FF-21-2017

PROCLAMATION

RE: SPANISH AND KING MACKEREL – COMMERCIAL INCIDENTAL RETENTION LIMITS OF KING MACKEREL IN THE DIRECTED SHARK GILL NET FISHERY SOUTH OF CAPE LOOKOUT

This proclamation supersedes FF-47-2014 dated August 5, 2014. It reflects changes to the King Mackerel fishery in accordance with Amendment 26 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagics in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Regions. It allows vessels with both a valid Federal Commercial Directed Shark Permit and a valid Federal Commercial King Mackerel Permit, when engaged in directed shark fishing with gill nets south of Cape Lookout (34° 37.3000’ N. lat), to possess and sell up to three (3) incidentally caught King Mackerel per crew member. Please see the following NOAA Fishery Bulletin for more information: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishery_bulletins/2017/021/index.html

Braxton C. Davis, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Thursday, May 18, 2017, the following restrictions will apply to the King and Spanish Mackerel fisheries:

I. SPANISH MACKEREL

A. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale Spanish Mackerel harvested in or from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in a commercial fishing operation without a valid Federal Commercial Spanish Mackerel Permit.

B. It is unlawful for charter vessels or headboats with both a valid Federal Atlantic Charter/Headboat Coastal Migratory Pelagics Permit and a valid Federal Commercial Spanish Mackerel Permit to sell or offer for sale Spanish Mackerel harvested in or from the EEZ when fishing with more than three persons (including captain and mate) onboard.

C. It is unlawful to purchase Spanish Mackerel harvested from the Atlantic Ocean without a valid Federal Gulf and South Atlantic Dealer Permit.

D. It is unlawful to purchase Spanish Mackerel harvested in or from the EEZ from a vessel that does not have a valid Federal Commercial Spanish Mackerel Permit.

II. KING MACKEREL

A. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale King Mackerel harvested by hook-and-line in a commercial fishing operation without a valid Federal Commercial King Mackerel Permit.

B. It is unlawful for charter vessels or headboats with both a valid Federal Atlantic Charter/Headboat Coastal Migratory Pelagics Permit and a valid Federal Commercial King Mackerel Permit to sell or offer for sale King Mackerel harvested when fishing with more than three persons (including captain and mate) onboard.

C. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale King Mackerel harvested or possessed under the recreational bag limits unless the vessel owner has been issued a valid Federal Commercial King Mackerel Permit.

D. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale King Mackerel taken with gill nets in the Atlantic Ocean south of Cape Lookout (34° 37.3000’ N. lat), except in accordance with II. F. listed below.

E. It is unlawful to purchase King Mackerel harvested from the Atlantic Ocean by hook-and-line from a vessel that does not have a valid Federal Commercial King Mackerel Permit.

F. It is unlawful for vessels with both a valid Federal Commercial Directed Shark Permit and a valid Federal King Mackerel Permit, when engaged in directed shark fishing with gill nets south of Cape Lookout (34° 37.3000’ N. lat), to possess and sell more than three (3) King Mackerel per crew member.

III. RECREATIONAL TOURNAMENT SALES

A. King and Spanish Mackerel harvested as part of a permitted recreational fishing tournament may be sold in accordance with N.C.G.S. 113-168.4(c) and N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission rule 15A NCAC 03O .0102.