COAST GUARD TO RESCUE STRANDED BOATERS ON DAMAGED SAILING VESSEL

PORTSMOUTH, Va. -- Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command Search and Rescue Controllers are coordinating the Coast Guard response to a mayday call from a 36-foot sailing vessel with five people on board, approximately 250 miles off the coast of Nantucket, Mass.

The mayday call was sent by the sailboat master of the vessel Caledonia II at approximately 4:45 p.m., claiming they hit rough weather and no longer feel safe. The master stated that he wants off the vessel. A Coast Guard A-25 Falcon from Air Station Cape Cod, Mass., is currently on-scene, and is set to be relieved by a C-130 and HH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod en-route to the vessel. The H-60 rescue helicopter is to to arrive on-scene in two-hours, where will attempt to hoist the 5 people on-board. The civilian motor-vessel Maple Express, a registered participant in the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) System was diverted to the scene and is nearby to assist as needed.

The Calendonia has sustained 3 days of gale force winds, structural damage, and the crew does not think they can survive the night.

SHELLFISH POLLUTED AREA

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, upon the recommendation of Leah Devlin, D.D.S., M.P.H., State Health Director, Department of Health and Human Services, hereby announces that the following shellfish area temporary closures will take effect immediately:

No person shall take or attempt to take any oysters, clams or mussels or possess, sell or offer for sale any oysters, clams or mussels taken from the following polluted areas:

CARTERET and ONSLOW COUNTIES

Sleepy Creek – All those waters in Sleepy Creek upstream of a straight line across the mouth.

Whitehurst Creek – All those waters in Whitehurst Creek upstream of a straight line across the mouth.

North River – All those waters in North River upstream of a straight line beginning at a point at the permanent closure line near Channel Marker #56B to the mainland side of the Harkers Island Bridge at The Straights.

Newport River – All those waters in Newport River upstream of the Highway 70 High Rise Bridge and Morehead-Beaufort Causeway, to include all tributaries and Core Creek.

White Oak River – All those waters in White Oak River upstream of the Highway 24 Bridge at Swansboro.

All Those Waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between ICWW Fl. Beacon #49 at Swansboro and ICWW Fl. Beacon 65A, located just west of Salliers Bay, near New River Inlet, to include all of Queens Creek and Bear Creek.

All Those Waters bordered on the northeast by a straight line from Swan Point through ICWW Channel Marker #4 to the eastern tip of West Onslow Beach, (south shore of New River Inlet), and bordered on the southwest by the North Topsail Beach High Rise Bridge.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103 and 3K .0101.

B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the N.C. Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103.

C. These temporary closures are due to heavy rainfall and resultant runoff.

CRAB, EEL, FISH AND SHRIMP POTS
Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Thursday, June 1, 2006 until midnight, November 30, 2006 the following shall apply to crab, eel, fish, and shrimp pots:
POTS MAY BE SET IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS (See attached maps):
I. HYDE COUNTY:

A. Wysocking Bay, Lone Tree Creek as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (1) (A).
B. Wysocking Bay, Mt. Pleasant Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (1) (B).
C. Juniper Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (2).
D. Swanquarter Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (3).
E. Deep Cove as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (4).
F. Rose Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (5).
G. Spencer Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (6).

II. PAMLICO RIVER:

A. Lee Creek as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (7) (A).
B. Huddy Gut as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (7) (B).
C. Indian Island as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (7) (C).
D. Old Field Point, Goose Creek as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (7) (D).

III. PAMLICO COUNTY BAYS:

A. Big Porpoise Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (8).
B. Middle Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (9).
C. Jones Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (10).
D. Bay Point as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (11).

IV. BAY RIVER:

A. Rockhole Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (12) (A).
B. Hogpen Creek as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (12) (B).
C. Fishermen Bay as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (12) (C).

V. NEUSE RIVER:
A. Swan Creek as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (13) (A)
B. Gum Thicket Shoal as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (13) (C).
C. Orchard Creek as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (13) (D).
D. Pine Cliff Recreation Area as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0107 (b) (13) (F).
VI. GENERAL INFORMATION:
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5;113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H.0103 and 3J.0301 (a) (2) (B).
B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule15A NCAC 3H.0103.
C. Due to the variable seasonal distribution of finfish, fisheries targeting finfish, and recreational uses, the intent of this proclamation is to allow pots to be set in provisional pot areas currently not being used extensively.
D. Horizontal hatched areas on attached maps indicate those areas designated for pots by N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3R .0107 (a); Angled hatched areas indicate areas opened to pots by this proclamation as authorized by N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3J .0301 (a) (2) (B). Non-hatched areas on maps are ALWAYS CLOSED to potting.
E. This proclamation supersedes PT-6-2005, dated September 24, 2005.

WEEKLY UPDATE: 05/26/2006)
NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION
"Serving Commercial Fishing Families of North Carolina"

THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION REGARDING THE ASMFC TOOK PLACE ON MAY 22 IN MOREHEAD CITY and was extremely well attended by fishermen and their families from one end of the North Carolina coast to the other. Also present, at the invitation of Pres Pate from the NC Division, was Vince O’Shea, executive director of the ASMFC. The NCMF Commission, the Division, and Mr. O’Shea heard from the dozens who chose to speak that the current situation with respect to the ASMFC management of fisheries under their charge is entirely unacceptable. Person after person challenged the NCMFC to help them to either bring needed reform to the ASMFC or ask the State of North Carolina’s legislature to withdraw from the Compact.

The NCMFC voted to demand changes at the ASMFC (through a letter) and if those changes are ignored or the ASMFC continues its rather unaccountable administrative direction, the NCMFC will come back and recommend to the legislature withdrawal. Mac Currin (wanting the Commission members to be clear on what the vote meant) pointed this out before the vote, specifically he said that the vote meant if ASMFC does not respond or if the response is less than demanded, all Commission members are agreeing to come back and vote for withdrawal; the vote was unanimous.

The Mac Currin appointed the ad hoc committee to write the demand letter made up of; Pres Pate, Louis Daniel, Nancy Fish, Bradley Styron, Dave Beresoff, and David Hilton. Since this letter will be the official position of the State (up till now) many are concerned about Pres Pate and Louis Daniel being on the committee to draft the letter since Pres is the Chairman of the ASMFC, and Louis is the Chairman of the ASMFC Weakfish Board. While they have done excellent work with respect to weakfish and other issues at ASMFC, this may be one time they should consider taking a back seat and allow the Commission to work without an appearance of conflict.

****NCFA ANNUAL MEETING*** the meeting is scheduled for May 31st at 2 p.m. here in New Bern. Members make sure you fill out the forms and select a proxy if you cannot make it. Call Karen if you have any questions.

NCFA MEMBER LEON TETTERTON from Hobucken lost his boat, The Amanda Lynne, in a freak storm on May 10th. Leon is a shrimper and is facing some very tough economic times as a result of this accident. NCFA is asking members and friends to offer any assistance they can to Leon and his family, please, if you want to help send your funds to us here: NCFA PO Box 12303 New Bern NC 28561 Make checks out to Pamlico NCFA Auxiliary and send them to NCFA. (Put Leon Tetterton in the memo)

QUOTAS/SEASONS

2006 NC Black sea bass North of Cape Hatteras Quota: 421,554 pounds
Cumulative harvest for the 2006 fishery: - 318,994 pounds
2006 black sea bass quota remaining: 102,560 pounds

NCMFC River Herring FMP Advisory Committee
Public is encouraged to attend
National Fish Hatchery - 1104 West Queen St.- Edenton, NC
Contact Sara Winslow or Kathy Rawls 800-330-7805 or 252-264-3911

ASMFC Meeting for input on PID for Interstate FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks
Public is encouraged to attend
Crystal Coast Civic Center - 3505 Arendell St. - Morehead City, NC
Contact Louis Daniel 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021