FF-71-2013

PROCLAMATION

RE: SHAD-COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2014, the following restrictions will apply to the harvest of hickory and American shad:

I. HARVEST RESTRICTIONS-COMMERCIALAND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES

A. COASTAL AND JOINT WATERS OF ALBEMARLE, CROATAN, ROANOKE, AND CURRITUCK SOUNDS AND TRIBUTARIES

1. It is unlawful to possess American shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M. Tuesday, March 18, 2014 and after midnight, Monday, April 14, 2013.
2. It is unlawful to possess hickory shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2014 and after midnight, Monday, April 14, 2014.
3. It is unlawful to possess more than one (1) American shad taken by hook-and-line or for recreational purposes within the 10 fish aggregate possession limit of American and hickory shad in Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0519 (b).

B. COASTAL AND JOINT WATERS OF BAY AND NEUSE RIVERS

1. It is unlawful to possess American shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M. Saturday, February 15, 2014 and after midnight, Monday, April 14, 2013.
2. It is unlawful to possess hickory shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2014 and after midnight Monday, April 14, 2014.
3. It is unlawful to possess more than one (1) American shad taken by hook-and-line or for recreational purposes within the 10 fish aggregate possession limit of American and hickory shad in Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0519 (b).

C. COASTAL AND JOINT WATERS OF PAMLICO AND PUNGO RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES AND PAMLICO SOUND

1. It is unlawful to possess American shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M., Saturday, February 15, 2014 and after midnight, Monday, April 14, 2013.
2. It is unlawful to possess hickory shad for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2014 and after midnight Monday, April 14, 2013.
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.

D. COASTAL AND JOINT WATERS OF 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, 2014 and after midnight Friday, April 11, 2014.
2. It is unlawful to possess hickory shad harvest for commercial purposes prior to 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2014 and after midnight Monday, April 14, 2014.
3. It is unlawful to possess more than five (5) American shad taken by hook-and-line or for recreational purposes within the 10 fish aggregate possession limit of American and hickory shad in Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0519 (b).

II. 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 Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03H .0103.

C. Proclamation FF-21-2012, dated March 26, 2012 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.

D. The Atlantic Ocean waters of the state remain closed to the harvest of American shad in accordance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s American Shad Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3.

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

December 18, 2013
10:00 A.M.
FF-71-2013