means that if a charter captain wanted time off or needed to take a sick day then a replacement captain would not only need a license, but would also have had to previously list the boat when getting the license. MFC officials have stated that they are sympathetic to the captains but thought that changes before next year seemed unlikely. More on the confusion is available from the Jacksonville Daily News and more on NC's saltwater license is available from the NC DMF.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
NOAA Fines NC Fishermen and Dealers $98,500
 NOAA announced today that the owners of the commercial fishing vessel FV Raven and two fish dealers have been issued a civil penalty of $98,500 and a 90-day permit sanction for the violation of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Shark Finning Prohibition Act. The group was charged with trafficking in shark fins and possession of an endangered dusky shark. In addition the charges against the group, the owners of the FV Raven were charged with three counts of exceeding the 4,000 pound commercial retention trip limit and two counts of falsifying or failing to record, report, or maintain required information and reports. We all want healthier fisheries in North Carolina and management plans and quotas are one of our state's primary ways to improve them. To report illegal fishing activities, contact the NOAA Fisheries Service's Enforcement Hot Line at 800-853-1964. More on the fines is available from the Outer Banks Sentinel. Archive Link 1 Comments Tell a Friend |
Monday, May 29, 2006
Plan to Reduce Mercury Levels in NC Fish Open to Comment
 The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will be holding public hearings for a plan for how NC power plants should meet new EPA standards designed to result in a 70 percent reduction in mercury emissions by 2018. The first of the meetings will begin Thursday at the Archdale Building in downtown Raleigh and continue June 8th at the Leslie Building at Pitt Community College in Winterville, both hearings will begin at 7PM. These meetings will be especially important in light of the new mercury level warnings on 15 additional species just this year. While state agencies are obviously concerned and making efforts to reduce mercury emissions, many feel that technology is already advanced enough to eliminate the threat. More on the public hearings is available from the New Bern Sun Journal and more on the dangers of mercury is available from the USGS. Written comments are also encouraged and may be sent through June 30 to Thomas Allen, Division of Air Quality, 1641 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1641.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
New Petition to Save Emerald Isle's Last Pier
 We reported a few weeks ago that Emerald Isle was fighting to keep the Bogue Inlet Pier from falling victim to real estate development, but it now seems that the fight is quickly gaining momentum. The town of Emerald Isle is still pursuing two funding options, a grant from the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund and a direct appropriation from the NC General Assembly. With the funding the town hopes to purchase the pier and surrounding 15 acres of land for parking. A new petition went up Monday at www.saveourpier.com to help in the town's cry for financial assistance from the state. So far the petition has received about 2,100 signatures with a goal of 5,000 but we feel that 10,000 by the end of next week should be feasible if most of our visitors sign it. More on the town's efforts to save the pier is available from the Kinston Free Press.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
MFC Votes to Not Recommend Withdrawal from ASMFC
 Monday the NC Marine Fisheries Commission held a meeting in Morehead City to address the growing concern of commercial fishermen and discuss the possibility of withdrawal from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Commercial fishermen have seen declining catches for the last 9 years and many have started to blame the quotas and management plans of the ASMFC for what they believe are practices that benefit other states at the expense of North Carolina. The long day of discussions lead to a vote late Monday night where the NC MFC voted to send letters voicing their disappointment rather than recommending withdrawal. Withdrawal from the ASMFC was never very likely as even if NC withdrew, the state would still be held accountable to their quotas according to federal law. The NC Coastal Conservation Association has voiced serious concern about the potential withdrawal recommendation and had said that they would stringently oppose it. More on the ASMFC vote is available from the New Bern Sun Journal.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
Saturday, May 20, 2006
US House Says No To Outer Banks Oil and Gas Drilling
 After a several weeks of political manuevering and testing the winds of public opinion, the US House of Representatives voted late Thursday to restore a moratorium banning natural gas exploration off the east coast, including the Outer Banks. While many Gulf states have successfully operated offshore rigs without any major problems, many North Carolina fishermen felt that the potential risk outweighed the potential gains. The final overall vote was very close at 217 to 203, just as close as the 7 to 6 final vote from NC's delegates. More on the vote for the moratorium is available from the Winston Salem Journal.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
Friday, May 19, 2006
NC Coast Receives "C" On Annual Report Card
 The North Carolina Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association's annual report card for the NC coast is out and while public access to beaches is improving, public access to waterways remains poor. The non-profit group gave the state an overall grade of "C" but many categories that are important to coastal anglers received far worse grades. Increased sales of marinas, piers, and boat ramps is beginning to severely limit public access to coastal waterways and the report card gave NC's water access a "D". NC's upkeep of the Intercoastal Waterway was criticized as being significantly underfunded and also given a "D". More on this year's report card is available from the News&Observer and the complete report card is available from the North Carolina Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
Monday, May 15, 2006
Ocracoke's Springer's Point Preserve Dedication This Weekend
 Everyone who has spent time on North Carolina's Outer Banks can attest to the beauty of our barrier islands. While many parts of the Outer Banks are falling victim to the growing pressure from encroaching real estate development, Springer's Point in Ocracoke is about to become a protected example of NC's natural beauty and cultural heritage. The NC Coastal Land Trust will dedicate the new Springer's Point nature preserve on Saturday May 20th and everyone is invited. Activities include kayaking, nature walks, and an afternoon reception at The Back Porch Restaurant (110 Back Road). Springer's Point is one of the few remaining examples of the Outer Banks' ancient maritime forests and more than just an example of their beauty. The area also has a storied history as Blackbeard's refuge. Details on the dedication ceremony and ongoing fundraising effortsare available from the NC Coastal Land Trust.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
Friday, May 12, 2006
House Panel Approves Gas Drilling Off Outer Banks
|
Bad news from Washington, the House Appropriations Committee voted yesterday to allow drilling for natural gas off the east coast and North Carolina Outer Banks starting in 2012. The panel approved the measure on a 37-25 vote and it could be up for a vote in the full House as early as next week. Currently there is a moratorium on offshore drilling until 2012, but some folks have been fighting for new drilling as a way to help reduce fuel costs. The bill still has to make it through the full House, the Senate, and the President's veto, but many have voiced support. If the bill does pass drilling rigs could be erected as close as 3 miles off the Outer Banks. Surprisingly very little coverage has been given to this story in North Carolina, more on the panel's vote is available from the Miami Herald.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
Monday, May 08, 2006
NC MFC to Discuss Withdrawal from ASMFC
|
Commercial fishermen have been getting increasingly frustrated with harvest restrictions and increasing regulations over the last few years and that frustration came to a boil at the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission's meeting in Wilmington last week. Several commercial fishermen attacked the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's management plans and harvest restrictions and a measure was approved to have an emergency meeting to discuss whether or not North Carolina should withdraw from the ASMFC. The ASMFC develops fisheries management plans for species that migrate up and down the east coast since no single state could effectively create management plans without the input and assistance from neighboring states. Although the ASFMC was founded in 1942, state membership was voluntary until 1993 when Congress passed the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act. While we certainly understand that commercial fishermen have been struggling, legislation created by the ASMFC and NC MFC have always been designed to help protect our fisheries for future generations. If North Carolina withdrew, other states would most likely follow suit and our fisheries would suffer. More on the withdrawal discussion is available from the Outer Banks Sentinel.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Emerald Isle Fighting to Keep Bogue Inlet Pier
 Although more North Carolina fishing piers have fallen to new developments, the town of Emerald Isle is fighting to save the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier. The pier and surrounding properties are currently under contract to be sold and plans had been put forward for a "village" like mixture of residential and commercial development. After learning about the potential sale, town leaders have united in an effort to find ways to keep the pier. Town Manager Frank Rush stated, "It is important to the town to have a public pier in Emerald Isle, and we are open to just about any idea on how to do that." Current options on the table include a partnership with the developer to keep the pier open to the public and outright purchase of the pier with possible state or federal funding. We wish the town of Emerald Isle the best of luck and are excited to see them fighting for their fishing heritage. More on the town's efforts is available from the Jacksonville Daily News.
Archive Link
2 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
Coast Guard Says Boaters Too Fat for Old Standards
 We all know we need to eat better, exercise more, and generally avoid anything that tastes good in order to live a long, healthy life of eating bland food. Now it seems that the Coast Guard had finally taken notice that their old average weight standards of 140 - 160 pounds per passenger are no longer realistic. The new standard average weight per passenger is now 185 pounds. Of course this new "average" also seems to be on the light side but us far closer than the old one. Operators of all pontoon boats and passenger boats under 65 feet will have change their maximum number of passengers based on the new 185 pound standard. More on the new weight standards is available from hometownannapolis.com.
Archive Link
0 Comments
Tell a Friend
|
