M-7-2019

PROCLAMATION

RE: GILL NETS – ALBEMARLE SOUND AREA – MANAGEMENT UNIT A

This proclamation supersedes proclamation M-4-2019 dated February 27, 2019. In Management Unit A it removes the use of stationary gill nets configured for harvesting American shad by implementing vertical height restrictions for all stationary gill nets. This proclamation also closes portions of Management Unit A to large mesh stationary gill nets, allows the use of run-around, strike, and drop nets with a stretched mesh length of 5½ inches through 6½ inches in a portion of Management Unit A, and maintains additional gill net restrictions for Management Unit A, Subunit A1, South of US-64-BYP/US-64, in accordance with the Sea Turtle and Atlantic Sturgeon ITPs.

Stephen W. Murphey, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Monday, March 25, 2019, the following provisions shall apply to the use of gill nets in the following areas:

I. MANAGEMENT UNIT A: DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFIC AREA RESTRICTIONS:
(See Map)

A. Management Unit A: encompasses all Internal Coastal Waters bound on the south by 35° 46.3000’ N latitude, north to the North Carolina/Virginia state line. This includes Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan and Roanoke sounds and their tributaries.

B. Management Unit A, Subunit A1-South of US-64-BYP/US-64: area described as south of a line beginning at a point 35° 53.1720’ N – 75° 45.6160’ W on the mainland shore near Manns Harbor; running easterly along the south side of the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge, continuing easterly along the south side of the Washington Baum Bridge to a point ending at 35° 54.3820’ N – 75° 35.9240’ W on the Outer Banks shore.

C. Black Walnut Point to Mackey’s Creek: It is unlawful to use ANY gill nets (including those described in Section V.) in the area southwest of a line from Black Walnut Point 35° 59.3833’ N - 76° 41.0060’ W; running southeasterly to a point 35°56.3333’ N - 76° 36.0333’ W at the mouth of Mackey’s Creek, including all joint waters of the Roanoke River Management Area as defined in N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03R. 0201.

D. The following Joint Waters of the Chowan, Perquimans, Little, Pasquotank, and Alligator rivers and portions of Coastal and Joint Waters of eastern Albemarle Sound and Currituck Sound are OPEN to the use of gill nets as described in Sections II.A., III., and V.

Chowan River: Joint Waters northwest of line beginning at a point on the west shore at Willow Branch 36° 04.7206' N - 76° 43.7667' W; running northeasterly to a point on the east shore at the mouth of Rocky Hock Creek 36° 06.6406' N - 76° 41.4512' W.
Perquimans River: Joint Waters northwest of a line beginning at a point on the west shore at Blount Point 36° 07.2950' N - 76° 20.7870' W; running northeasterly to a point on the east shore at Boat Ramp Road 36° 08.0160' N - 76° 19.1970' W.
Little River: Joint Waters northwest of a line beginning at a point on the west shore 36° 07.8420' N - 76° 13.7540' W; running northeasterly to a point on the east shore at Hobbs Landing Road 36° 08.2246' N - 76° 12.2828' W.
Pasquotank River: Joint Waters northwest of a line beginning at a point on the west shore at Pool Point 36° 13.3040' N - 76° 07.2430' W; running northeasterly to a point on the east shore at Miller Point 36° 14.3165' N - 76° 04.7984' W.
Alligator River: Joint Waters south of line beginning at a point on the west shore at the mouth of Goose Creek 35° 50.2658' N - 76° 03.9115' W running easterly to a point on the east shore at the mouth of Milltail Creek 35° 50.5192' N - 75° 58.6134' W.
Eastern Albemarle Sound, North River and Currituck Sound: Coastal and Joint Waters east of a line beginning at a point on the west shore of North River 36° 09.8986’ N – 75° 54.6771’ W; running southwesterly to a point on Durant’s Island at Sound Point 35° 57.5590’ N - 75º 56.8200’ W, bound to the south at a line beginning at a point 35° 53.1720’ N – 75° 45.6160’ W on the mainland shore near Manns Harbor; running easterly along the south side of the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge, continuing easterly along the south side of the Washington Baum Bridge to a point ending at 35° 54.3820’ N – 75° 35.9240’ W on the Outer Banks shore, and bound to the north in the Currituck Sound at the North Carolina/Virginia state line.