Marine Fisheries Commission Sets Gear Limits for Recreational Commercial Gear License
MOREHEAD CITY -- The Marine Fisheries Commission established temporary rules on the types and amounts of gear that will be allowed under the Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL).
The Commission passes these rules regarding the RCGL license at a recent business session in Raleigh on Jan. 20-22. The 1997 Fisheries Reform Act created this new license which goes into effect July 1, 1999 at a cost of $35 for state residents and allows recreational fishermen to use limited amounts of commercial gear to harvest fish or seafood for their personal consumption - seafood harvested under this license cannot be sold. Fishermen using the RCGL will be held to recreational size and possession limits, if on a vessel, the number of possession limits allowed is equal to the number of RCGL holders aboard that vessel.
Authorized RCGL Gears
Spears, which include Hawaiian slings or similar devices, when used in state waters.
Gigs
Gill Nets:
With or without a vessel - No more than 100 yards of gill nets with a stretched mesh length 2 ½ inches or larger; fishermen must stay within 100 yards of their gill nets at all times;
OR
With or without a vessel - No more that 100 yards of gill nets with a stretched mesh length 5 ½ inches or larger; fishermen must stay within 100 yards of their gill nets from one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset (no night time attendance required.)
One shrimp trawl with a headrope up to 26 feet in length per vessel. Mechanical methods for retrieving the trawl cannot be used.
Five crab, eel, fish, or shrimp pots in any combination, but only two of the five may be eel pots. A single crab pot attached to a shore or pier per person may be used without a license.
One multiple hook or multiple bait trotline up to 100 feet in length.
One seine 30 feet or over in length with a mesh length less than 2½ inches. Mechanical methods for retrieving the seine cannot be used. Seines less than 30 feet do not require a license.
These rules apply regardless of the number of RCGL holders on a vessel.
All RCGL gear must be marked with hot pink-colored buoys, in order to distinguish RCGL gear from commercial gear. This buoy color will not be allowed on commercial gear used in commercial fishing operations. Other restrictions and identification requirements may also apply.
Other Commission actions taken at the Jan. 20-22 business session included the decision to have the MFC regional advisory committees review a proposal to allow the harvest of 400,000 pounds of herring for the 1999 season in the Albemarle/Roanoke System, which includes the Chowan River fisheries. This would include 250,000 pounds for the Chowan River pound net fishery, 100,000 pounds for the Albemarle/ Roanoke System gill net fishery and 50,000 pounds to be used at the Division of Marine Fisheries director’s discretion. A final vote by the Commission on this proposal will most likely occur in late February.
The Commission discussed a petition that was recently received to ban trawling in North Carolina’s internal or inside waters. Trawling will be discussed a the Commission’s March 22-23 meeting in New Bern, where a report will be given by the Division of Marine Fisheries staff on the effects and impacts of trawling in North Carolina’s inside waters. Concerns raised in the trawling petition will be discussed at that time - the petition asks the Commission to consider various trawling issues within the context of fishery management plan development.
For more information, please contact Jess Hawkins, Division of Marine Fisheries - Morehead City, 252-726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632 (NC only).
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Date Posted: 1/26/99
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