FF-3-2019
PROCLAMATION
RE: STRIPED BASS SEASON – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA
This proclamation supersedes FF-37-2018, dated September 27, 2018. It increases the daily harvest limit for striped bass from commercial fishing operations in the Albemarle Sound Management Area from 10 to 20 fish per day, per Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) holder. This action is being taken in conjunction with the opening of the harvest season for American shad in the Albemarle Sound Management Area. The striped bass commercial harvest season will close by proclamation when the harvest allocation is reached or at 8:00 P.M. on April 30, 2019.
Stephen W. Murphey, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M. Sunday, March 3, 2019, the following provisions shall apply to the harvest of STRIPED BASS IN COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS IN THE ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA:
I. AREA DESCRIPTION
Albemarle Sound Management Area as described in N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03R .0201 (a).
II. SIZE AND HARVEST RESTRICTIONS
A. It is unlawful to possess, buy, sell or offer for sale striped bass less than 18 inches in total length.
B. It is unlawful for an individual or commercial fishing operation regardless of the number of persons or vessels involved, to possess, land, sell or offer for sale striped bass, unless taken in conjunction with other finfish species. Striped bass will be limited to 50% by weight, of the combined daily harvest, not to exceed 20 fish per day, per Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) holder. The daily harvest limit of 20 striped bass shall not be exceeded, regardless of where taken from Internal Waters, unless the fish are taken in accordance with II. C. below.
C. It is unlawful for any operation consisting of more than one SCFL holder to be in possession of more than two daily harvest limits. A SCFL holder must accompany each single harvest limit until the time of sale to a dealer possessing a valid STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Albemarle Sound Management Area.
D. The SCFL holders must accompany and transport each single harvest limit and the other finfish species together until the striped bass are sold to a dealer possessing a valid STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Albemarle Sound Management Area.
III. LANDING RESTRICTIONS
A. Striped bass taken from areas opened by this proclamation may be sold only to and purchased by a dealer possessing a current STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Albemarle Sound Management Area.
B. It is unlawful to purchase more than the daily harvest limit of striped bass from an individual SCFL holder per day.
C. It is unlawful to sell, offer for sale or purchase striped bass taken by hook-and-line.
IV. SEASON CLOSURE
The striped bass season for commercial fishing operations in the Albemarle Sound Management Area will close by proclamation when the harvest allocation is reached or at 8:00 P.M. on Monday, April 30, 2019 Dealers will have until two weeks after the closing of the season to sell, offer for sale, transport, or have in possession unfrozen striped bass taken in this fishery.
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