News Release Archives — October 2016

Release: Immediate
Contact: Erin Bryan-Millush / J.D. Potts
Date:  Oct. 19, 2016
Phone: 252-726-6827 exts. 8153 / 8154

MOREHEAD CITY — As floodwaters from Hurricane Matthew flow to the coast, state officials are recommending that the public avoid contact with waters of the Neuse, Pamlico and Cape Fear rivers and their tributaries.

Floodwaters often contain pollutants, such as waste from septic systems, sewer line breaks, pet and wildlife feces, petroleum products, and other chemicals.

Those who come into contact with these waters have an increased risk of contamination and adverse health effects, such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps and skin infections.

The public should avoid swimming or other activities that would involve coming into contact with these waters.  Hand washing is recommended when contact with floodwaters cannot be avoided.

The Recreational Water Quality Program in the Division of Marine Fisheries samples 204 sites at ocean and sound beaches weekly from April to October in accordance with federal and state laws. For more information about coastal recreational water quality, visit the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program’s website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/recreational-water-quality or on Twitter.com @ncrecprgm.

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Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date:  Oct. 19, 2016
Phone: 252-726-7021

MOREHEAD CITY — The state marine fisheries division is accepting public comment on a bottom lease for shellfish aquaculture in Carteret County.

Stevenson L. Weeks Jr. has filed an application to lease approximately 3.2 acres in Newport River near Penn Point. A map of the proposed lease site can be found here.

Oral comments may be made at a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City.

Comments may also be sent in writing to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557 until 5 p.m. Oct. 25.

The application file and biologist report for this proposed lease are available for inspection weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters Office, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City.

For more information, contact Valerie Wunderly, shellfish mapping and lease coordinator, at 252-808-8061 or Valerie.Wunderly@ncdenr.gov.

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Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Oct. 16, 2016
Phone: 252- 342-0642

MOREHEAD CITY — The North Carolina Marine Patrol is helping residents and emergency workers get to Ocracoke safely this weekend.

Officers are assisting Hyde County with checking reentry criteria at the Hatteras ferry dock.

While Hatteras Village has reopened for tourists, Ocracoke has not. Only emergency and utility workers, residents and property owners, and essential service workers (such as food and gas deliveries) are allowed to go to Ocracoke this weekend because of storm damage from Hurricane Matthew.

Marine Patrol officers have been checking travelers' IDs when they reach the ferry terminal, before they line up in the lanes to board the ferry.

“If they aren’t allowed to go to Ocracoke, they aren’t allowed to get on the ferry,” said Marine Patrol Col. Dean Nelson. “A few people have mistakenly thought it was open to visitors, but for the most part they’ve been very understanding.”

Marine Patrol began staffing the ferry checkpoint Friday and will continue through today.

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Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Oct. 13, 2016
Phone: 252-342-0642

MOREHEAD CITY — North Carolina will remain open for flounder fishing this fall.

The state will not close flounder season on Oct. 16 for the recreational hook-and-line and gig fisheries, as was planned. The recreational flounder season will remain open with the current 15-inch minimum size limit and six-fish bag limit.

Flounder season will remain open for the anchored, large-mesh gill net fisheries, as well. However, there will still be a Dec. 1-31 commercial flounder season closure, as in previous years.

The changes are due to a recent court order whereby a judge issued a temporary injunction against these and other regulations adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission. The commission adopted the changes in November 2015 as part of a supplement to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan.

The temporary injunction will remain in effect until a full hearing on a lawsuit filed by the North Carolina Fisheries Association against the state and the commission. No court date has been set for this hearing.

The judge also struck down a pound net quota and closure established under the flounder plan supplement.

Other provisions of the flounder plan supplement remain in place, including:

• A 15-inch minimum size limit for the commercial fisheries.
• A 6-inch minimum mesh size for anchored large-mesh gill nets.
• A 5 ¾-inch escape panel for flounder pound nets.

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