News Release Archives: June 2019

Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: June 24, 2019
Phone: 252-726-7021

MEDIA ADVISORY:
Blue Crab Advisory Committee meeting scheduled

MOREHEAD CITY — The Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee will meet June 27 at 6 p.m. at the Department of Environmental Quality’s Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington.

The committee is assisting the Division of Marine Fisheries with development of Amendment 3 to the Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan.

Agenda items include reviewing and voting on: an issue paper pertaining to crab spawning sanctuaries; an analysis of sustainable harvest; and the full draft of Amendment 3.

A copy of the full agenda can be found here.

For more information, contact biologists Jason Rock at 252-808-8091 or Jason.Rock@ncdenr.gov , or Corrin Flora at 252-264-3911 or Corrin.Flora@ncdenr.gov .

nr-50-2019

Release: Immediate
Contact: Kim Iverson
Date: June 20, 2019
Phone: 843-571-4366
Email: Kim.Iverson@safmc.net

Council Launches its First Citizen Science Pilot Project

New project gives fishermen opportunity to provide information
about released scamp grouper via mobile app

North Charleston, S.C.  —  Estimating the number of fish harvested by offshore fishermen has consistently been a challenge for federal fishery managers. Gathering information about what fishermen release during a fishing trip is even more so. To help fill these data gaps, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has initiated its first Citizen Science pilot project, SAFMC Scamp Release. The project allows fishermen to use the mobile app, SAFMC Release, to provide information on released scamp grouper. The mobile app was developed by Harbor Light Software with the support of The Pew Charitable Trusts and Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program with the Citizen Science Association serving as a fiscal sponsor.
 
“Fishermen have consistently offered to help collect data, many offering their boats to act as research platforms for sampling and observations,” explained Council Chair Jessica McCawley. “The Council’s Citizen Science Program, developed over the last three years with the guidance of a wide array of stakeholders and partners, now allows for that information to be collected. We are very proud of this new program and hopeful that data collected in this first pilot project can be used in an upcoming stock assessment for scamp.” A stock assessment for scamp grouper is scheduled to begin later this year and completed in 2021.

The SAFMC Release app provides an easy-to-use platform for fishermen to collect data on scamp that are released, including information on length, depth, and location of released scamp, as well as release treatment and the condition of the fish when released. Information on released fish is a research priority identified by the Council and an important data component for stock assessments. Data collected by individual fishermen through the pilot project will be confidential.

“We are now recruiting offshore fishermen that target snapper grouper species to participate in this initial pilot project,” said Julia Byrd, the Council’s Citizen Science Program Coordinator. “Timing is key — and we need fishermen to begin collecting data now,” said Byrd. “The ability to collect this data through the SAFMC Release app offers a unique opportunity and we’re excited about the prospect to supplement data that will be used in future management of scamp.”

The aim of the Council’s Citizen Science Program is to engage fishermen, scientists and managers in co-creating projects that align with the Council’s research needs. This pilot project is designed to show that citizen science is a cost-effective way to supplement existing data collection efforts. Additional information about the SAFMC Scamp Release pilot project is available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/cit-sci/scamp-release/.

Fishermen interested in providing data through the SAFMC Scamp Release pilot project should contact Julia Byrd at Julia.Byrd@safmc.net or by calling 843-571-4366.

safnc 062019

Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: June 20, 2019
Phone: 252-726-7021

MEDIA ADVISORY: Public hearing scheduled on
proposed shellfish lease in Pender County

MOREHEAD CITY — The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on a proposed shellfish lease in Pender County at 6 p.m. July 18 at the Topsail Town Hall, 820 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach.

Thomas Cannon has applied to lease approximately 5.30 acres near Permuda Island Bay in Stump Sound.

A map of the proposed lease, with corresponding lease numbers and GIS coordinates, can be found here.

The public may comment on the proposed lease at the hearing or in writing. Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m.  July 17 and should be submitted to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, Shellfish Leases, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557.

The application file and biologist report for the proposed leases are available for inspection during office hours at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Headquarters Office at 3441 Arendell St. in Morehead City.

For more information, contact Michael Graven, with the division’s Habitat and Enhancement Section, at 252-808-8061 or Michael.Graven@ncdenr.gov .

nr-49-2019

Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: June 17, 2019
Phone: 252-726-7021

Grant money available for transient recreational boating facilities

MOREHEAD CITY — The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting proposals for the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program for federal fiscal year 2020.

BIG is a grant program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that reimburses up to 75 percent of costs for projects that construct, renovate or maintain tie-up facilities and related amenities for recreational transient vessels that are at least 26 feet long. The grant program was authorized by Congress in 1998 and is funded by excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel.

The Division of Marine Fisheries serves as the liaison between projects in North Carolina and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the BIG Program. Proposals must be submitted to the division to be considered for this funding opportunity.

Some examples of potentially eligible activities include transient slips, mooring buoys, day-docks, floating and fixed piers and breakwaters, dinghy docks, restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, retaining walls, bulkheads, dockside utilities (water, electric, telephone, internet), sewage pump-out stations, recycling and trash receptacles, navigational aids and marine fueling stations. Applicants must have or intend to construct dedicated dockage for transient vessels to receive funding for these eligible activities.

BIG funds are awarded each year. Grants are available on a two-tiered basis. For Tier 1 – State grants, all states may receive up to $200,000 per grant cycle as long as proposals meet the program's guidelines. Tier 2 – National grants are reserved for large-scale, more expensive undertakings and are awarded on a nationwide competitive basis. For this funding opportunity, applicants may apply for up to $200,000 under Tier 1 and up to $1.5 million under Tier 2.

For information about grant availability, project eligibility, and proposal development, please visit the division’s BIG web page or contact Vicky Pohoresky , division federal aid coordinator at 252-808-8016. The deadline for applications to be received by the state Division of Marine Fisheries is 5 pm Monday, July 29, 2019. Electronic submission to Vicky.Pohoresky@ncdenr.gov is required.

nr-48-2019