D. CAPE FEAR RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES

1. It is unlawful to possess American shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M. Thursday, February 20, 2020 and after midnight Saturday, April 11, 2020.
2. It is unlawful to possess hickory shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2020 and after midnight, Tuesday, April 14, 2020.
3. It is unlawful to possess more than ten (10) American shad or hickory shad in the aggregate, per person per day taken by hook-and-line or for recreational purposes and only five (5) of the ten (10) may be an American shad.
4. It is unlawful to possess American shad or hickory shad for recreational purposes by any method except hook-and-line after midnight, Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

E. ALL OTHER INTERNAL COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS

1. It is unlawful to possess American shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M. Saturday, February 15, 2020 and after midnight, Tuesday, April 14, 2020.
2. It is unlawful to possess hickory shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2020 and after midnight, Tuesday, April 14, 2020.
3. It is unlawful to possess more than ten (10) American shad or hickory shad, in the aggregate, per person per day taken by hook-and- line or for recreational purposes.
4. It is unlawful to possess American shad or hickory shad for recreational purposes by any method except hook-and-line after midnight, Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

F. ATLANTIC OCEAN

1. It is unlawful to possess hickory shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2020 and after midnight, Tuesday, April 14, 2020.
2. It is unlawful to possess more than ten (10) hickory shad per person per day taken by hook-and-line or for recreational purposes.
3. It is unlawful to possess American shad or hickory shad for recreational purposes by any method except hook-and-line after midnight, Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

III. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-134; 113-181; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rules 15A NCAC 03H .0103 and 03M .0512.

B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03H .0103.

C. In accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0519(c), it is unlawful to possess American shad taken from the Atlantic Ocean.

D. In accordance with N.C. General Statute 113-221.1(c) All persons who may be affected by
proclamations issued by the Fisheries Director are under a duty to keep themselves informed of current proclamations.

E. The intent of this proclamation is to implement the provisions of the N.C. American Shad Sustainable Fishery Plan as part of Amendment 3 to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Shad and River Herring.

F. Proclamation M-3-2014, dated February 3, 2014 prohibits the setting of gill nets in the Joint Fishing Waters of the state from midnight on Friday to midnight on Sunday each week. Portions of Albemarle and Currituck sounds are exempt from that provision.

G. Contact N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632 for more information or visit the division website at http://ncmarinefisheries.net/

H. All Management Units South of Management Unit A remain closed to the use of gill nets with a stretched mesh length of 4 inches through 6 ½ inches (except for gears described in M-22-2019 section III). The use of all gill nets is prohibited upstream of the ferry lines from the Bayview Ferry to Aurora Ferry on the Pamlico River and the Minnesott Beach Ferry to Cherry Branch Ferry on the Neuse River (refer to M-6-2019 for more information) http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamation-m-06-2019. All other existing gill net rules and proclamation remain in effect.

I. This proclamation sets the 2020 season and harvest restrictions for the taking of American shad and hickory shad for commercial and recreational purposes in Coastal and Joint Fishing waters.

Stephen W. Murphey, Director
DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES, DEQ

December 20, 2018
10:18 A.M.
FF-55-2019