Coastal Fisheries Reform Group

Interview with NCDMF Director Dr. Louis Daniel: On the record about Gamefish Status and NC Fisheries Management

2012-01-26T22:46:00.001-05:00

Please take a moment to watch this informative video with NC DMF Director Dr. Louis Daniel.

Ex-commercial angler: North Carolina needs to chart new saltwater course: Words of Wisdom from Capt Charles Brown

2012-01-26T22:39:00.000-05:00

Ex-commercial angler: North Carolina needs to chart new saltwater course

“All this water in North Carolina belongs to the people of North Carolina, not just to the people on the coast. We don’t own one tablespoon of this water; it belongs to all of us, every citizen of this state.” * Charlie Brown, former commercial fisherman and owner of Old Core Sound Guide Service. By Craig Holt

Charles Brown of Gloucester hails from a fifth-generation Down East fishing family, and proudly proclaims “I’ve done it all.”

“All” includes dredging for shrimp and oysters, crabbing, setting gill and pound nets for flounder and working as a deckhand on an ocean-going scallop boat. He also worked 18 months as a handyman for the National Park Service at Core Banks until a freak accident in 2000 nearly killed him. He’s also been a waterfowl guide, like his father, grandfather. uncles and great uncles.

Brown is as Down East as you can get, a true “hoi-toider” whose speech is peppered with distinctive Elizabethan inflections that convert “i” sounds into “oi.”

At 6-3, 220 pounds, his body is rock hard, with arms wrapped in muscles like tether ropes for tugboats and hands calloused by uncounted days of pulling nets.

Now 51, he was a commercial fisherman for most of his life because that’s the culture he was born into and that nurtured him — until 2009.

“I stopped ’cause I saw the writin’ on the wall,” he said recently.

What Brown saw in a 1,000-yard stare gained by years of studying the waters of Core and Pamlico Sounds was a collapsing marine environment and disappearing fish stocks.

“I’ve been on both sides of each user group,” he said. “But we’ve let one user group run wild and call the shots for so long, right now you can’t make a decent living. And that means you can’t pay your bills, put your kids through college, and you can’t have what you want.

“Most of all, there’s nobody there for the resource.” Brown said the situation started turning for the worse 30 years ago.

“It was 1980,” he said. “When I was young, I used to long-haul shrimp, trawl for crabs, set crab pots, clam and flounder fish off the beaches. It was good.

“One old feller who owned a fish house, he would look at me and say, ‘It’ll never die; it’ll always replenish itself’ — but he was wrong.”

New improved commercial gear and too many people taking their livings from a free, public resource started saltwater finfish and shellfish on a downward spiral.

“One of (the old) guy’s commercial men used to gig 400 pounds of flounder a night, every night,” Brown said, “Then he went to nets — gill and pound nets.”

Not only that, but inland residents who loved flounder soon discovered they could drive to the coast towing a flat-bottom skiff and gig flatfish or purchase a small-car battery set in a Styrofoam float or in a backpack, wade the shallows and stick all the flounder they wanted — plus extra doormats to feed their friends and neighbors. Many flounder also ended up iced down at inland fish houses or sold at road-side stands.

Brown pointed to one of his uncles who used a skiff with a deep-cycle battery, light pole and steel gig to go floundering. “It was nothing for him to bring in 300 to 500 pounds of flounder a night,” he said.
“What fish could stand that type of pressure?”

Of course, this situation caused consternation among commercial giggers.

Pretty soon the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission and N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries decided recreational anglers who used the same equipment as commercial fishermen, including gigs, had to purchase a Recreational Commercial Gear License. If a recreational angler used a gig for flounder, he had to drop back to recreational limits. The rule, in effect, helped commercial giggers – it left more flounder for them to gig – or it forced former recreational giggers to become commercial giggers. “Big mistake,” Brown said. “They never shoulda done that.”

When the NCDMF declared southern flounder overfished and size limits for recreational anglers were raised so high that legal-size flounder in the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds became as rare as a Republican legislator getting a donation from the teachers’ union, netters turned to other, more abundant species.

“Now we don’t have spot runs like we used to, and the croakers are gone,” Brown said. “I used to long-haul spot and croakers, and we’d come back with 1,000 boxes of each. You don’t get that no more.”

It’s not that Brown blames commercial fishing for doing what it could to land fish, but he believes the political influence of commercial fishing on the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission has led that agency to overlook the devastating effect of increasingly effective gear on targeted fish populations.

He longs for the old days when a few people could make a decent living, catch plenty of fish, yet there’d still be enough to ensure their survival.

“When I was young, we used to go mullet fishing with my Uncle Gordon and my granddaddy,” he said. “We used 16-foot push-pole boats, do it at night and hang lanterns up. We used nylon, monofilament nets, and real cork floats. A good night we’d get 100 boxes of mullet, but plenty of mullet would escape.

“Right now there’s so much equipment, and the technology’s gone so far, the fish ain’t got a chance. Nothing can escape from the bottom (of the nets). Some of them stand up in 15 feet of water.”

Brown said no one Down East saw flounder gill nets until 1980.

“We used gigs and pound nets,” he said.

Now gill-netting for flounder is a preferred inshore method.

Spotted seatrout pressure by commercials is even tougher on those fish, declared overfished by the NCDMF several years ago.

Some of it came from Florida, where strike-netting for mullet was ended by a 1994 statewide inshore ban on gill nets. Quite a few Sunshine State netters moved to North Carolina where they could do what they wanted. Local netters adopted strike-net techniques to land other species, particularly spotted seatrout.

“Say you got a narrow creek, 30- to 50-feet wide,” Brown said. “They set a net right down the middle, snaking back and forth, then they tie a cinder block to a rope and drag it next to the shore to scare the specks out to the middle. That’s where they get caught in the nets.”

Brown said he revealed this problem — which occurs in winter when specks go into a creek headwaters looking for warmer water and July and August when they go shallow to spawn — to the NCMFC’s Spotted Seatrout Advisory Committee.

“They said, ‘No, we can’t stop that,’ ” he said with disgust.

Brown’s experience and knowledge of fishing techniques has given him some ideas about how to solve some of these overharvesting problems.

“First, (NCDMF) could put those shallow creeks off-limits to everyone a couple of winter months and in July and August, or allow catch-and-release only rec fishing and no strike-netting those months,” he said. “If a rec gets caught those months with five or six specks in his cooler, it’s $100 fine for each fish. That’d break his heart and his pocketbook. If a netter got caught (in an off-limits creek), take his boat and his nets.

“I guarantee that’d stop this stuff.”

   As for NCDMF’s revelation that 10 percent of specks die from deep-hooking, Brown said there’s a simple solution.

“Most of the fish (deep-hooked) are ‘squealers’ (under-size trout) that swallow Gulp! baits, not big trout or fish that bite shrimp baits,” he said. “What’s keeping MFC from making a rule you have to use barbless hooks? They do it with mountain trout, so why not coastal trout?”

As for red drum, Brown said he wouldn’t target specific dealers, but he said something obviously is amiss, with North Carolina supplying 90 percent of the nation’s red drum for consumption but having a 250,000-pound annual cap.

“Somebody needs to look at how many trip tickets (for red drum) and the poundages come into (a fish house) and the trip tickets (poundages) written for Marine Fisheries that go out the door,” he said. “I’ll just say a lot of those (netters) are paid in cash, and if a (gamefish-status) bill goes through, it has a 3-year (compensation) for netters. But they’ll have to produce trip tickets to get that money. And I think that’s probably a reason why they don’t want this bill.”

Brown said it might sound like he’s anti-commercial fishing, but that’s not the case.

“I’m for commercial fishing,” he said. “I was born into it. But we’ve lost the conservation part and aren’t putting anything back. The recreational guys have backed down and backed down, going with the flow. But the commercial guys never back down; they want more and more.

“No one’s in the middle for the poor fish.”

   Brown said he wishes his commercial fishing compadres had more concern for the resource and not immediate monetary gains.

“When I went into (guiding), I found it’s a better living; it’s a lot easier; and a lot more fun if you’re a people person,” he said.

“I’m a people person; I enjoy people.”

He also said he would help ex-commercial anglers become guides and already has done so for a handful of his friends. If changes occur in gamefish management, he said there’d be enough fish for everyone.

“Commercial fishermen would be the best guides you ever saw,” he said.

   Mainly though, Brown believes his occupation is better for coastal resources, and he thinks measures can be taken — if the state’s legislators have the courage to ignore then remove political influences from marine fisheries management — to bring back his beloved sounds to near what they once were.

“Down here, Core and Pamlico Sounds are diamonds,” he said. “To us they are the most valuable things in the state of North Carolina.

   “I’ve talked to guides from Louisiana, and they told me if we managed our fish the right way, we could blow them out of the water, because we’ve got the water and habitat to do it. People would come from other states to fish here, and people from here would stay instead of going to South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi or Florida.

“We’ve just got to stop somewhere, throw the brakes on and turn this whole thing around.”

Fisheries Decisions Have Broad Economic Consequences

2012-01-17T21:54:00.000-05:00

This article is republished by CFRGNC with permission from Author Scott Mooneyham~

Today in North Carolina -- Capitol Press Association -- 919-836-2858 Written January 16, 2012, – Fisheries Decisions Have Broad Economic Consequences, by Scott Mooneyham

RALEIGH -- This past fall, I didn't take a trip down to the North Carolina coast. Neither did a few of my friends.

For much of my adult life, the cool, shorter days of late October and November typically involved one or two fishing trips to the Morehead City area in search of saltwater trout and puppy drum.

The cooler waters at that time of year cause the fish to begin piling out of the sounds, allowing fishermen to target these favored species in and around inlets. My friend, Jack, and I talked about going this year, but decided against it. "Why bother? They won't let you keep any," he said.

His chief complaint was about the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission's decision to further reduce the speckled sea trout daily creel limit to four fish. A couple of years earlier, the commission had trimmed the limit from 10 to six fish. The limit on gray trout had already been dropped to one fish per day. For several years now, the creel limit for red drum has been one fish per day, and only fish in the 3 to 7 lb.-class can be kept.

So, for inshore and near-shore fishermen in smaller boats, the opportunities to catch and take home these fish in any numbers have diminished dramatically.

I point that out not as criticism of fisheries officials or the nine-member commission. They are often caught between trying to manage dwindling fish populations and an uncompromising commercial fishing industry that views most commercial restrictions as an unwarranted attack sure to destroy life as we know it. To those commercial fishermen, my buddy Jack is a "rich fat cat" who only wants to "keep all the fish for himself." (That’s how some commercial fishermen recently described recreational fishermen unhappy with the current state of inshore coastal fisheries.)

Actually, he's a mechanic who works at an electrical power plant and whose chief recreational investment is his center-console boat. The name-calling has come amid a legislative proposal to put speckled trout, red drum and striped bass off limits to commercial fishermen, to place a game fish-only status on those species.

It's unclear whether the proposal has broad support among state legislators.

Eliminating a striped bass commercial fishery -- given rising catch numbers and a commercial value four times greater than the other two species -- seems especially harsh.

Recreational fishing groups, though, aren't in any mood to compromise. If they gain the political upper hand, they'll likely turn the same unhearing ear to the commercial fishermen's complaints that they believe they have received.

The larger point -- one that policy makers and business leaders along the coast ignore at their own risk -- is that these fisheries management decisions have economic consequences that extend beyond the commercial fishing industry.

The choice that my buddy Jack and I made back in October cost Morehead-area businesses $400 to $500.

We weren't alone.

Joe Albea: On the Record with NC Sportsman about the state of NC Fisheries

2012-01-13T12:03:00.000-05:00

The following article is from the latest by Craig Holt at http://www.northcarolinasportsman.com/details.php?id=2307

Albea: North Carolina can fix what’s wrong with saltwater management

By Craig Holt - January 13, 2012

Joe Albea, 57, remembers when Pamlico Sound was full of big croakers and gray trout, along with many other species.

“Croakers and gray trout were the two breadwinners in the sound back in the ’70s,” said Albea, a Greenville native who produces and hosts two UNC-TV shows: Carolina Outdoor Journal and Exploring Carolina. “Fishing was great for recreational and commercial anglers then, but we didn’t have the big trawlers out there.”

Now, years after large ocean-going trawls started using the sound, anglers can find a few croakers, but they’re mostly tiny fish, usually less than a pound in weight, and the gray trout have all but disappeared.
To paraphrase the words at the end of the move “King Kong:” “T’wasn’t netting that killed the sound, but big nets.”
Commercial – and to a lesser extent, recreational – fishing also has ripped apart Southern flounder stocks and kept spotted seatrout numbers and sizes low, as well as red drum – until they finally were protected somewhat by a 10-fish netting by-catch allowance and a daily hook-and-line limit of one fish.
But Albea, who saw the North Carolina coast once support both activities, isn’t dead set against all netting.
“It’s just the amount of gear … and the large trawlers,” he said. “Back in the day of small, wooden trawl boats, they didn’t tear up the sound as bad, and by-catch wasn’t as big an issue. Today, the big ocean steel-haul trawlers continue to turn over the bottom.
“Commercial gear and recreational pressure, to some extent, destroyed inside flounder. No fishery can sustain that kind of pressure, and Pamlico Sound, as big as it is, has paid the price.”
After the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries put restrictions on the recreational giggers’ take of flounder – setting identical limits to those governing hook-and-line anglers – commercial fishermen simply turned to gill nets and pound nets, which could be fished without restriction. Not only that, but the minimum size netters were permitted to land was an inch shorter than the recreational size limit. And the slaughter continued.
For example, when the recreational size limit for flounder was 12 inches and the commercial size limit was 11 inches, flounder larger than 12 became as scarce as abortionists at a Rick Santorum rally.
“Back in the history of Pamlico Sound, sailors had a hard time navigating the sound because of its oyster beds. I’m pretty sure when the big trawlers started entering the sound, that’s when the oyster beds started going downhill,” Albea said.
Ocean-going trawlers drag heavy chains across the bottom, kicking up shrimp and other species that are caught in the trawler’s tail bags, then hoisted aboard ship. But this method destroys the habitats of oysters and clams, and it tears up underwater grasses where baitfish and even ocean species spawn and their fry hide. With no protection, small fish are easy prey for larger predators.
“There’s also the by-catch problem,” Albea said.
By-catch is a term to describe “incidental take” of untargeted fish in order to land a valuable commercial species, in particular, shrimp.
“I know it’s been said for each pound of shrimp, trawl nets kill 10 pounds of other species, but I’ve talked to experts who say that ratio is much higher,” Albea said.
When Florida voted to ban inshore netting in 1994 – six years after giving gamefish status to red drum – it created another problem for North Carolina’s saltwater fishery.
“A lot of the Florida people moved to North Carolina,” Albea said.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries allowed the Floridians to purchase North Carolina commercial fishing licenses, and North Carolina residents could transfer or sell their commercial licenses to the Floridians – even though North Carolina had put a moratorium on the sale of additional commercial licenses. Commercial fishermen from Florida were particularly interested in landing striped mullet, a species they decimated through years of netting in the Sunshine State.
“The Florida guys showed our commercial guys a lot of their tricks,” Albea said.
A favorite technique is to set a net across the mouth of a creek, motor to the back of the creek, and then whack the sides of the boat with a paddle while moving forward, scaring the fish toward the creek mouth and into the net.
“A strike netter can clean out a creek of specks in less than an hour,” Albea said.
And until recently, North Carolina never had an annual total-allowable catch for speckled trout.
As for the gamefish bill and its reincarnation as part of the legislature’s Committee on Marine Fisheries, Albea said the issue is fairly simple.
“It’s the state’s decision whether or not we want a world-class fishery for those three species (red drum, speckled trout and striped bass), and a high-quality fishery for other species,” Albea said. “We can’t have Mother Nature, recreational and commercial fishing putting this much pressure on certain species, especially speckled trout.”
Albea has fought many battles successfully for natural resources at the North Carolina coast, including opposing a proposed paper mill and barges on the Roanoke River “smack in the middle of the best striped bass spawning grounds on the east coast,” plus the OLF – “a 7-year battle against the Navy” – and more recently, proposed windmills in the same area as the OLF.
But Albea always has preferred to remain in the background as an idea man and technical advisor.
“I’ve never used Carolina Outdoors Journal to promote any position,” he said. “It’s just a fishing show, mainly. Oh, I’ve been accused of using the show to promote positions, but that’s never been true and never will happen.”
Now, however, he’s stepping forward.
“In my opinion, (the saltwater fisheries decline in North Carolina) is a problem that’s been building over 30 years,” Albea said, “and we’ve all, recreational and commercial fishermen, contributed to it in certain ways.
And now we need to fix it.”
Keep up with all the developments on the fight to protect redfish, trout and stripers on the special NorthCarolinaSportsman.com page dedicated to gaining gamefish status for these valuable saltwater fisheries.

Courtesy of Joe Albea

Joe Albea of Greenville has been a crusader for coastal resources for many years, and he's now pushing for changes in the management of redfish, speckled trout and stripers fisheries in North Carolina.

A Must Read Article by Craig Holt of NC Sportsman Mag concerning the Gamefish Bill

2012-01-11T14:46:00.000-05:00

This article has been copied and pasted from NC Sportsman Magazine, authored by Craig Holt. Take the time to read this and you'll see why Gamefish Status is so important to coastal economies. Help promote sustainable fishing and vote YES to the Gamefish Bill. Write your Legislators, every voice counts!

CFRGNC

Link to the story landing page: http://www.northcarolinasportsman.com/details.php?id=2283

Numbers tell the tale of North Carolina’s saltwater gamefish decisionRecreational coastal fishing much more important to state economy than commercial fishing, stats show.

By Craig Holt

Recreational saltwater anglers far outnumber commercial fishermen in North Carolina, making them a powerful force for achieving gamefish status for redfish, spotted sea trout and stripers.

Two numbers jump out of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ 2010 report on the state of the Tarheel State’s saltwater fisheries.The total commercial catch from the state’s coastal waters was slightly more than 72 million ponds, while the recreational catch was between 14 and 15 million pounds.

That’s everything: flounder, spotted sea trout, red drum, striper, spot, bluefish, bonito, eel, grouper, cobia, amberjack, grunt, hake, mullet, perch, pinfish, pompano, scup, porgie, pufferfish and shad. All of them.Some other numbers also jump off the page. In 2010, the state sold 5,179 commercial fishing licenses, of which 2,522 were bought by active commercial fishermen. The state also sold 296,175 recreational licenses to in-state purchasers and another 240,000 to out-of-staters, and fishermen who own lifetime licenses, bringing to around 800,000 the total number of people eligible to fish with hook-and-line in North Carolina coastal waters. So what’s the big deal about these numbers? If they are accurate, and NCDMF makes a big effort to ensure that they are, the average commercial netter caught 28,559 pounds of fish during 2010. Meanwhile, the recreational angler caught 18 pounds.

Well, one might ask, what’s the problem? It’s pretty simple. Recreational fishermen figured out a while back that the policies of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission – the appointed board that gives NCDMF staff members their marching orders – caters for the most part to the wishes of netters, even though recreational anglers outnumber netters by a factor of 533 to 1. Over the past two years, recreational angler groups – including the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina, Coastal Fisheries Reform Group and the N.C. Wildlife Federation’s Camouflage Coalition – have tried through the state legislature to obtain gamefish status for three species of saltwater fish: red drum, spotted seatrout and striped bass.Two bills were drafted and derailed in the legislature, but their supporters rallied after the latest rebuff last year and asked legislators to revive the effort. The legislators, mostly Republicans, rolled the gamefish status proposal into an expansive review of the way North Carolina manages its saltwater resources, whether or not they’re allocated for their optimum use. Committee members such as co-chair Darrell McCormick (R-Forsyth) and co-chair Harry Brown (R-Onslow, Jones) have said the committee will conduct thorough studies of how saltwater agencies are managed in other states and will make decisions based on facts obtained by their staff researchers.

If they check out the NCDMF’s 2010 Fisheries Bulletin, committee staff and members will discover:

• Commercial landings of ocean striped bass totaled 499,740 pounds, worth $1,220,542; spotted sea trout catches were 200,500 pounds, worth $350,349; and red drum totaled 231,760 pounds, worth $421,659.

These three species added together accounted for $1,992,550 in netting income.

• Striped bass totaled only 1.36 percent of all commercial fishing trips; red drum were less than 1 percent (.51) and spotted seatrout totaled 1.03 percent – a total of 2.9 percent.

The income these three species produced, $88,131,778, was 2.2 percent of all commercial fishing income.

• In 2010, only 250 commercial fishing participants statewide had landings of $2,000 or more from the sale of red drum, spotted seatrout, and striped bass combined. Of those, fewer than 30 had landings of $10,000 or more.

Dare and Carteret are the two counties with the largest commercial fishing operations in North Carolina, as measured by the number of commercial fishing participants and landings value. In 2009, Dare had commercial seafood landings of $21,930,359 with a total economic impact of approximately $40,000,000. On the other hand, in fiscal year 2009-2010, Dare County’s tourism-driven economy produced taxable sales of $1,136,418,490, indicating the total economic impact from commercial fishing represented only 3.5 percent. In 2009, Carteret had total commercial seafood landings of $9,542,039 for a total economic impact of approximately $18,000,000. In fiscal year 2009-2010, Carteret County’s tourism-driven economy produced taxable sales of $844,689,004, indicating that the total economic impact from commercial fishing represented only 2 percent of Carteret County’s economy.

It’s the position of supporters of the gamefish bill that almost no commercial fishermen would lose a significant amount of their income by being forced to switch from red drum, speckled trout and stripers to other species. According to federal fisheries managers, the total economic impact from coastal recreational fishing trips and durable equipment expenditures in North Carolina in 2008 was approximately $2.3 billion and supported 22,000 jobs.
According to NCDMF, commercial fishing in 2010 accounted for 3,997 North Carolina jobs. Below is a summary of the number of registered voters (according to the N.C. Board of Elections), the number of recreational saltwater fishing license holders and commercial fishing license holders for Dare and Carteret counties in 2010.

Registered Recreational CommercialVoters license holders
• Carteret 47,831 11,274 (24%) 1,106 (2%)
• Dare 26,758 6,178 (23%) 827 (3%)
• Total 74,589 17,452 (23%) 1,933 (3%)

Any coastal politician who opposes some type of saltwater reform, particularly game-fish status for red drum, spotted seatrout and striped bass will be hanging a sign on his back that says, “Kick Me Out Of Office.”
For more up to date information on the Gamefish Bill stay tuned to the Coastal Fisheries Reform Group page!

NC Legislature Takes up Game Fish Bill and Other Critical Marine Fisheries Issues

2011-09-14T22:00:00.001-04:00

Co-chair, Darrell McCormick

Renewing the hopes of NC saltwater anglers, the NC legislature today created a joint study committee of seven senators and seven representatives that will be co-chaired by Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown from Jacksonville and Representative Darrell McCormick from Winston Salem, and charged with studying NC Marine Fisheries issues including the subject of game fish. HB353, the coastal game fish bill was introduced but never voted on by the legislature this past session even though unofficial vote tallies showed a veto-proof count of supporters in both chambers.

The study committee will operate under the following guidelines:

The house members are; Darryl McCormick, Co-chair, Dan Ingle, Ruth Samuelson, Danny McComas, Tim Spear, Pat McElraft and Bryan Holloway.

The Senate members are: Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown, Co-chair, Jean Preston, Stan White, Thom Goolsby, Bill Rabon, Don East, and Tommy Tucker.

Study issues related to marine fisheries. Specifically, the subcommittee may study the following:

1. The potential impact to both the State's fisheries resources and the State's economy related to the designation of Red Drum (Sciaenops Ocellatus), Spotted Sea Trout (Cynoscion Nebulosus), and Striped Bass (deleted word e Saxatillis) as coastal game fish.

2. Changes to the appointment process and qualification for membership on the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission.

3. Creation of a hook and line commercial fishery.

4. Elimination of the trawl boat fishery in North Carolina.

5. Entering into reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions with regard to the conservation of marine and estuarine resources; and regulating placement of nets and other sports or commercial fishing apparatus in coastal fishing waters with regard to navigational and recreational safety as well as from a conservation standpoint.

6. Entering into agreements regarding the delegation of law enforcement powers from the National Marine Fisheries Service over matters within the jurisdiction of the Service.

7. Potential modification of the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997.

8. Whether Marine Fisheries should be a division of the Coastal Resources Commission or the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

9. Other findings that promote the allocation of the State's resources to the optimum use.

While NC saltwater anglers were infuriated when HB353 died in committee, it appears now that along with other significant issues, it can be resurrected in this committee, and can in fact be brought back to the legislature in the coming session for consideration and an ultimate vote. Either way, what has never happened up to this point is now apparently about to happen, and that is an open and honest discussion and consideration of all the facts that support the long overdue concept of game fish status for Speckled Trout, Red Drum, and Striped Bass in NC Coastal waters!

The committee will be meeting Jan-April on the second Thursday of each month in the Legislative Building. The next meeting will be open to Public Comment and is scheduled for Feb 2, 1-4 pm in the auditorium of the Legislative building at 16 West Jones Street Raleigh, NC. Please be in attendance and show your support for these issues especially the Gamefish Bill.

Please take time to email the members of the committee and urge them to move forward with game fish status for these three valuable sportfish! Their email links are as follows;

Senate Majority Leader and Co-chair, Harry Brown, harry.brown@ncleg.net

Senator Don East, don.east@ncleg.net

Senator Thom Goolsby, thom.goolsby@ncleg.net

Senator Bill Rabon, bill.rabon@ncleg.net

Senator Tommy Tucker, tommy.tucker@ncleg.net

Senator Jean Preston, jean.preston@ncleg.net

Senator Stan White, stan.white@ncleg.net

Representative and Co-chair, Darrell McCormick, darrell.mccormick@ncleg.net

Representative Dan Ingle, dan.ingle@ncleg.net

Representative Ruth Samuelson, ruth.samuelson@ncleg.net

Representative Danny McComas, danny.mccomas@ncleg.net

Representative Bryan Holloway, bryan.holloway@ncleg.net

Representative Pat McElraft, pat.mcelraft@ncleg.net

Representative Tim Spear, tim.spear@ncleg.net

HB 353, The Coastal Game Fish Bill Filed in NC Legislature Today!

2011-03-15T13:16:00.001-04:00

HB 353, the "Coastal Game Fish Bill" was filed today in the House of the NC General Assembly. Primary Sponsors of the bill are Darrell McCormick, Rick Glazier, Dan Ingle, and Ruth Samuelson. This bill when made law would prohibit the sale of Red Drum, Spotted Sea Trout, and Striped Bass here in NC. A "game fish" is simply a fish that cannot be bought or sold, and is managed as a recreational fish only.

These 3 fish only represent less than 2% of the commercial harvest values here in NC, but combined the positive economic impacts easily exceed 250 million dollars to the NC economy annually as recreational sport fish. South Carolina designated these fish as game fish in the mid 1980's, and it is high time NC follows suit! You can see the bill at this link.... http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/HTML/H353v0.html

Go to the NC Game Fish website and see a complete list of NC legislators with their email links here... http://ncgamefish.blogspot.com/

2011-03-07T21:50:00.000-05:00

NC Marine Fisheries Commission Continues Ocean Striper Trawling, Commercial Harvest of Speckled Trout Disguised as "By-catch"!

2011-02-12T13:55:00.000-05:00

CFRG leadership attended the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission meeting in Pine Knoll Shores, NC yesterday and today. On the agenda were the issues of the Striped Bass harvest by Trawl, and the closure of the Speckled Trout Fishery. As you know, thousands of Stripers were publicly wasted in the last few weeks, and we have eyewitness accounts from well respected charter captains to these events. Even with all the photos, video, and outcry from other Atlantic coastal states, our Marine Fisheries Commissioners voted today to continue this wasteful practice of trawling for stripers, and will continue to do so until the final 60,000 pounds of their quota is reached. Conservation groups were dumbfounded at this move today.

Unbelievable!

But wait, it gets even better! When the topic of the Speckled Trout closure came up for discussion, we requested that they keep the harvest of Speckled Trout closed thru the summer so the larger fish would be given plenty of time to spawn. Since mature females will spawn every 4 to 6 days starting in May and continuing throughout the summer, this would be our best recipe for maximum spawning success. DMF staff recommended ending the closure on June 15, which according to them, would get the fish through the most intense spawning weeks of May and June. We would have been fine with that. No harvest for anyone until June 15, but that is where our commercially run MFC stepped in.

Commissioner Bradley Styron, fish house owner and dealer, pushed through a motion to let commercial gill netters catch and sell 50 pounds of Speckled Trout per day, as long as those trout equaled only 10% of the other fish caught by the fisherman. This will go into effect this week! So here we go again with paying folks to have accidents! We already know how that is working out with our Red Drum don't we? We would never have recommended a closure of the trout harvest for recreational fishermen if we had known that they would still allow the harvest and sale of trout by commercial gill netters! This is wrong, and it is unfair!

If there was ever any doubt in your mind why we MUST have game fish protection for Speckled Trout, we hope this incident has resolved all of those issues for you! As long as Speckled Trout remain a commercial fish, this tug of war will be never ending. It must end now! The only answer is GAME FISH status for Speckled Trout, Red Drum, and Striped Bass!

Our commercially run, money hungry, corrupt MFC has crossed the line for the final time! Please send our governor an email telling her what a great job her hand appointed MFC is doing at governor.office@nc.gov

NC Striper Slaughter; The Untold Numbers and Video!

2011-01-24T13:45:00.002-05:00

According to the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, on Saturday, January 15th, 2011, the NC commercial trawling vessel "Jamie Lynn" from NC accidentally netted between 3 to 4 thousand Striped Bass. The haul was so large that the captain of the ship decided to "dump" or release all of the fish except the 50 he was legally allowed to keep. Since that day, the internet and public media has been flooded with photos like the one above, and video like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGnqSD9V8Pg.

What has not gotten much attention though is the overlooked math that this event produces, and the ultimate reward that was given to the very fishermen who caused all this waste. Lets look at the "math" a little more closely:

4,000 Stripers Killed in one pull by one trawler on one day

Multiply that by the poundage of one mature Striper, lets say, 20 pounds average

4,000 X 20 pounds = 80,000 pounds!

Now we have one boat, on one pull, on one day, that kills 80,000 pounds of mature stripers!

Why is this math important? NC commercial fishermen are restricted to a total annual harvest of 480,480 pounds of Striped Bass. This limit is set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which is a governing body that oversees fish like Striped Bass that migrate up and down the Atlantic Seaboard, and are shared by multiple coastal states.

Of that 480,480 pounds that NC is allowed for annual harvest, only 160,660 pounds of that is allowable by the commercial trawling fleet. So, in one day, one trawler, on one pull, killed 50% (fifty percent) of the total allowable harvest for the trawling fleet here in NC! Of that 80,000 pounds of dead Striper, the boat only kept 50 fish, and dumped and estimated 79,000 pounds of Striped Bass back into the ocean!

Now this is the story that the NC DMF isn't telling. That it was one boat, and an "isolated" incident. But that is not what seasoned commercial captains are saying. They are saying that this is a reoccurring event on the outer banks each winter, and that this year there were many more eyes on the water to witness it. Many of these captains are professional charter boat operators, and many have seen enough of the wanton waste that this trawl fishery produces!

In one pull, this trawler not only killed 50% of the allowable catch for trawlers, it also killed over 20% of the total allowable Striper harvest for all commercial methods!

The Striped Bass is of tremendous economic importance to much of the Atlantic coastal states. If the ASMFC has agreed to allow NC commercial fishermen to harvest 480,480 pounds of Striped Bass, and trawlers kill 80,000 pounds of fish to keep 1,000 pounds, what will the final tally on wasted dead stripers be when the carnage is over?

Now the daily limit of 50 fish for these trawlers has been replaced with a 2,000 pound per day limit. Those 50 fish they were keeping must have weighed 40 pounds a piece? And what about the by-catch they can't keep? The minimum size limit is 28 inches. How many 28 inch fish will be killed in the process?

How much waste will be created by 10, 20, or 50 trawlers?

Once again, NC fisheries management is the laughing stock of the entire nation. You have to laugh to keep from crying!

Please contact the following people who can help change the laws to insure this never happens again:

NC Marine Fisheries Commissioners can all be emailed at this link http://www.ncfisheries.net/mfc/ncmfcom.htm

Email NC Governor Beverly Perdue, governor.office@nc.gov

Email NC Division of Marine Fisheries Director, Louis Daniel, louis.daniel@ncdenr.gov

Video of Cold Stunned Speckled Trout in NC

2011-01-14T19:47:00.000-05:00

Fishing for Speckled Trout was ended today due to the second "cold stun" event in NC coastal waters in the last 12 months. See the video at the following link....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcIYxtmH6cA&feature=email

NCDMF Director Louis Daniel Shuts Down Speckled Trout Harvest Due to Cold Stun Kill

2011-01-13T14:33:00.000-05:00

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.

CFRG Requests Immediate Statewide Closure to Speckled Trout Harvest

2011-01-12T14:48:00.001-05:00

The following email was sent to Dr. Louis Daniel, Director of the NC Division of Marine Fisheries today:

Dear Dr. Daniel,

The Coastal Fisheries Reform Group is requesting an immediate statewide closure of fishing for Spotted Sea Trout. Substantiated reports of thousands of dead and dying trout are coming in from all areas of our coastal waters. DMF staff has documented many of these events. These current events coupled with the major event we experienced hardly twelve months ago magnifies the need to protect remaining fish from further harvest. Anything less than a statewide closure will create increased fishing pressure in areas that would remain open to harvest.

Your immediate attention to this matter will be greatly appreciated by all North Carolina saltwater anglers.

Sincerely,
Dean Phillips

Coastal Fisheries Reform Group
CFRG@northstate.net
www.cfrgnc.blogspot.com/

Money Driven NC Marine Fisheries Commission Assaults Depleted and Overfished Speckled Trout Stocks

2010-12-05T08:49:00.002-05:00

In the most recent NCMFC meeting, the commission ignored the reports and recommendations of staff biologists, and voted to continue commercial harvest of Speckled Trout with little to no restrictions on commercial catch. Even though recreational fishermen were requesting their own daily limits be reduced to 2 fish based on DMF staff recommendations, the commission still kept recreational creels at 6 fish daily, with a size limit of 14 inches. Only 2 fish can exceed 24 inches.

The only reason the commission kept the recreational creel so high is because if they lowered it any more, then commercial harvest would need to be substantially curbed, and that was unacceptable to the commercially run commission. So, in an effort to placate a hand full of full time commercial gill net fishermen that target Speckled Trout in our coastal creeks in the winter months, our MFC has chosen to deplete a depleted fishery even further.

Commissioner Mikey Daniels, wealthy fish dealer from Wanchese NC, openly criticized and railed on the DMF staff for bringing to light the sad condition of the Speckled Trout fishery. In a mindless rant, he said he didn't believe in "overfishing", and asked the lead biologist how she knew what fish were left in the water. Clearly he did not review the months of work that went into the stock status report, or he refused to acknowledge it, or both. Commissioner Daniels, do you see any need to have a biologist on staff? Do you believe in fisheries science at all?

Herein lies the problem with trusting sound fisheries management to folks who profit from the sale of fish. The health of their pocketbooks far outweighs the health of the fisheries!

Another stranger than fiction wrinkle is added to this debacle as well. In the last NC legislative session, a new law was passed that says any new fisheries management plans enacted would need to have at least a 50/50 chance of success. This means that the MFC would be breaking this law if they imposed any rules on a fishery plan that did not meet this requirement. The SST is depleted and overfished, and the MFC was faced with implementing rules to end the overfishing in 2 years. Since these fish dealers are addicted to the cash they make off the Speckled Trout in the winter months, they had to come up with a way to avoid breaking their own new law.

They came up with a way! They asked the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture to send a request to the NC Legislature EXEMPTING Speckled Trout from this law. Yes, you read that right! The number 1 targeted sportfish in our NC coastal waters is being exempted from protective measures because our corrupt, money hungry, commercial fishing MFC wants to keep selling this fish at all costs.

Just in case you didn't know this, they already did this to another trout in our coastal waters, the Gray Trout. Now all but eradicated, the Gray Trout can just barely breed enough stock to break even every year after the natural predators feed on them. Now our Speckled Trout must deal with an unnatural predator; our Governor appointed, commercially run, NC Marine Fisheries Commission!

2010-11-27T13:53:00.000-05:00

NC Marine Fisheries Commission Calls Special Meeting to Undo Previous Action to Protect Speckled Trout

2010-11-24T17:26:00.001-05:00

The NC Marine Fisheries Commission met in Morehead City Monday, November 22 and undid one of the most positive actions they had taken to date to address overfishing on Spotted Sea Trout. With total disregard for the public input they received at their November 4 meeting calling upon MFC to abide by the current Fisheries Management Plan law that requires implementation of management measures sufficient to end overfishing within 2 years, the Commission caved in to commercial interests to allow continued netting throughout the winter months.

The MFC had closed the commercial harvest of SST at their November 4 meeting from December 15 through February 28 to reduce fishing mortality from commercial fishing by 28%, which would have provided one half the reduction needed to eliminate overfishing within 2 years. After a clamorous uproar of protest from commercial interests, MFC amended the proposal to close commercial fishing for SST only on the weekends year around. However, the weekend closure does not require commercial fishermen to remove their gear from the water. So the gear remains in the water over the weekend year around to catch speckled sea trout that cannot be sold legally.

Recreational fishermen saw their limits reduced from 10 fish per day to 6 without a murmur of objection. Recreational fishermen have accepted the premise that we have to protect our brood stock to restore the fishery to levels that are sustainable and can support higher limits. This is a basic principle of resource management wasted upon the MFC. Professional fishery managers of the DMF presented strong data to justify the seasonal closure. Commercial interests on the MFC were very critical of the science displaying a lack of knowledge about fishery biology and insensitivity toward the welfare of the resource. The MFC replaced the considered recommendations of fishery managers with their own opinions based only in the argument that commercial fishermen need to catch SST during the winter to supplement their income at this time of year. Too bad about the trout!

Now the MFC is preparing to undermine the newly enacted state law designed to improve fishery management plans by exempting the speckled sea trout from the new law so that fishing restrictions will not be fully required until the next cycle of plan reviews, which is years away. Let us prepare for this fight in the new General Assembly. Enactment of management measures sufficient to end overfishing within 2 years is a necessary and reasonable proposition. We can make a difference if we all stick together to end this crazy propensity of the MFC to continue overfishing for the benefit of commercial interests.

How long can we let our marine fishery resource be sacrificed on the altar of expediency and exploitation for the personal gain of so few? We must accept the restrictions imposed today to ensure the healthy future for the speckled sea trout. Prospects for success are greater today than they were yesterday. Lets seize this opportunity and move forward for change.

Bombing Ranges in Pamlico Sound: CFRG, Other Groups Request Complete Environmental Impact Statement

2010-11-18T12:18:00.002-05:00

For years NC saltwater fishermen have shared the Pamlico Sound with our military. Now the military is making an effort to expand the bombing ranges while removing fishermen from areas that have been fished for years. Before we let this happen, we should at least understand the impact these bombing exercises are having on our wildlife populations, soils, and waters in these areas, in addition to the impacts on the fishermen themselves.

Please see the letter below from Todd Miller, Executive Director of the North Carolina Coastal Federation. This is important to all saltwater fishermen here in NC. Please take time and send an email requesting a full "Environmental Impact Statement" on these bombing sites before November 26 to: richard.k.spencer@usace.army.mil

Army Corps of Engineers
Attention: Richard Spencer
69 Darlington Ave.
Wilmington, NC 28403

Re: Closure of Traditional Use Areas and proposed intermittent expansion of BT-11 and BT-9

The North Carolina Coastal Federation has reviewed the proposals to expand activities in BT-11 and BT-9, and comments about these plans submitted to you by the NC Marine Fisheries Commission and the Alliance for Public Trust Waters, Inc. We have also examined the formal policies of the NC Coastal Resources Commission that are part of North Carolina’s federally approved Coastal Management Plan that relate to military activities in the coastal zone as well as the protection of public trust rights in coastal waters. Any activities undertaken by federal agencies should be consistent with the state’s federally approved plan.

Dating back to the mid 1980s, there have been issues raised by the State of North Carolina regarding its need to protect public trust rights around these ranges. In addition, state policy requires on going monitoring and reporting of potential environmental hazards associated with range activities. It appears that the public trust issues raised by the State over two decades ago have still not been resolved, and that routine reports to the Coastal Resources Commission of the results of monitoring activities have been episodic at best.

For these reasons, we agree with the comments submitted by both the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Alliance. There has been inadequate evaluation of the impacts of these proposed expansions to public trust rights, coastal habitat, and coastal water quality. We also request additional environmental review of these proposals. An Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared in accordance with requirements of NEPA. This will allow for full analysis of the impacts of these proposals in a way that fully includes the public.

Thank you for considering our comments.

Todd Miller, Executive Director
North Carolina Coastal Federation
3609 Highway 24 (Ocean)
Newport, North Carolina 28570

NC Marine Fisheries Commission Pursues Continued Destruction of Depleted Fish Stocks: Asks NC Legislators For Permission To Circumvent Law

2010-08-20T22:15:00.005-04:00

In a move that shocked even some of the most hardened political observers in NC, the NC Marine Fisheries Commission has requested permission from the NC legislature to exclude Southern Flounder and Speckled Trout from a new law that would require the ending of overfishing in two years. Both Southern Flounder and Speckled Trout are depleted and overfished here in NC. The commercial fishing industry that controls the MFC here in NC has decided that they are above the law, and if the law will not allow them to overharvest fish, they will change the law!

In the letter above, the NCMFC asks the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture to agree with them that any Fisheries Management Plan that was completed before the new law requiring the ending of overfishing in 2 years be exempt from the law. What this conveniently means is that commercial fishermen can continue to overharvest Flounder and Speckled Trout because the FMP's for those 2 fish were completed before this law was enacted.

The problem is that all of the legislators that overwhelmingly voted to make this law this past session did so with the understanding that this law applied to ALL FMP's past and present, and would apply to all future modifications to the plans as well. Since Flounder is the big money fish here in NC, the commercial seats and their hand-picked recreational seats on the MFC decided once again to ignore the state of the fishery, and make the rules so they could make money at the expense of the depleted resource.

This blatant disregard for both the law and our marine resources is unacceptable.

CFRG Addresses NC Marine Fisheries Commission: "The MFC is Obliged by Law to Take Corrective and Remedial Action"

2010-08-18T13:40:00.002-04:00

The following statement was delivered to each of the NC Marine Fisheries Commissioners and was read aloud during the public comment period at the recent MFC meeting in Wilmington, NC on August 11, 2010;

The Coastal Fisheries Reform Group (CFRG) is an association of concerned sports fishermen who support sound, scientific management of our marine fisheries for the benefit of the marine resource and all who enjoy these valuable assets of NC. Several issues need to be brought to the attention of the MFC at this time. The MFC is the state agency given the responsibility and duty by law to manage NC’s fisheries in an effective and fair manner so that our resources will not be depleted and all our fishermen will have opportunities now and into the future. When a fishery becomes depleted from overfishing or from any adverse condition, the MFC is obliged by law to take corrective and remedial action as soon as possible to begin the process of eliminating overfishing and restoring the fishery to a sustainable level at targeted healthy levels of abundance and growth.

This summer we learned that our speckled sea trout (SST) fishery, the most popular, sought after fish in our coastal waters, is depleted from years of overfishing. The current fishing regulations, both recreational and commercial, are not sufficient to begin recovery of the SST. We call upon the MFC to immediately develop and implement restrictive rules on the harvest of SST. DMF staff has already done the research on fishing mortality from all sources and can recommend the rules required to begin recovery of the SST. These restrictions must be designed to reduce fishing mortality to eliminate overfishing within two years as now required by state law. Furthermore, the rules must have at least a 50% chance of success of eliminating overfishing within two years and of bringing the stock to a sustainable level within ten years.

The total fishing mortality reduction required to eliminate overfishing in two years should be divided between recreational and commercial fishing based upon the historical ratio of annual recreational harvest of SST to the commercial harvest. Recreational limits on size and creel and possible season closures are tools that can be used. Commercial harvest can be controlled by Total Allowable Catch limits or by season closures in primary nursery areas in the months of December through February. The data is available and the problem is documented. Rules need to be in effective this fall, preferably by October 1.

Now is the time to protect our valuable SST fishery and rebuild the population for the future. The SST is a robust fish with high reproductive capacity. A little sacrifice now will pay huge dividends for the future.

Speckled Trout; We Told You So! Latest Failure of NC Marine Fisheries Management

2010-07-12T07:13:00.008-04:00

On July 1, 2010, a press release from the NC Division of Marine Fisheries announced that the current status of the Speckled Trout (Spotted Sea Trout) here in NC had been downgraded to "DEPLETED" and "OVERFISHED". It also stated that the "overfishing" had been occurring for years!

Let's flash-back now to just over a year ago to the Spring of 2009 when the Director of the NCDMF stood in Raleigh before a committee in the General Assembly and gave a "glowing" report of the NC situation on Speckled Trout. He said "There is no biological or scientific reason that Speckled Trout should be given "Game Fish" protection."

Being pushed by the commercial fishing interests and politicians that basically run our Marine Fisheries here in NC, the director did everything in his power to derail the "game fish bill" that was introduced last year that would have taken Red Drum and Speckled Trout into a realm of protection from commercial harvest and sale.

One of the director's arguments against HB 918 (the game fish bill) was that even though our sister state South Carolina has made Speckled Trout a "Game Fish", NC recreational anglers still caught more Speckled Trout total than South Carolina anglers did. On the surface, that sounds like a powerful argument doesn't it? But the details on those numbers were conveniently omitted.

In comparing NC to SC and the numbers on Speckled Trout, consider this;

South Carolina has banned “gill nets” in coastal waters, and has given “game fish” designation to Speckled Trout and Red Drum.

SC has around 100,000 issued saltwater licenses for fishing in its coastal waters. NC has over 500,000.

Even with five times as many saltwater recreational anglers pursuing the Speckled Trout, NC only caught a mere few thousand pounds more than SC anglers did during the time frame that the director mentioned. That means that per angler, SC is catching almost five times as much speckled trout per angler than NC is.

For some reason, this wasn't pointed out to the committee that day. Why wasn't it?

This fact proves that the Speckled Trout fishing in SC is five times better than it is here in NC, and would explain the following as well. NC issued about 1500 non-resident saltwater licenses to South Carolinians during this time frame, while SC issued over 10,000 non-resident saltwater licenses to North Carolinians during the same time frame!

Is it any wonder that North Carolinians are trekking to SC to fish for Speckled Trout? We are losing sport fishing revenues to not only South Carolina, but to Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, and Louisiana as well!

Will the current oil spill in the gulf send more commercial fishing pressures our way?

North Carolina has 4,000,000 (four million) acres of coastal/joint waters, and 4,000 miles of shoreline. Those numbers dwarf the coastal waters of South Carolina! Yet, NC anglers just barely caught more Speckled Trout total than SC anglers did. Now we hear the real truth, NC Speckled Trout are depleted and overfished.

Could our director of Marine Fisheries have known this fish was in dire straits last year when he stood in front of our NC legislators and news reporters in Raleigh declaring there was no need for "game fish" protection?

The Speckled Trout is the number one targeted fish by saltwater anglers here in our state. Its future is of tremendous importance for both economic and recreational reasons. Historically this fish has only represented .4% (less than one half percent) of the commercial harvest revenues here in NC.

Something is desperately wrong here!

We ask the question now, is there any biological or scientific reason to offer "Game Fish" protection to our NC Speckled Trout?

New Restrictions on Gill Nets Not Working! NCDMF Director Shuts Down Core Sound Large Mesh Gill Net Fishery; Too Many Sea Turtles Entangled, 4 Killed

2010-06-25T15:20:00.014-04:00

With the ink barely dry on the settlement with the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital, and with new gill net restrictions in place, the NC Division of Marine Fisheries shut down the large mesh gill net fishery in Core Sound today. This came as a result of too many sea turtle entanglements that resulted in the death of four sea turtles. Dr Louis Daniel issued a proclamation today declaring the season closed until September 1, 2010.

Why didn't the new restrictions work? Why didn't the shallower nets of only 15 meshes, with no floats, and shorter shots of only 100 yards not protect these endangered turtles? Why aren't these gill nets target specific as their proponents argue on their behalf?

The answer is simple, and all of us who live here on the NC Coast know it; gill nets are indiscriminate, underwater walls of death, and the only answer to stopping by-catch (by-kill) is the removal of gill nets from our coastal waters forever!

It is time for North Carolina to join South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas in the 21st century and end this archaic and inhumane method of fishing in our coastal waters! How much more can we tolerate? When will the citizens of NC stand up and say enough is enough.

How much longer can NC Senator Marc Basnight and his cronies protect this insanity?

Gill nets have no place in modern day commercial fishing! The time has come for their end here in North Carolina, period!

Game Fish Status for Speckled Trout and Red Drum in North Carolina!

2010-06-05T20:51:00.003-04:00

The following game fish "primer" was developed in the Spring of 2009. These two fish are far too valuable to our NC economy as sport fish to not consider all the benefits that would be realized by removing them from commercial harvest and sale.

Since these two fish are the primary targets of recreational saltwater anglers here in NC, the very elimination of "user conflict" alone is reason enough alone to seriously consider game fish protection for both species. Just and fair compensation to commercial fishermen for determined time frames could be paid for with recreational saltwater license monies for years to come.

If commercial fishing interests here in NC would consider the benefits of removing the user conflict on these two fish with game fish designation, greater support from recreational fishermen for commercial fishing would be accomplished!

Game Fish Act Primer

Due to the recent events in which a petition for rule making was presented to the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission on behalf of the Spotted Sea Trout, and was rejected by the commission, and the fact that the Red Drum is our state fish and is in a state of “recovery”, we feel that we are obligated by our concerns to seek a more expeditious remedy on their behalf. Prompted by the welfare of the resource, we are subsequently forced to intervene through the avenue available to us through our North Carolina General Assembly by introducing a bill that would declare the Spotted Sea Trout and the Red Drum as Game Fish.

This act would prohibit the sale, purchase, transportation for sale, barter, or any other means of exporting for profit, the Spotted Sea Trout and the Red Drum. By enacting this statute, the status of these two fish would be protected for years to come and insure the viability of the fishery and the tremendous values that they posses both recreationally and economically to the State of North Carolina and its citizens.

Since the very first Game Laws were enacted in North Carolina in 1935, management of game animals has been an effort of the government to protect the natural resources through allocation of certain animals to certain user groups for the overall well being of certain species. This action was first seen in the early days of waterfowl hunting on the Pamlico Sound when commercial hunters slaughtered waterfowl by the tens of thousands. The wildlife agencies of that day determined that species survival along with economic impacts deemed it necessary to allocate the hunting of waterfowl to recreational hunters only. The concept was sound and has been very successful both biologically and economically.

Most of our Southern Coastal states have enacted similar or more stringent statutes in their coastal waters to protect both species of these fish. Texas was the first to act by declaring game fish status for both the Spotted Sea Trout and the Red Drum in 1981, in addition to banning all forms of gill netting in all coastal waters. Other states have followed suit with the same or more stringent acts, such as Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The precedents set by our neighboring coastal states require us to examine the positive impacts on both the protection of the species, and the tremendous financial boons that have occurred as a result of these actions.

Due to the fact that the Spotted Sea Trout and the Red Drum can be pursued year round by recreational fishermen, the recovery of the fish and the tremendous economical boost as a result in these states has been undeniable. Because of its vast coastal water sounds and tributaries which are unique to the whole nation, North Carolina would soon establish itself as the premier sport fishery state for these two fish in the whole country. While saltwater recreational anglers generated $2.5 billion in sales to businesses here in NC in 2006, Florida’s anglers were generating over $15 billion in sales that same year! Much of their success is due to the stringent laws they have in place to protect these two fish.

Management issues regarding user conflict between competing groups have been eliminated as a result of these laws, enabling marine enforcement agencies to concentrate on more serious issues that they face. Survey programs in these states have shown increases in population abundance, spawning success, angler participation, angler catch rates, and mean size of fish landed. Increase in abundance here in North Carolina is of critical importance to insure the presence of sufficient stocks to survive severe freeze-related kills.

Texas credits one of the main reasons for the turnaround in their sport fisheries is the ability to control fishing mortality is more easily managed in a “sport rod and reel fishery” than in a “commercial net fishery”.

NC creel limits on the Spotted Sea Trout for recreational fishermen need to be reduced from 10 fish per day to 6 fish per day, in addition to raising the size limit from 12 inches to 14 inches, with only one fish to exceed 25 inches. This will reduce recreational pressure on the stocks and allow greater survival of mature fish for the spawning season. These restrictions would bring NC protective measures up to date with supporting studies, and more closely mirror successful restrictions in place by our coastal neighbors

In 2007 the NC commercial catch revenues on both of these species combined was $882,220.00 state wide. We realize that this number represents revenues that are spread out in our coastal towns to commercial fishermen and their families. We are offering to mitigate those losses of revenues with monies from our saltwater license sales fund for the next three years. This money can be distributed for the buy-back of licenses, gear, and overall lost income. Please keep in mind that our goals are not to stop commercial fishing here in North Carolina. Although many of our coastal neighbors have banned all nets completely from all coastal waters as part of their management plan for all fish, that is not what we are proposing.

Statistics will show that commercial fishing interests in our neighboring coastal states currently have thriving markets. Many of these states have developed significant commercial saltwater aquaculture operations that are producing Flounder, Shrimp, and Pompano to name a few, for commercial sale as a result of this allocation.

In closing, we feel that the time has come for North Carolina to grasp the real value of these two fish, and the tremendous financial impacts that this measure would multiply throughout our entire state-wide economy. Optimum yield has yet to be recognized from the Spotted Sea Trout and the Red Drum for all North Carolinians. We believe that day has finally arrived.

NC Marine Fisheries Commission Settles Lawsuit With New Restrictions On Gill Nets; Small Step in Right Direction

2010-05-18T11:31:00.003-04:00

Significant change has finally come to NC Marine Fisheries management resulting from a lawsuit filed in Federal Court. In an effort to hide the weakness that the courtroom offers to the stakeholders in our marine fisheries, the NC Marine Fisheries Commission conceded to severe restrictions on Large-mesh gill nets.

Conservation groups have taken notice that legal avenues may be the only avenue to effect serious reform in NC marine fisheries. Since the Marine Fisheries Commission is manipulated by NC Legislators that depend on commercial fishermen for re-election, and since they have enacted legislation to prevent any challenges to the current system, the courts will likely see more activity until the current system is abolished!

Get used to it boys, you asked for it!

The new restrictions will only be as effective as the DMF has ability or the stomach to enforce them. Why would that be a concern? Consider this. In the last ten years, not one single Sea Turtle was reported entangled by a commercial gill netter here in NC when the current permit strictly demands that they be reported.

Now that doesn't mean that turtles weren't entangled. As a matter of fact, quite a few were reported entangled when "observers" were accompanying commercial gill netters on their trips. But not one was ever reported on "unobserved" trips for the last 10 years! Amazing huh?

Observers are "turtle magnets!"

NC's Division of Marine Fisheries claims to have the best data and statistics in the USA. They brag about it, just ask them.

How could the most efficient data gathering agency in the whole country not be alarmed that no turtle entanglements were being reported unless there was an "observer" onboard for TEN YEARS? Maybe they just "missed" that fact, or worse, could they have been looking the other way intentionally?

Certainly one of our powerful politicians wouldn't direct folks to look the other way when his voter base is involved would he?

The citizens of North Carolina no longer trust our Marine Fisheries Commission, and the sooner we take the control of our marine fisheries away from commercial fishermen and their guard-dog legislators, the better!

NCDMF/NCMFC Attorneys Move for Dismissal of Sea Turtle Lawsuit

2010-04-13T10:21:00.007-04:00

In an all-out effort to keep the public from learning the ugly truth about NC gill nets, the attorneys defending the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and the Marine Fisheries Commission have made a motion for "dismissal" of the lawsuit filed by the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital.

If gill nets are not responsible for the deaths of thousands of Sea Turtles, why wouldn't the NCDMF and the NCMFC want their day in court to prove otherwise? Why not once and for all show the state of NC and the whole USA how environmentally friendly gill nets really are, and how they are not wasteful, indiscriminate killing machines?

Obviously NC commercial fishermen have learned methods of gill net fishing that all the other states in the south never acquired! Since from NC to Texas, NC and MS are the only 2 states left that still allow the unbridled use of gill nets in coastal waters, NC must be either really smart or really stupid!

We don't believe that North Carolinians are stupid. Most of them just don't really understand what a gill net is, how does it work, and what's wrong with gill nets!

The CFRG is starting a campaign to answer those three questions; "What is a gill net, how does it work," and "what's wrong with gill nets?"

We have prepared a PowerPoint presentation that answers those questions, and will come to your event or meeting wherever you are in the state of NC to make the presentation. It is a powerful and in-depth expose' on the dirty secret of the NC commercial gill net fishery, and the political framework that has protected it for decades!

Please email us to schedule a presentation for your organization in the near future.

NC Marine Fisheries Commission Votes to Snub ASMFC, Continue Slaughter of Collapsed Gray Trout Fishery for the Love of Money!

2010-03-31T14:51:00.008-04:00

Once again our NC Marine resources suffer at the hands of our commercially run Marine Fisheries Commission. Under the guise of caring about wasted fish, the commission voted to "not comply" with the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission and reduce commercial harvest of Gray Trout to 100 pounds per day per vessel, and one fish per day for recreational fishermen.

The ASMFC could request the US Secretary of Commerce to step in and shut the Gray Trout fishery in NC completely down!

This is exactly what needs to happen to protect this beautiful sportfish! From 1978 to 1990, the commercial fishing fleet here in NC sold over 160 Million pounds of Gray Trout at an average of 32 cents per pound! Now, with no limits whatsoever, they have only harvested less than 200 thousand pounds in the last few years.

Fisheries biologist say the Gray Trout stocks are at an all time low, and what do our NC commercial fishermen want to do? They demand that they be allowed to go catch what is left of them! Even when all the states on the Atlantic Coast voted to do otherwise!

Not only can they make such horrific demands, since they are the "foxes guarding the hen house," they can make their own rules to play by and do as they wish with our fisheries!

This egregious display of blatant disregard for our marine resources gives not only North Carolinians reason for pause, but for our neighboring states on the Atlantic Coast as well.

If there were ever any doubts about the true nature and intent of our Marine Fisheries Commission, they have now all been erased!

It is high time that the current system of marine resource management be overturned and overhauled! Maybe the Feds will step in and help us get it done!

The CFRG sent the following email to every member of the ASMFC on March 26, 2010....

Dear ASMFC Member,

Once again, North Carolina’s Marine Fisheries Commission puts money and profit at a higher priority than the health of a depleted Weakfish fishery. In spite of the intense studies and debate that the ASMFC has engaged in on behalf of Weakfish, NC MFC has decided that they know better and will just thumb their noses at sound, biological fisheries management.

Is it any wonder? Does this really surprise any of you who understand that North Carolina Marine Fisheries are run by commercial fishermen that only understand the price of a fish sold, and not the value of a fish preserved? Many of us here in NC are growing weary of the constant battle to achieve sound fisheries management, and now we must turn to you for help!

Will you help us? Will you do what is right for the Weakfish before it is too late?

Please use the power that is given to you and demand that NC adhere to the Weakfish regulations that the ASMFC supports. If they refuse, please request that The Secretary of Commerce SHUT DOWN completely the NC Commercial and recreational Weakfish fishery until the stocks recover.

Concerned North Carolinians need you to step up and do the right thing, in light of the shameful actions of a politically run NC Marine Fisheries Commission!

Please let us know your feelings on this subject, and thank you for your service on behalf of our Atlantic States Fisheries!

Atlantic Sturgeon; Another Canary in the Coal Mine? Read Craig Holt's Opinion From NC Sportsman Magazine

2010-03-18T11:12:00.003-04:00

Will Our Fisheries Ever be Managed For Fish?
By Craig Holt

Three decisions involving saltwater fisheries occurred during February. One was fairly-well publicized; two flew under the radar.

Each reveal the mindset of fisheries management in North Carolina.

Anglers may know about a Feb. 18 meeting in New Bern, when the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission held a public hearing regarding a proposal by Dr. Louis Daniel, director of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. Under pressure from the National Marine Fisheries Service to reduce accidental gill netting of sea turtles (and from an impending lawsuit by a turtle-protection group), Daniel offered a temporary May 15-Dec. 15 closure of sections of Pamlico, Core and Back sounds and the Cape Fear River to large-mesh gill nets.

Before an audience of mostly net fishermen, the MFC dropped Daniel’s idea and voted for a proposal tossed out by a commercial fish dealer that would allow gill-net use four days a week.

Earlier in the month, Daniel and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission executive director Gordon Myers sent letters to NMFS Southeast region director Roy Crabtree. He wanted to know if the two agencies thought Atlantic sturgeon should be listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

They responded that Atlantic sturgeon shouldn’t have ESA protection and asked for further studies, even though a ban on sturgeon harvests has existed since 1991. Moreover, their responses to Crabtree contained contradictory statements:

“The DMF believes that there is evidence that management measures enacted by the state of North Carolina and the ASMFC are resulting in positive population trends.” (Daniel).

“Recent information from Albemarle and Pamlico sounds suggests that the Carolina DPS (distinct population segments) of Atlantic sturgeon has shown little improvement in size and age distribution since 1991.” (Myers).

We don’t know which conclusion is stranger.

DMF says sturgeon numbers are growing while WRC sees no improvement. Yet both agencies’ leaders don’t want ESA listing for a fish that can’t be caught legally because there are so few of them.

A source also has told us WRC rejected its own staff report that sturgeons should be listed.

After the Feb. 18 MFC vote in New Bern and the letters of Daniel and Myers to NMFS, one conclusion seems inevitable — gill-net use will continue in N.C. saltwater until it’s halted by outside forces.

Of course, commercial fishermen don’t deliberately target sea turtles or sturgeons, but sometimes their nets injure or kill these endangered or threatened species.

The major problem with nets in N.C. waters is timing — the DMF allows them to be set in spring to intercept fish headed for shallow water to spawn (killing fish before they can reproduce isn’t a great idea). Post-spawn-only gill netting could work (and result in more fish), but, as Feb. 18, proved, netters and the state agencies that regulate them won’t accept restrictions.

However, that may prove a dangerous path to follow.

Clearly, economic hardships are squeezing netters. But by refusing any restrictions or adjustments while demanding state agencies be similarly unbending, their lack of compromise eventually may force removal of all nets from N.C. waters.

Sea Turtles; "The Canary in the Coal Mine"

2010-03-16T08:42:00.004-04:00

In the "old days" coal miners would carry a "Canary" into the mines with them in a cage. If the canary stopped singing, the miners would know that the bird had perished from the invisible, odorless, lethal, Methane gas, and would evacuate the mine!

The NC Sea Turtles are the "Canary in the Coal Mine" for NC marine fisheries!!!

You need to look no further than the Division of Marine Fisheries own website to confirm this. See how the rest of our "fish stocks" are faring here.........

http://www.ncfisheries.net/stocks/index.html

It is time to "evacuate" ourselves from a politically run marine fisheries system here in NC!

Far too long have a handful of coastal politicians stood guard over a mismanaged and corrupt marine fisheries system for the sake of money. Our coastal resources have been sacrificed on the altar of convenience and status-quo for monetary and political gain!

Yes, our Canary in the Coal Mine is dead. Where is the nearest exit?

CCA NC Condemns North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission's Status Quo Decision; "Conflict of Interest" Questioned

2010-02-24T22:13:00.007-05:00

CCA NC blasted the NC Marine Fisheries Commission for making management decisions based on politics, and ignoring blatant "conflict of interest" issues at the recent NC MFC meeting in New Bern, NC. Tarheel anglers have long recognized CCA NC as the authoritative voice for coastal recreational fishing, and the CFRG heartily agrees with and supports the CCA NC position and statement.

Read the entire statement at this link.. http://www.ccanc.org/index.php?xnewsaction=fullnews&newsarch=022010&newsid=4

Beasley Turtle Hospital Files Lawsuit in Federal Court Against NCDMF, NCMFC, Gill Nets

2010-02-23T23:15:00.005-05:00

Topsail Island, N.C. – The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center has filed a lawsuit in federal court asking the State of North Carolina to stop authorizing gill net fishing in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The lawsuit cites studies by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries that have found gill net fishing in North Carolina waters results in the injury and death of sea turtles protected by the ESA. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

The suit alleges that defendants North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries (DMF), North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission, and DMF Director Dr. Louis Daniel have issued permits and licenses that “have resulted in the illegal take of estimated thousands of protected sea turtles over the previous decades, and continue to result in the illegal take of protected sea turtles today.”

See entire press release here.. http://www.law.duke.edu/news/story?id=4605&u=5

See court venue, case number, presiding Federal Judge here...... http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-ncedce/case_no-7:2010cv00032/case_id-104804/

ORV Use on Cape Hatteras National Seashore: “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People”

2010-02-20T21:31:00.003-05:00

“For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People”

Our National Park System was born over 138 years ago as an effort to set aside pristine areas here in the US for the purpose of providing our citizens the opportunity of hands-on enjoyment of nature’s beauty. Today there are 376 National Parks that encompass 83 million acres of the most beautiful and awe inspiring landscapes the planet Earth has to offer.

This property has been bought and paid for, maintained and protected with monies generated from taxes and revenues collected from our US citizenry. We believe, and rightfully so, that this same citizenry should be allowed to enjoy these properties in a responsible manner.

Authorized on August 17, 1937, The Cape Hatteras National Seashore has historically been a destination for both vacationers and recreational fishermen from all across not only our nation, but the whole world as well. Comprising 31,263 acres, Cape Hatteras stretches north to south across three islands: Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke.

The islands are linked by NC 12, which is the only major route through the park. From the north, NC 158 accesses the Outer Banks at Kitty Hawk, and then intersects NC 12 at the park's northern entrance below Nags Head. US 64 comes in from the west at Roanoke Island, and also intersects NC 12 at the park's northern entrance. State-operated toll ferries access the park's southern entrance at Ocracoke Island from Cedar Island or Swan Quarter. Its lands include 5,834-acre Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Recreational fishermen should be allowed access to areas that historically have been traveled by ORV transportation. This can be accomplished in a way that holds the highest regard for both conservation and protection to the coastal environment. The NC Recreational fisherman is the best friend and advocate that the Cape Hatteras National Seashore enjoys. Maintaining this relationship should be of utmost priority to all concerned, including the National Park Service and the recreational fishermen.

Considering the fact that human interaction with the property held in public trust by our national parks is the “life blood” that provides both revenues and protection for a robust, healthy management and protection system, every effort must be made to continue this access by our citizenry to this Seashore!

The 5,834 acres in the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge combined with nearby numerous “spoil islands,” create tremendous areas of nesting habitat for both shore birds and wading birds. The fact that Pea Island NWR is set aside exclusively to protect shore birds, wading birds, waterfowl, wildlife, and nesting environments, and all human activity is tightly restricted, makes it even more important to maintain controlled fisherman access to the other beach areas where surf fishing has been historically practiced.

In this regard, the CFRG supports all efforts and energies to restoring reasonable and environmentally friendly ORV access to areas that historically have provided access to recreational fishermen on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Send Us Your Photos and Videos of NC Gill Net Waste and Destruction!!

2010-02-15T10:42:00.004-05:00

Go to this link to view gill net waste that occurs every day here in NC....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxmsii33EjA&feature=related

Dick Hamilton, Retired NCWRC Chief and CFRG Co-founder Named "Sportsman of The Year"

2010-01-31T23:18:00.013-05:00

Dick Hamilton has been named the 2009 "Sportsman of The Year"by NC Sportsman Magazine. In addition to his 37 years with the NCWRC, the magazine noted Dick's involvement with the Camo Coalition, (the NC division of the Wildlife Federation,) and his efforts in creating the CFRG and guiding the group through its first year of engaging NC coastal fisheries issues.

The NC SPORTSMAN story about Dick's award and lifelong accomplishments can be read at the following link........ http://www.northcarolinasportsman.com/details.php?id=1319

Will North Carolina Ever Stop This?

2010-01-25T11:39:00.007-05:00

Enlarge this photo to see the gill net marks on the Dolphin

How much longer will NC tolerate this? How much longer will NC coastal politicians condone and protect this? Why don't you ask them? How much longer will the US government look the other way?

REDFISH CAN'T JUMP; Premier Goes on the Road to Raleigh NC, Feb 24th at The Pour House

2010-01-05T11:26:00.020-05:00

Captain Seth Vernon (Double Haul Guide Service) of Wilmington NC and friends have produced a fabulous documentary about North Carolina's State Fish, the Red Drum, and fishing dynamics surrounding this beautiful sportfish. The film opened to a packed house in Wilmington, then went on to packed house showings in Charlotte last week.

The Raleigh NC Premier will occur on Feb 24th at The Pour House Music Hall, 224 Blount St. The doors open at 7:30 PM, Music by Jason Andre and friends starts at 8, and the movie starts at 8:30. A second showing will follow at 9:30.

An interview about the movie can be read online on FLY FISHING MAGAZINE at the following link..... http://www.thisisfly.com/

Please see the "trailer" for the film at the link below.........

http://vimeo.com/6006863

To see an in-depth look at production of the film, visit the website at.......

http://www.redfishcantjump.com/

Visit Captain Seth Vernon's website at ........

http://www.doublehaulguideservice.com/

New US Fish and Wildlife Service Report on NC Gill Nets; Waterfowl and Shorebirds Killed

2009-12-04T20:18:00.005-05:00

View the entire report at this link......

http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/pdfs/Gill_Net_Fact_Sheet_Bird.pdf

North Carolina Sportsman Magazine Op-Ed On Gill Nets Tells it Like it Is!

2009-11-22T17:41:00.007-05:00

The problem of more wisely managing N.C. saltwater resources may require a Gordian Knot solution. And it could happen soon.

Students of Greek legend will remember the Gordian knot story — a king (Gordius) hitched his wagon to the temple of Zeus with an intricate knot, one so intricately entwined no citizen could unloose it. Zeus, it was said, declared anyone who could untie the knot eventually would rule all Asia. For years no one could loosen the puzzling knot.

Enter Alexander the Great. He, legend says, simply drew his sword and hacked the knot asunder — and went on to conquer Asia.

For years saltwater anglers have tried to solve the knotty bureaucracy of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission and N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries in order to get the agencies to alter policies critics claim harm fisheries, tourism and, ultimately, the state’s economy.

Why? The evidence seems clear. We’ve been bombarded for years with photos of red drum illegally left to rot in nets, sea birds entangled in monofilament and sea turtles caught in the stuff.

The Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina and the Coastal Fisheries Reform Group have cajoled, petitioned and pleaded with DMF to do something (anything) to protect and conserve saltwater sportfish species from death by nets.

The DMF, it must be noted, is tasked by law (1997 Fisheries Reform Act) with managing coastal fishes for recreational and commercial use. DMF directors quickly refer to their dual responsibilities when it comes to their reluctance to change policies to please recreational anglers (1.2 million) instead of approximately 5,000 licensed commercial anglers.

Meanwhile, reds keep getting caught, creeks are wrapped up in nets preventing access by hook-and-line anglers to spotted sea trout and red drum, ducks and shorebirds become entangled, and endangered/threatened sea turtles keep dying in nylon-encased caskets.

Raleigh’s legislative leadership kills attempts to curtail netting (a bill to give red drum and spotted seatrout gamefish status and protect them from nets never got out of committee this past session. Neither did a bill to protect menhaden from factory ships based in another state).

The DMF’s advisory committees are, to put it mildly, a joke. Intended to offer a facade of fairness, helpful committee ideas never are implemented by a MFC that almost always favors netting.

An advisory committee member told us last week if a proposal would help specks or reds by curtailing netting, a commercial member will say: “We don’t have any data to support that” or “(the proposal) might work down south but not up here.” And the idea dies.

In short, nothing changes when it comes to state-managed saltwater resources. So the next step is, logically, federal intervention.

And that’s what the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center plans to do. It will sue DMF and MFC in federal court if, by Dec. 18, 2009, DMF doesn’t remove gill nets from N.C. waters . The last time a 4th District Court judge got involved in such an issue, surf anglers were banned from driving ORVs at OBX beaches because of six birds.

Will the same judge be inclined to wield his Gordian knot sword to DMF/MFC policy to save thousands of sea turtles? Stay tuned.

Legal Notice of Pending Lawsuit Given to NMFS; NCDMF, NCMFC Given Sixty Days to Respond

2009-10-20T12:40:00.008-04:00

Topsail Island, North Carolina, October 20, 2009

The Coastal Fisheries Reform Group supports action taken today to halt the incidental killing and injuring of sea turtles by gill nets.

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, of Topsail Beach, North Carolina, has given the National Marine Fisheries Service notice that it will pursue legal remedies in Federal Court against the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission. The notice is a prerequisite to any formal legal proceedings based upon the Endangered Species Act, and pertains to the unlawful take of endangered and threatened sea turtles along the entire North Carolina coast. The notice requests that all “gill nets” be removed from all North Carolina coastal waters. If no remedy is found within sixty days then the Beasley Center can file formal legal proceedings.

The sixty day Notice of Intent was filed with all three agencies today.

THE COASTAL FISHERIES REFORM GROUP fully supports this action in light of the “Collateral Damage” created daily by gill nets in NC coastal waters. Sea turtles are endangered, but the carnage and waste of unwanted fish, waterfowl, mammals, and endangered Sturgeon impacted by destructive and indiscriminate gill nets must come to an end now.

North Carolina has almost three million acres of coastal and joint waters and four thousand miles of coastline. It’s high time that North Carolina joins our other southern coastal states in the removal of the destructive gill nets from all NC Coastal waters. From here to Mexico the only states that still allow this archaic practice of gill netting in coastal waters are North Carolina and Mississippi. We have world class universities within two hour’s drive from our coastal waters, yet up until this point science has been stopped at our coastal water’s edge for political considerations.

See the actual notice at this link......
http://www.law.duke.edu/news/pdf/beasleynotice.pdf

Recreational Fisherman Comes to the Rescue!

2009-09-07T23:01:00.007-04:00

Many Threatened and Endangered Species Sea Turtles die a slow and tortuous death everyday in NC gill nets! North Carolina Recreational fishermen are continually doing what they can to free these beautiful creatures from these underwater "walls of death"!

NMFS Report: Loggerhead Turtles at Risk of Extinction; NC Coastal Waters Play Major Role

2009-09-03T11:16:00.020-04:00

WASHINGTON – It's a scene that scientists say is all too common: A commercial fishing boat pulls in a net full of shrimp or tuna and finds a loggerhead sea turtle mixed in with the catch.

Biologists like Matthew Godfrey say one or two such takings can happen every day among fishing fleets off the Southeast coast. Those numbers can add up to thousands annually for a turtle species that has traveled the oceans for 200 million years but now faces a growing array of threats.

Godfrey is among the authors of the latest federal report on loggerheads that says most groups of the ancient reptile are at risk of extinction — in large part due to increased commercial fishing.

The study, released last month, predicted broad population declines across the globe in the coming years, including in a nesting area along the southeastern United States that is one of the world's largest.

"Unfortunately, a lot of times the target fish habitat and the turtle habitat overlap," said Godfrey, of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. "The turtles are air breathers, so they need to get to the surface, but if they're tangled up in the net, they can't get to the surface, and they essentially drown."

Loggerheads have been listed as a threatened species since 1978. This latest report puts new pressure on the government to upgrade their status to endangered and further restrict commercial fisheries.

But even the increased awareness that an endangered listing would bring might not save the turtles, which migrate thousands of miles through the sea.

Meaningful protections require broad global cooperation given the turtles' far-flung travels. Fishing operators already are chafing under regulations aimed at protecting the animals, and further restrictions could draw strong opposition and fresh concerns about hurting coastal economies.

"These trends are very difficult to reverse. It's like turning a big battleship," said Blair Witherington, a research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission who helped write the report. "We really ought to be doing it now."

The report was commissioned by the National Marine Fisheries Service as a result of petitions from environmental groups, who say the government is moving too slowly to protect loggerheads and have sued to force stronger actions. Many of the study's authors work for the federal agencies that will decide whether to change its status to endangered.

For the first time, the study called for dividing loggerhead populations into nine distinct global populations, a potentially key recommendation that would allow each to be studied and protected as a separate species.

It said seven of those nine populations are in danger of extinction, including two along U.S. coasts: the major population in the Atlantic Ocean, which has nesting concentrated along the coasts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, and a smaller population that migrates through Pacific waters off the West Coast and Hawaii.

Aside from fishing, the report said other major threats include coastal development that disrupts nesting, such as erosion-control barriers and other structures that prevent mothers from nesting and bright lights that can disorient hatchlings. The animals and their eggs are also still hunted for consumption in some parts of the world, the report said, and will probably be threatened by changing sea levels from climate change, which could wash away nesting habitats.

The U.S. and other countries already have adopted a number of protections, but the report said their effectiveness has been incomplete.

Since the mid-1990s, shrimp trawlers have been required to use gear that allows turtles to escape, for example. But the National Marine Fisheries Service has estimated that nearly 650 turtles a year are still killed by shrimpers in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

In April, federal regulators restricted the use of long fishing lines for catching red grouper off Florida's western coast after studies showed that as many as 800 loggerheads were caught by the lines every 18 months. The temporary ban, from mid-May to mid-October — when sea turtles feed in the warm Gulf waters — angered fishing operators, who said it could kill their business.

"I don't know what else they could expect us to do," said Woody Moore, a commercial fisherman out of Jacksonville, Fla., who said he thinks the dangers posed by fishing fleets are exaggerated.
"I've never in my life caught a dead one," he said. "And I've been fishing 30 years."

Elizabeth Griffin, fisheries campaign manager at Oceana, an advocacy group that has sued the government to protect loggerheads more aggressively, acknowledged that significant steps have been taken but said the turtles remain largely unprotected in the water.

She said the United States, which hosts about 90 percent of loggerhead nesting off the Atlantic Ocean, should heed its own scientists' advice. "We're a key player in preventing loggerheads from going extinct in the Atlantic so we really need to be a leader on this issue," Griffin said.

Therese Conant, deputy director of the Fisheries Service's endangered species division and another of the report's authors, said the government would probably issue a proposed decision in February on whether to change the turtles' status.

NC Gill Nets Capturing Sea Turtles Draws Federal Intervention, Permit #1528 Questionable

2009-07-18T07:31:00.023-04:00

In a letter dated July 7, 2009 to NCDMF Director Louis Daniel, Dr. Roy Crabtree of the National Marine Fisheries Service, a division of NOAA, expressed serious concerns about the catching and killing of Sea Turtles by gill nets here in North Carolina. All Sea Turtles in North Carolina Coastal waters are protected by the Endangered Species Act. The NCDMF obtained a permit in 2005 from the NMFS which allows the "incidental capture" of over 200 Sea Turtles per year in the Pamilco Sound by gill-net fishermen. This permit, #1528 is due to expire on December 31, 2010.

The concern was raised when during a period from June 17th thru June 25th of this year, NMFS Observers accompanied commercial net fishermen on five trips. On four of those trips, eleven Sea Turtles were discovered entangled in the gill-nets. Four of the Sea Turtles were dead.

Dr. Crabtree expressed the NMFS concerns in the letter as follows; "We do not have sufficient information to extrapolate the observed takes into total estimated takes for that time period. However, eleven Sea Turtles in five trips is indicative of a high level of take and a problem that needs to be addressed promptly."

We suspect the reason for the concern is that many more Sea Turtles are being entangled and killed in gill-nets than are being reported. The small window of "takes" observed by the NMFS confirms what those of us who live on the coast here in NC have known all along. Gill-nets are indiscriminate underwater "Walls of Death"!

This whole episode begs the question; Just how many Sea Turtles and other animals both fish, birds, and mammals are killed in our coastal waters every year by these gill-nets that are never reported? Dr. Crabtree points out very clearly in his letter that both the State and the gill- net fishermen can be prosecuted for violating the Endangered Species Act.

Part of the "Conditions of the Permit" contained in Section IV, A #6, part B reads as follows;

"For sea turtles that are injured, lethargic, or
dead, fishermen must contact the NCDMF Marine
Patrol and transfer the turtle to an NCDMF patrol
vessel, if one is located in the GNRA. If no NCDMF
patrol vessel is in the vicinity, fishermen must
transport the turtle to the U.S. Coast Guard
Station at Oregon Inlet or Hatteras Inlet and turn
the turtle over to Coast Guard personnel."

Here are questions we would like answered by the NCDMF; How many Sea Turtles have been killed in gill-nets since the permit was issued in 2005? How many of these Sea Turtles were reported and delivered to DMF personnel or Coast Guard personnel in accordance with the Permit as described above by commercial fishermen in the last four years?

The general public of not only North Carolina has a right to know, but the nation as a whole is entitled to the same! North Carolina is endowed with the sacred trust of our nation for the protection of all marine life for all citizens. The belief that our coastal fisheries should be managed for the few at the expense of all citizens is a short sighted position that is wrought with a history of political garbage that will soon be exposed for what it is!

We have only seen the tip of the iceberg concerning the sordid truth behind the destructive practice of gill-nets! Perhaps this is the beginning of the end of an ugly chapter of heritage and history here in North Carolina!

Merger of MFC and WRC; Common Sense and Fiscal Responsibility Demand Action!

2009-06-29T07:12:00.006-04:00

Jim Holshouser and Jim Martin both commissioned efficiency studies when they were elected Governor in an attempt to improve the way state government delivered services. One of the conclusions of both studies was that the WRC and MFC should be merged to save significant funds and to improve efficiency. When the salt water fishing license was enacted in 2006, the law mandated that the WRC give written approval to all proposals from MFC to expend money from the Marine Resources Trust Fund and the Marine Resources Endowment Fund. Most coastal states have merged Marine and Fresh Water Fish and Wildlife agencies. The reasons are powerful and obvious:

1. Fiscal Savings – by merging the two agencies, an economy of scale would be realized that would eliminate duplication of programs and services that are quite similar in most regards, thereby saving millions of dollars every year and presenting a new image of efficiency to the general public. Just a few of the duplicated programs are:

a. Enforcement of boating laws and coastal recreational fishing license requirements. We now have vessels of each agency on the water together but neither agency enforces the other’s rules, thus creating confusion to the public and inefficiency.

b. Each agency currently has its own air force, including pilots and aircraft. Great efficiency would be realized by combining the two air forces into one.

c. Each agency presently has its own communications system, in many cases each has a radio repeater on the same tower and the state pays two rental fees for the use of the tower. Consolidating the two communication systems would result in better purchasing and maintenance bargaining power with vendors, and would streamline the interface with the general public. Now there are two communications centers, one in Morehead City and one in Raleigh. One entire center could be eliminated and the cost of several radio operator positions could be saved

d. MFC has no grass roots and outreach section to get the important message out to their constituents, MFC has no magazine. WRC has both functioning at high levels of output and effectiveness.

e. Both agencies have well developed Administrative Sections to handle Personnel, budget, inventory, warehousing, fulfillment, purchasing, accounts payable, federal financial assistance, information technology and other administrative responsibilities. Great efficiency and savings can be realized by combining these identical functions.

f. Both agencies have several and elaborate facilities on the coast which could be shared, thereby creating economy and efficiency. For instance oyster shells for reef creation could be readily stored on WRC gamelands, avoiding the cost of renting or buying land on which to store oyster shells.

g. The fishery research and management work of the two agencies are almost identical except for the salinity of the water and the difference in fish species. The procedures and requirements are almost identical. Great efficiency and savings can be realized by combining and sharing the laboratories, equipment, and technicians required to do this work.

h. Coordination and interaction with other agencies inside and outside state government and with the several conservation organizations and general public would be improved by consolidation and the interface with all these entities would be simplified.

i. Both the MFC and WRC have large boards that are expensive and cumbersome. Many would say that these Commissions are too large to be responsive and efficient. A single Commission of 9 members could readily handle the responsibilities of marine and fish and wildlife programs in NC. Such consolidation would streamline many processes that currently require participation and action by each board separately. Plus one Commission could operate in shorter time frames and less expensively.

j. The administrative staffs of both agencies could be streamlined thus freeing up positions to serve in research, habitat protection and management, and law enforcement.
These are just a few of the many savings and improvements that can be accomplished by combining WRC and MFC / DMF.

How can this merger be accomplished?

* Both agencies, WRC and MFC / DMF, are part of the Executive Branch of government, so the Governor would have to endorse the change. The Governor could recommend to the General Assembly in 2009 that the two agencies be combined. The actual combination would then be done by amending the statutes that apply.

* Due to the complicated interplay of laws and rules as they now exist, the NCGA may well see merit in appointing a Study Commission to develop plans for merger to be reported in bill format to the 2010 Short Session of the NCGA (May 2010.) The Study Commission would represent the two agencies, the Governor, the NCGA, and constituencies in some workable and fair format. The Study should be charged in the legislation to conduct certain reviews to determine the savings and improvements to be realized and the Study should also have a required Public Review and Input aspect to its work.

It is quite feasible that the applicable laws could be changed by October 1, 2010 and that the merger could be accomplished by July 1, 2012. The result would be a less expensive, more efficient, more responsive, more effective program to administer the fish and wildlife and marine resources of NC and to provide equitable access to these resources for livelihoods and recreation to all within the ability of the resources to support such activities.

In light of recent and historical actions by the MFC, and the absolute necessity for the NC Government to "tighten its belt", this merger just makes plain common sense!

Candidate Perdue's Answers to RFA Questionaire on Recreational Fishing

2009-06-24T11:23:00.003-04:00

RFA-NC Fisheries Questionnaire, (Recreational Fishing Alliance, NC Chapter)
The following questions were addressed to NC Gubernatorial Candidates, Mayor Pat McCrory and Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue:

The following are "Candidate Perdue's" answers to the following questions.....

1) Given the known ecological importance of our near shore, inshore and estuarine bottom habitat and the problem of by-catch of non-target species from the use of trawls and gill nets, would you support programs to reduce use of gear that is shown to destroy inshore fishery habitat or that results in unacceptable by-catch of non-target fish or juvenile stages of aquatic life?

Our inshore habitat is our aquatic nursery so I would support programs to reduce use of gear that is shown to destroy inshore fishery habitat or that results in unacceptable by-catch of non-target fish or juvenile stages of aquatic life. We must be good stewards of our juvenile fish, allowing them to grow and reproduce so they will be of use to our commercial and recreational fishermen.

2) Would you help secure funding for a program within the State of North Carolina to develop and maintain the use of large scale oyster, clam and fin fish hatcheries for stock enhancement and aquaculture, which would reduce pressure on wild-fish stocks and augment rebuilding of certain fisheries, while creating jobs for troubled commercial fishermen?

Our commercial fishermen are facing new regulations from the state and federal authorities that do not allow them to conduct business as they historically have. Plus, with the increase in fuel prices and the reduction in the number of fish houses due to development, they are faced with monumental challenges for survival. These fishermen have the knowledge of the fisheries that will greatly reduce the learning curve for them to enter aquatic farming. I believe our state should provide incentives for them to become part of this type of venture, both on a resource and financial level.

3) Would you make appointments to the Marine Fisheries Commission and to the Joint
Legislative Committee on Seafood and Aquaculture based upon the public interest and
qualifications of the candidates to benefit the state as a whole, rather than to represent special interest or as favors to political supporters ?

As I am sure you know, the Governor appoints all nine members of the Marine Fisheries Commission, and also appoints its Chairman. I will expect and demand that those I appoint to serve without any agenda and preconceived notion on how things should be. I will demand that they listen to an issue, share what knowledge they have, and formulate a decision that is best for the resource. I am sure, too, that you know the Governor appoints 4 of the 15 members of the Seafood and Aquaculture Committee. These four will have an interest in the resource and serve in an unbiased, opened minded matter that best serves the resource.

4) Would you support using funds generated through the sale of the Coastal Recreational
Fishing License to promote recreational fishing opportunities including programs for the aggressive development of inshore and near-shore artificial reefs and programs to create and restore marine aquatic habitats?

Yes.

5) As Governor, you would have the ability to open and amend the Fisheries Reform Act, which has not been updated since its passage over ten years ago... Would you open a review of this act?

If there is a clear and present need to open this, or any act, for review, I would do so.

6) As an immediate act of "good faith” would you grant the North Carolina State Fish, the Red Drum, game fish status, which would eliminate sale of Red Drum in North Carolina?

This is an idea that I would consider.

7) North Carolina’s commercial and recreational fishermen are an important part of our states’ history, economy and way of life. Will you support research to develop and implement "sustainable harvest methods” and "fishery habitat creation and restoration” techniques, to include involvement of the people who...

A) Know the water and fish the best;
B) Have the experience and equipment to conduct work in our sounds and rivers;
C) Need new employment in the face of escalating operational costs, depleted fish
Stocks, and tumbling fish markets... COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN?

I believe that A and B are best done through the Division of Marine fisheries. They have the knowledge and support to best care for the future of all fisheries.

I personally have a lot of concern for the plight of the commercial fishermen. High gas prices and low seafood prices have put them in a financial bind. And, historically, when a lot of these fishermen were not fishing, they were working in construction. And we all know what has happened to the housing market. I will support initiatives through our community college system that would help retrain, those wanting to be retrained, into a new vocation.

8) Do you think a voluntary “commercial fishing license buy-out” based upon a commercial
fisherman’s past involvement in commercial fishing activities and the level of income derived from commercial fishing has merit and should be considered, in a fashion similar to the “tobacco farmer buy-out” ?

I never say no to any concept without first fully exploring it. But I do have a problem with a “buy out” that is associated with a public trust resource. The first thing we need to do is to define what a “commercial fishermen” is. Then we can better look at the full impact of this concept.

As of this date, Governor Perdue has totally ignored two attempts by the CFRG to request her position on our NC Fishery issues of concern, and her position on H918. Perhaps "Candidate Perdue" and "Governor Perdue" have different opinions?

NC Marine Fisheries Commission "Inaction" is in Fact an "Action"

2009-06-06T14:58:00.010-04:00

At the May meeting of the NC Marine Fisheries Commission, the true political bias favoring the Commercial Fishing Sector and its interests were on full display as usual. When Commissioner Rob Bizzell made a motion to raise the minimum size for a legal Speckled Trout from 12 inches to 15 inches, there was not even a "second" to the motion! Not even a second to open the idea for debate or a vote!

Then a motion was made to raise that same size limit to 14 inches and there was a second, and it did not pass but was voted on to "discuss" among AC members and for them to get back to the commission with their suggestions. Now here we finally see the true colors of our MFC. The commercial seats know that if recreational anglers are willing to raise the size limit on themselves, and to also decrease the daily limit from 10 to 6 on themselves, then the commercial fishermen will be required to participate in some form to decrease the fishing pressure, and they want nothing to do with that!

Commissioner Mann clarified that a no-harvest provision for recreational fishing in Primary Nursery Areas would still allow a catch and release fishery. Commissioner Styron said if the MFC was going to allow catch and release fishing in the closed Primary Nursery Areas that is favoring one segment of the fishery over the other. Commissioner Beresoff said it would be hard to enforce, and he would prefer to make primary nursery areas sanctuaries. If these conflicts are that bad, close the areas to all fishermen.

Motion by Rob Bizzell to direct the regional advisory committees and the Finfish Advisory Committee to consider:

*No commercial or recreational harvest of spotted seatrout in Primary Nursery Areas from the New River and its tributaries northward;

*Harvest in Primary Nursery Areas by gill nets Monday – Thursday only, by recreational fishermen Friday – Sunday only, and no commercial or recreational harvest from Nov. 1 – March 1 annually;

*100 percent attendance of all gill nets in the Neuse, Newport, White Oak and New rivers and their tributaries;

*Limiting the amount of gill net used by individuals and/or geographic areas;

*Addressing conflicts in specific areas identified by the DMF based on reports; and any combination of the above.

Seconded by Rusty Russ – motion fails, two in favor and five opposed.

As the NC Marine Fisheries Commission continues to languish in its intentional indecisiveness and political posturing, another argument arises that certainly needs serious consideration. Why continue pandering to a system that obviously is not working and is politically designed for paralysis by analysis? Let's do away with the MFC and move the DMF to where it should be, and that is under the direction of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Joint enforcement? Think of the millions of dollars that would be saved, and possibly, just possibly, our fisheries biologists and the management folks at the DMF could manage our fisheries based on true science, and politics would have to become the last consideration in all management decisions! That's the way it ought to be!

CFRG Suggests MFC Revisit Petition Requests as Interim Rules for Spotted Sea Trout

2009-05-20T17:53:00.010-04:00

In January the CFRG presented a "Petition for Rule Making" to the NCMFC encouraging measures to reduce fishing pressures on the Spotted Sea Trout (SST) from both recreational and commercial fishermen. We would propose that the MFC consider the merits of the petition even though some technicality in the document was present, but never identified. Regardless, we encourage the MFC to consider the following common sense ideas as "interim" rules to protect the Spotted Sea Trout.

We believed then and now that the recreational creel limit should be reduced from ten (10) fish per day to six (6), and additional protective measures by increasing the minimum legal size from twelve (12) inches to fifteen (15) inches. We also recommend allowing the harvest of only one fish that would exceed 25 inches in length. These three measures combined will result in at least a forty percent reduction of recreational harvest, but could be much greater with the unknown effect of reduction with the increase in size limit, and the one "slot" fish allotment. We believe a fifty to sixty percent reduction in recreational harvest could easily result.

We also believe that the enforcement of these interim rules along with better patrols both day and night to prevent netting for these fish in "Inland" creeks are also necessary steps in reduction of overfishing. The issue of Strike Netting and night-time gigging of Spotted Sea Trout in Primary and Secondary Nursery areas and winter sanctuary creeks is a justifiable topic for concern and we would also recommend the ending of these harvest methods in these designated areas during Winter months until the MFC can conclude its current Spotted Sea Trout Fishery Management Plan.

ESPN OUTDOORS Supports Game Fish Status For Speckled Trout and Red Drum

2009-05-19T07:52:00.002-04:00

May 12, 2009

To Whom It May Concern:

The editorial staffs of ESPN Outdoors, including ESPNOutdoors.com and ESPN Saltwater Series Magazine have been following with special interest recent developments in the controversy over gill netting and the proposal to award game fish status to Red Drum and Spotted Sea Trout in North Carolina.

Recent articles on the Web site, ESPNOutdoors.com, “Enmeshed in controversy: Untangling the truth about North Carolina’s gill nets” and “Specks in nets,” were news articles intended to present both sides of the controversy. They do not represent the views or opinions of the staff and leadership of ESPN Outdoors and must not be construed as “taking sides” in the debate.

As a multimedia organization that serves America’s outdoor sportsmen, we support initiatives that increase recreational fishing opportunities. In the saltwater arena, we have observed the successes of similar restrictions on commercial harvest of saltwater sportfish in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina and other states where redfish and speckled trout populations have rebounded thanks to responsible resource management.

We believe it is in the best interests of our readers and viewers as well as outdoor sportsmen and their families, to set aside Red Drum and Spotted Sea Trout for recreational anglers by according game fish status to these outstanding sportfish.

Sincerely,
Dave Precht
Senior Director
BASS/ESPN Outdoors

Post Office Box 10,000 • Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

See What All the States From Here to Texas Have Done to Protect the Spotted Sea Trout and the Red Drum!!

2009-04-12T22:53:00.003-04:00

Go to this link and take a look!... www.ncgamefishact.blogspot.com

NC Commercial Landings of Red Drum Comprise 97% of Atlantic Coast States Harvest in 2007 According to ASMFC Study

2009-02-16T01:56:00.018-05:00

The following is copied directly from the ASMFC website, http://www.asmfc.org/, and can be found in its entirety in the report entitled;
2008 REVIEW OF THE
ATLANTIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION
FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR
RED DRUM
(Sciaenops ocellatus)
2007 FISHING YEAR

III. Status of the Fishery
Few commercial landings of red drum have been recorded in states north of Maryland (Table 2).Coastwide commercial landings show no particular temporal trends, ranging from approximately 55,000 to 422,000 pounds annually over the last 48 years (Figure 1). The greatest harvest was taken in 1980, and the lowest in 2004. In 2007, coastwide commercial harvest increased from 171,823 pounds in 2006 to 249,747 pounds, the majority (97.4%) from North Carolina (Table 2). Landings in Virginia (6,372 lbs), Georgia (<500>

NC Saltwater Recreational Anglers Pump 2.5 Billion Into State Economy!

2009-02-03T10:05:00.001-05:00

Below is an email that we recieved from Scott Steinback, Co-Author of the study with NOAA. These are powerful numbers that cannot be ignored!.............

From: Scott Steinback [mailto:ssteinba@mercury.wh.whoi.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 9:26 AM

To: Dean Phillips

Subject: Re: Saltwater rec fishermen financial impacts

Hi Dean,

From your message, it sounded like you had a copy of the angler expenditure/impact report we recently released. All of the numbers you're looking for are contained in that report. If you don't have a copy of the report let me know and I can send you one. Here is an electronic link to the report (http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st5/publication/marine_angler.html). In the report you'll see that we estimate marine anglers fishing in North Carolina in 2006 spent a total of $2.03 billion (the 5th highest total across the 23 coastal states). The $2.03 billion in expenditures generated $2.5 billion in total sales to businesses located in North Carolina, provided $780.8 million in personal income to workers in North Carolina, and supported 23,782 jobs in the state.

CFRG presents urgent documents to the NCDMF Commission

2009-01-27T14:23:00.003-05:00

On January 21st, 2009, the CFRG presented the following documents to the North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries Commission at their meeting in Carolina Beach. Each commissioner was presented with an original draft of both documents. The CFRG felt that the combined issues of the vulnerability of the Speckled Trout in the coastal and inland creeks, along with the increased pressure from strike-netting demanded immediate action by the commission.

Coastal Fisheries Reform Group January 21, 2009

Topics of Concern

Enforcement – The consensus opinion of all fishery managers is that sound regulations can only be effective and lead to targeted conservation results if these regulations are enforced in a certain, fair, and vigorous manner. To accomplish effective law enforcement the following factors have to be employed:

1) Authority – Marine Patrol Officers need additional law enforcement authority, which requires conveyance by NCGA based upon the recommendation and support of Governor Perdue.
a) Joint enforcement authority with National Marine Fisheries Service will help protect fisheries resources in NC waters and will make NC eligible for federal monies to support related enforcement work.
b) Full enforcement authority over any state crime committed in the presence of a Marine Patrol Officer while on duty and involved in enforcing laws under basic subject matter jurisdiction will protect these officers from frivolous law suits and make them more efficient in efforts to protect the resource and the public. Wildlife Enforcement Officers already have this authority and it has proven successful.
2) Interstate Compact – NC needs to become eligible to join interstate compacts to make punishment of non-residents who violate conservation laws apply in all states that are members of the compact. This provision already exists for wildlife violations and needs to be expanded to marine fishery violations.
3) Penalties – NC needs to increase penalties for conviction of crimes against the marine fisheries resource to include stiff fines, loss of license for certain serious offenses that damage the resource (both sport and commercial licenses), and other appropriate disincentives to violations.
4) Number of Officers – The number of Marine Patrol Officers needs to be increased from the current level of 59 positions to at least 70 (which would be 3 per coastal county) to give stronger enforcement presence along the NC coast. Plus, these officers need to be well trained, well equipped, and well supported.
5) Budget – Governor Perdue and the Secretary of DENR need to present a budget for DMF that reflects these improvements in law enforcement. The Perdue administration should strongly support this budget for FY 2010-11 in the next session of the NCGA.

Saltwater Fishing License Revenues – About one half million sport fishermen are buying the new salt water fishing license. The Marine Resources Fund has generated about $8 million in its first two years. The following considerations are important to the efficient and appropriate use of this money:

1) Allocation of Funds – Under current law the funds from sale of the salt water fishing license can only be spent with approval of both the WRC and the MFC based upon the recommendation of the Director of DMF. This is a very inefficient way to allocate important funds for restoration and management of marine resources. The process needs to be streamlined so that MFC makes these allocation decisions subject to some accountability and reporting requirements which include justification of the allocation and some measure of success to public via the Governor and General Assembly.
2) Eligibility of Activities – License funds should only be spent to support the highest level priorities with the greatest potential for improving marine fisheries resources for the public. They should not be spent to support peripheral projects with borderline prospects for improving management and efficient conservation of marine fisheries resources. Generally grants should be restricted to recognized public agencies, institutions, and organizations with successful and proven track records of research and resource management. It should be a rare exception that a grant is approved for an individual or a nonpublic entity. Law enforcement should be an approved use for salt water fishing license funds. Without enforcement, no license system or conservation measure will be successful.

Science Based Rules – The recognized basis for successful protection and management of fisheries resources is that rules to govern taking of fisheries must originate from the best available, sound, scientifically based techniques and processes advanced by fisheries trained managers and scientists. The following factors apply:

1) Seasons/Limits (Recreational & Commercial) – Rules to allow taking fisheries in certain places, at certain times, in prescribed numbers, and with sustainable gear that are within the capacity of the fishery to support harvest and without significant damage to the habitat of the fishery are essential.
2) Habitat – No gear should be allowed in rules for taking fisheries that destroys fishery habitat or results in a by-catch of non-target species that threatens sustainability of any species.
3) Gear Management – Nets and trawls should not be allowed by rules at any time or place that is not proven to be compatible with sustainable fisheries management by competent studies conducted by DMF. Sensitive, essential areas and times of the life cycle must be avoided for commercial and sport fishing when evidence shows that such taking may endanger the sustainability of the fishery. Reefs (both artificial and natural), nursery areas, feeding and resting sanctuaries, and other areas of unique importance to fisheries should be identified as sensitive areas and appropriate protective measures developed and implemented. Every fish species should be considered for size and creel limits based upon their life cycle requirements; and, appropriate creel and size limits should be established when findings indicate restrictions will improve sustainability of the fishery. Generally, trawling should be restricted to areas and during times when this activity will not harm the fishery or its habitat.
4) Game Fish Status – Certain species of fish are so vulnerable to commercial gear or economic exploitation and other incentives for taking and have such a high esthetical and economic value as sport fisheries that they should be declared “game” fish and sale prohibited. A system to evaluate the advisability of declaring a species to be a “game” fish that involves a complete analysis of the pluses and minuses of such action should be developed and applied to candidate species, especially the red drum, our State Fish.

New Legislation – Select legislation is needed in the 2009-10 Session of the NCGA to correct some prevalent problems in the administration of the marine fisheries program. Among changes that need to be addressed are:

1) Fisherman Harassment - A new law, analogous to the current law prohibiting harassment of hunters contained in G.S. 113- 295, to prohibit harassment of any commercial or sport fisherman lawfully engaged in any legal act of taking fisheries resources in any public waters of the State.