M-26-2019

PROCLAMATION

RE: GILL NETS – ALBEMARLE SOUND AREA – MANAGEMENT UNIT A – RESTRICTING THE USE OF SMALL MESH GILL NETS TO A MINIMUM STRETCHED MESH OF 3 ¼ INCHES

This proclamation supersedes Proclamation M-24-2019 dated November 27, 2019. In Management Unit A, it is unlawful to use small mesh gill nets with a stretched mesh length other than 3 ¼ inches, EXCEPT AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION II. C. AND D. AND SECTION IV. It continues to allow the use of gill nets with a stretched mesh length of 5 ½ inches through 6 ½ inches in certain portions of Management Unit A.

Stephen W. Murphey, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2020, the following provisions shall apply to the use of gill nets in the following areas:

I. MANAGEMENT UNIT A: AREA DESCRIPTIONS 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 to the North Carolina/Virginia state line. This includes Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan and Roanoke sounds and their tributaries.

B. Management Unit A, Sub-Unit A1: The following Joint Waters of the Chowan, Perquimans, Little, Pasquotank, and Alligator, rivers are OPEN to the use of gill nets as described in Sections II., III., and IV.:
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 north shore at 36° 05.9669' N - 76° 18.1791' W; running northeasterly to a point on the east shore 36° 06.7655' N - 76° 16.5953' W.
Little River: Joint Waters northwest of a line beginning at a point on the west shore 36° 07.5322' N - 76° 10.6901' W; running southwesterly to a point on the south shore 36° 06.4199' N - 76° 11.6047' W.
Pasquotank River: Joint Waters northwest of a line beginning at a point on the north shore 36° 11.4282' N - 76° 01.2876' W; running southwesterly to a point on the south shore 36° 08.7563' N - 76° 03.6991' W.
Alligator River: Joint Waters south of a line beginning at a point on the west shore 35° 54.2903' N - 76° 01.6818' W; running along the south side of the US 64 bridge to a point on the east shore 35° 53.6835' N - 75° 58.8578' W.

C. Management Unit A, Sub-Unit A2: The following coastal waters of the Albemarle Sound and Joint waters of the Chowan River are open to the use of gill nets as described in Section II. D.: Coastal waters of the Albemarle Sound west of a line beginning at a point on the north shore 36° 7.513 N - 76° 9.912 W, running due south to a point on the south side 35° 59.605 N - 76° 9.912 W, to a line beginning at a point on the west shore of the Chowan River 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.

D. Black Walnut Point to Mackey’s Creek: It is unlawful to use ANY 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.