By "proclamation" Dr. Louis Daniel, NCDMF Director, shut down all harvest of Spotted Sea Trout statewide in response to the extended bitter cold weather and subsequent killing and stunning of trout. The CFRG applauds Dr. Daniel and his staff for taking this proactive measure to protect remaining fish to spawn this summer. We hope the Marine Fisheries Commission, who will have the final say on this proclamation, will support Dr. Daniel's position, and leave the moratorium in place until the end of spawning season this fall. Please see the proclamation below:
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Release: Immediate Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Jan. 12, 2011 Phone: (252) 726-7021 or (252) 342-0642
State to Close Spotted Seatrout Harvest Due to Cold Stun Events
MOREHEAD CITY – North Carolina will close all coastal waters to commercial and recreational spotted seatrout harvest for an indefinite period beginning at noon Friday.
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Director Louis Daniel issued a proclamation today implementing the closure, after consulting with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Chairman Rob Bizzell.
The action is being taken in response to recent cold stun events in Rose Bay, Juniper Bay, Pungo River, Campbell Creek, Turnigan Bay, Spooners Creek and other waters. The intent of the closure is to prevent the harvest of vulnerable cold stunned fish, which may recover with warming temperatures.
“On the heels of two cold stun events, one in 2010 and now in 2011, and pretty large commercial and recreational catch rates in 2009, I believe this is the best thing for the fishery,” Daniel said.
In approving the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan in November, the Marine Fisheries Commission authorized Daniel to temporarily close harvest in the event of a cold stun event. The commission will review the closure and consider extending it at is Feb. 11 meeting in Pine Knoll Shores.
For more information, contact division biologist Beth Burns at (252) 473-5734, extension 221, or Beth.Burns@ncdenr.gov.
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- The CFRG believes in: *Science Based Fisheries Management. *Banning of Destructive Fishing Gear. *Game Fish Status for Speckled Trout, Red Drum, and Striped Bass.
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