M-25-2014
PROCLAMATION
RE: GILL NETS — ALBEMARLE SOUND AREA
Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Monday, September 1, 2014, the following provisions shall apply to the use of gill nets in the following areas:
I. AREA DESCRIPTION
A. The areas of Albemarle and Currituck Sounds and tributaries described as follows:
1. Albemarle Sound, north and west of a line beginning at a point 35º 57.5590’N - 75º56.8200’ W; running northeasterly to a point 36º 04.8280’N - 75º 47.4050’W.
2. Currituck Sound, north of the Highway 158 Wright Memorial Bridge beginning at a point on the western shore at 36º 04.8280’N - 75º 47.4050’W; running easterly along the south side of the bridge to a point on the east shore at 36º 05.5770’N - 75º 44.5850’W.
B. The area between the lines referenced in I.A.1. and 2. and the southern boundary of the Albemarle Sound Management Area described as a line beginning at a point 35° 48.5015’N – 75°44.1228’W on Roanoke Marshes Point, running southeasterly to a point 35° 44.1710’N – 75° 31.0520’W on the north point of Eagle Nest Bay.
II. GILL NET ATTENDANCE, MESH AND CONFIGURATION RESTRICTIONS
Only gill nets meeting the specified mesh lengths and net configurations may be used in the described areas. A fishing operation, regardless of the number of vessels or persons involved, shall adhere to the gill net restrictions specified for the following areas:
A. Areas of Albemarleand Currituck Sounds described in I.A.1. and 2. above 1. It is unlawful to use gill nets with a mesh length less than 3 inches.
2. It is unlawful to use gill nets with a mesh length greater than 4 inches and less than 5 ½ inches.
3. Gill nets with a mesh length 3 inches through 4 inches must be attended at all times.
4. It is unlawful to use gill nets with a mesh length greater than 6 ½ inches.
5. It is unlawful to use gill nets with a mesh length of 5 ½ inches through 6 ½ inches unless the nets are: a. equipped with tie downs spaced no farther apart than 10 yards, restricting the vertical distance between the top and bottom lines to 48 inchesor less; or
b. equipped with floats that do not exceed 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches in length placed a
minimum of 10 yards apart, not to exceed 11 floats per 100 yards of net; and
c. set so as to fish the bottom not to exceed a vertical height of 48 inches.
6. It is unlawful to fail to actively fish gill net sets with a mesh length of 5 ½ inches through 6 ½ inches at least once during a 24 hour period no later than noon each day.
7. It is unlawful to use gill nets 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 Roanoke, Cashie, Middle and Eastmost Rivers.
B. Area of eastern and southern Albemarle Sound Management Area described in I.B. above 1. It is unlawful to use gill nets with a mesh length less than 3 inches.
2. It is unlawful to use gill nets with a mesh length 4 inches and greater.
3. Gill nets must be attended at all times.
