May 28, 2012 – North Carolina’s last menhaden plant closed in 2005 and soon certain purse seine fishing operations will be gone from state waters.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries agreed by a split vote at its May meeting to prohibit the use of purse seines deployed from a “mother ship” for the harvest of menhaden within the state’s three-mile jurisdiction.
According to a Division of Marine Fisheries news release on the meeting, commission members noted concerns about the amount of bycatch associated with the large purse seine operations and conflicts that arise with other fishing sector.
DMF Director Louis Daniel is expected to implement the action by proclamation within the next two weeks.
The conservation measure does not prohibit smaller purse seine operations that do not use multiple vessels.
The Coastal Conservation Association has wanted such action for some time and applauded the commission for its decision, which came by way of a 5-4 vote. Commissioners Anna Beckwith, Rob Bizzell, Chris Elkins, Joe Shute and Darrell Taylor voted for it, and Commissioners Mikey Daniels, Bradley Styron, Allyn Powell and Joe Smith opposed.
Read the full story at the Jacksonville Daily News.