Gill net news

They issued a proclamation to require attendance of some nets in some areas for some parts of the year. This will help some but not enough to stop scenes like this:


MOREHEAD CITY – Commercial gillnet fishermen in North Carolina should note that regulations will take effect this week impacting times and places they are required to stay within 100 feet of and ready to work their small mesh gill nets.
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Director Louis Daniel issued a proclamation today that implements attendance requirements passed by the Marine Fisheries Commission last week in conjunction with the adoption of an updated Red Drum Fishery Management Plan. The new attendance requirements become effective Thursday.
The new regulations will:
-- Require year-round attendance in the lower Neuse River for nets smaller than 5-inches stretch mesh set within 200 yards of shore from the N.C. 17 bridge to the mouth of the river;
-- Lengthen a small mesh gill net attendance season so that it runs from May 1 through Nov. 30 in all primary and permanent secondary nursery areas and modified no-trawl areas;
-- Implement a May 1 through Nov. 30 attendance requirement for small mesh nets set within 200 yards of the shore in the Pamlico, Pungo, Neuse and Bay rivers and bays;
-- Require May 1 through Nov. 30 attendance of small mesh gill nets set within 50 yards of shore in Pamlico and Core sounds and in waters south to the South Carolina state line, except for Core Sound and waters south during October and November;
-- Modify the small mesh gill net attendance line in the area between Rodanthe and Gull Island to straighten a line and allow for non-attended nets in areas of deeper water;
-- Modify the attendance line in the area of Oliver Reef near Cape Hatteras to allow for non-attended nets in deeper water.