Figure 1. Black sea bass seasonal pot closure area, November 1 through 30 and April 1 through 30 each year.
Figure 2. Black sea bass seasonal pot closure area, December 1 through March 31 each year.

XVII. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rules 15A NCAC 03H .0103, 03M .0506 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. The intent of this proclamation is to maintain North Carolina’s compliance with the requirements of amendments to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. Effective October 1, 2008, the provisions found in this proclamation were eliminated from N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0506 to allow the Fisheries Director the latitude to comply with changes that occur in the requirements without suspending portions of the rule.

D. After a commercial snapper–grouper quota has been met, all purchase and sale is prohibited and take and/or possession is limited to the recreational bag limit when the recreational season is open (50 CFR Part §622.190(c)(1)). Please see the most recent FF Snapper Grouper recreational proclamation for recreational size and bag limits.

E. Fish harvested under the recreational bag limits may not be sold as part of a state-licensed recreational fishing tournament (50 CFR Part §622.192).

F. Federal rules for commercial Golden Tilefish Longline Endorsements became effective May 23, 2013 and can be found in 50 CFR Part § 622.170(f). Possession limits for vessels holding Golden Tilefish Longline Endorsements are updated effective June 22, 2016 and can be found at 50 CFR § 622.191(a)(2)(ii).

G. Federal rules for commercial Black Sea Bass Pot Endorsements and pot restrictions, both of which were effective July 1, 2012, can be found in 50 CFR Part §622.170(e) and 50 CFR Part §622.189(e) and (f), respectively. Area and seasonal restrictions for the use of black sea bass pots were modified effective December 29, 2016 and can be found at 50 CFR §622.183(b)(6). Transit provisions through seasonally closed areas can be found at 50 CFR §622.183(b)(6)(iii). The additional buoy line marking requirements (purple marks) can be found at 50 CFR §622.189(g) and became effective March 21, 2017. These line marking requirements are in addition to those required by the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) regulations found at 50 CFR 229.32(b) and described in the NC Black Sea Bass Pot Fisherman’s Guide to the ALWTRT: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected/whaletrp/docs/nc_bsb_fisherman_guide_to_alwtrp_2017.pdf. A comprehensive guide to ALWTRP requirements for all trap/pot fisheries in the region is the Southeast Trap/Pot Fisheries Guide, found at: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected/whaletrp/docs/Outreach%20Guides%20Updated%20May%202015/southeast_trap_pot_2018_2.pdf

H. New federal permit and reporting requirements for dealers purchasing snapper grouper species became effective August 7, 2014. Please see 50 CFR Part §622.5(c) and http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishery_bulletins/documents/pdfs/2014/fb14-024_dealer_reporting_fr.pdf.

I. Federal permit requirements do not apply to individuals purchasing fish from a licensed dealer. In accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03I .0114 (e). It is unlawful to offer for sale fish purchased from a federally permitted and licensed fish dealer without having ready at hand for inspection by Marine Patrol inspectors or other agent of the Fisheries Director written documentation of purchase showing thereon the name of the licensed dealer, name of the purchaser, date of the purchase, and the quantity of each species purchased.

J. 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.

K. Contact the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557, phone 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632 for more information, or visit the division website at http://ncmarinefisheries.net. For a quick guide to snapper grouper regulations, please see http://safmc.net/regulations/regulation-fact-sheetsother-resources/.

L. This proclamation supersedes proclamation FF-49-2018, dated December 3, 2018. It establishes the 2019 commercial seasons and applicable commercial size limits and trip limits for snapper grouper species beginning January 1, 2019.

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

December 27, 2018
3:55 P.M.
FF-59-2018