November 9, 2018 — Gov. Roy Cooper is calling for federal help for North Carolina’s commercial and recreational fisheries impacted by Hurricane Florence in September.
In a letter to Secretary Wilbur Ross, Cooper asked the U.S. Department of Commerce to declare a federal fishery resources disaster, because of the damage caused by Hurricane Florence. Declaring a federal fishery resource disaster can assist with long-term relief for families that rely on recreational and commercial fisheries.
November 5, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
WHAT/WHEN:
The commercial harvest of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel northern zone in federal waters will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 4, 2018, and will re-open on March 1, 2019. The northern zone for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel includes federal waters from North Carolina through New York. During the commercial closure, harvest or possession of Spanish mackerel in or from the northern zone federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits while the recreational sector is open, but those fish may not be sold.
WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:
Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial quota for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel northern zone. According to the accountability measure, harvest must close to prevent the quota from being exceeded.
DURING THE CLOSURE:
This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=38b00fbc079181f330b3d8428a1d8fea&mc=true&n=pt50.12.622&r=PART&ty=HTML#sp50.12.622.q.
November 5, 2018 — Over the last couple years, news came out of North Carolina of arrests of fishermen involved in an illegal striped bass poaching ring.
Thirty co-conspirators were part of the illicit activity, but only 12 subjects were charged and sentenced in connection to this case, which saw 52 charges in 13 indictments.
This week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released data on the results of the investigation and court proceedings.
November 5, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, he
The Grants and Meeting Coordinator and Office Assistantisresponsiblefor all aspects of on-site support of various types of meetings, from public hearings to Council Meetings. Additionally, responsibilities include submission of grants and reports via the Federal Grants on-line system, assisting with the Council’s website, and general office support.
Assists the Administrative Officer and Technical Staff with support including, but not limited to:
Selects, stages, loads, and transports recording and AV equipment to various meetings within our geographical area.
Sets up and operates the recording and AV equipment and troubleshoots as necessary. Takes roll of meeting participants for the record and ensures that Council Committee Chairs sign the certification pages of minutes.
Provides liaison between the meeting attendees and the hotel as necessary regarding billing.
Submits grant reports to the regional office via Grants On-line. Coordinates our four states with the submission and proper documentation for payments under their annual contracts and provides documentation to the executive director for certification.
Coordinates the maintenance of all equipment with appropriate vendors, to include the copiers, postage machines, and recording and AV equipment. Responsible for sending the landlord trouble tickets for repairs to the office as necessary.
Updates the Council website under the instruction of the Outreach Specialist.
Assists with running meetings via webinar.
Formats and tracks verbatim Council minutes to ensure that certification is documented.
Orders, tracks, and reconciles invoices and inventories for all purchases for the office.
Is available to travel an average of fourteen weeks per year to meetings in support of Council and SEDAR activities.
Performs other general office duties, such as distributing mail, answering and directing phones calls, copying, and filing.
Prepares and distributes official office correspondence.
Performs other duties as assigned by the Administrative Officer.
Knowledge, Ability, and Skills Required:
This position requires an AA degree or higher. Dependability, resourcefulness, and a work ethic dedicated to providing support to the Council and staff. The individual must have the ability to travel and operate independently. An excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook) is a must. The individual must have the ability to communicate with and successfully work with staff, Council members, and the public concerning support of the Council’s mission. This requires experience in supporting various constituencies in a fast-paced environment. The successful individual must have the ability to learn new things and successfully implement instructions. Additional requirements include a clean DMV report and the ability to lift 40 lbs.
Supervisory Responsibilities
None.
Supervision Received:
Works under the supervision of the Administrative Officer.
Starting Salary Range (ZA II -01): $41,365-55,175 negotiable depending on education and experience.
This is a permanent, non-federal position with benefits. Non-U.S. nationals are welcome to apply.
Closing Date: Open until filled
Send Cover Letter, Resume and 3 References to:
Kelly Klasnick
Administrative Officer
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201
North Charleston, SC 29405
November 5, 2018 — North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has called on the U.S. Department of Commerce for additional resources and funding to help mitigate the damages weathered by the state’s fisheries in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.
Cooper urged the Department of Commerce to declare a federal fishery resources disaster for North Carolina in a letter sent to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Such a declaration would provide aid and long-term relief to families relying on North Carolina’s recreational and commercial fisheries, according to Cooper.
“This was the storm of a lifetime for many coastal communities. The damaging economic impact to the state’s fisheries was, and continues to be, significant. While state appropriations will begin to afford some limited initial relief, much more is needed,” Cooper wrote in the letter.
North Carolina’s coastal communities are reliant on marine fisheries, Cooper said, in terms of both the local economy and employment. In 2017, commercial fishing was responsible for more than USD 96 million (EUR 84 million) in revenue and supported hundreds of jobs, according to findings from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.
These economy-fueling marine fisheries were left “devastated” by “Hurricane Florence’s historic rainfall, brutal winds, and powerful storm surge,” Cooper said. Fishing grounds were compromised, and boats and gear were damaged and destroyed as a result of the storm, he added. Additionally, shellfish harvests have been suspended in affected areas, “[costing] fishermen critical income.”
November 1, 2018 — Asian tiger shrimp are not necessarily a new commodity to the area, with sightings recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in eight North Carolina watersheds.
An invasive species, the shrimp are native to East Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Australia.
They appear different from shrimp native to the area, with their rusty brown color and black-and-white banding across their tail. Sometimes, the stripe appears as a reddish-orange stripe, stated USGS.
And their size is typically larger than the white shrimp harvested by local fishermen — tiger shrimp can reach up to 30 cm, or 11.8 inches, almost a foot long.
But, their appearance is making waves on social media for some fishermen in the area.
Spotted in Eastern North Carolina, including the Cape Fear River, Neuse River, White Oak River, New River and Pamlico Sound, fishermen have been catching the shellfish and serving them up.
John Mallette, a fisherman from Sneads Ferry, wrote in a message to The Daily News that he’s seen more of the striped species while shrimping lately, but they are not plentiful.
“I probably catch six or eight (tiger) shrimp for every 6,000 pounds of regular white shrimp,” Mallette wrote.
But, he said the rare catch makes for a yummy dinner — which can be split like a butterfly and cooked like a lobster.
“They’re delicious,” Mallette wrote. “We eat them all the time… I butterfly (them), pan fry, and toss in teriyaki sauce like a chicken wing.”
Mallette posted a photo of the giant shrimp — which nearly matched the size of his hand — and garnered over 100 shares on Facebook.
Kathy Mathis, formerly of Carteret County, was one of the people who shared the post to a Sneads Ferry group.
October 26, 2018 — Some seafood caught in North Carolina may not be safe to eat in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.
Florence made landfall in Wrightsville Beach on Sept. 14. It was a Category 1 storm at landfall, and the storm moved extremely slowly–dumping dozens of inches of rain on many parts of North Carolina.
Florence dumped 8 trillion gallons of water on North Carolina. That’s enough to fill Falls Lake more than 70 times.
The influx of water turned creeks and streams into whitewater rapids that picked up everything in their paths.
The polluted runoff spilled into the Cape Fear River and Neuse River, then into the Pamlico Sound, and finally into the Atlantic Ocean.
The runoff forced North Carolina’s Department of Marine Fisheries to order a blanket ban on harvesting any shellfish off the coast. Months after the storm, miles of coastline remain off limits.
Wildlife most vulnerable to the pollution are filter feeders like clams, mussels and oysters.
October 25, 2018 — In the wake of Hurricane Florence, North Carolina’s culinary and hospitality community has raised hundreds of thousands of relief dollars through a series of meals and events.
The latest aims to help North Carolina’s fishermen and shellfish growers impacted by the storm.
This Saturday, “Gone Fishing” will feature more than a dozen North Carolina chefs — including several James Beard nominees and winners — from Wilmington to Pittsboro at the new Junction West in Raleigh’s Warehouse District.
The event is organized by chefs Ashley Christensen of Poole’s, Jake Wood of 18 Seaboard and Locals Seafood, with proceeds going to the state’s fishermen and oyster and clam farmers affected by Hurricane Florence. The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center is helping distribute the funds and will accept separate donations for North Carolina watermen.
Many of the participating chefs and restaurants focus on North Carolina seafood, including 18 Seaboard, Postmaster and The Cortez.
October 18, 2018 — Hurricanes can be just as deadly for marine life, sometimes stranding them on land or far out at sea. But sometimes marine life benefits or even thrives after these extreme weather events.
Normally when a hurricane is headed for us, we run the other way. But not Isla. She’s a leatherback turtle who was meandering off the coast of Virginia when she accidentally swam straight into Hurricane Florence. Scientists were worried she’d get caught up in the worst of the storm but Isla managed to survive by swimming toward deeper waters.
Turns out, there’s a part of hurricanes we don’t often think about: What happens under the surface. And Isla is just one example.
Far out at sea, fish that live near the surface might feel some turbulence as a storm passes. But most sea creatures — including dolphins, whales, and sharks — avoid the rough surface water and swim to calmer seas. But it’s a different story near shore.
Changes in water temperature and salinity can be catastrophic for marine life. Hurricanes can generate massive waves. Which mix warm surface water with colder, saltier water below generating currents that extend up to 91 meters below the surface. These currents are so strong that they can sweep manatees inland to canals and ponds or away from the coastal waters they prefer, and out into the open ocean. Where they can become disorientated, and even die.
Hurricanes also bring heavy rain, so freshwater often floods coastal regions. And because freshwater is less dense than salt water, it sits on top of the sea water like oil on vinegar. Where it can prevent oxygen from reaching the salty layer below. And disrupt the salinity levels, which can lead to sores, lesions, and ultimately death in whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Hurricanes also kick up dirt and sand in shallow seas. Which can kill fish by clogging their gills. Experts think this is probably one of the factors that killed an estimated 9.4 million saltwater fish in 1992, during Hurricane Andrew. The dirty, murky water also blocks sunlight from reaching corals and seagrass. In fact, scientists found that coral cover in the Caribbean decreases by 17% in just one year after a hurricane strikes. And that’s in addition to the stress coral already face from human interference.
But it’s not always so bad for sea life. After Hurricane Katrina damaged or destroyed almost 90% of fishing boats in the Mississippi Sound scientists observed a huge increase in dolphin births. Without the fishing boats, dolphins suddenly found themselves with more available prey which helped their populations thrive.
October 10, 2018 — While cleanup crews are getting a good idea of how much the damage Hurricane Florence will cost, it’s not yet clear what the storm might have done to North Carolina’s fishing industry.
Farmers on land lost more than $1 billion worth of crops in the floodwaters from the hurricane. Jerry Schill of the North Carolina Fisheries Association says, in a way, commercial fishermen lost crops of their own.
“The fish stocks that they normally fish for in the fall, those fish stocks are displaced,” he said.
When a hurricane comes through, fish move to calmer waters – and it takes a while for them to come back – or they get caught in the storm surge and end up on dry land. One of the many images that went viral after Hurricane Florence was a photo of dead fish on Interstate 40 near Wilmington.
“A crop in the field, if it gets touched by floodwaters, it’s not usable. Well, our crop better be touched by water, or it’s not usable,” Schill said.
The exception to that rule is shellfish. Schill says commercial fishermen lost millions of oysters and clams because of too much exposure to fresh water from the floods.
Schill was speaking to a committee in the Legislature this week, one of many considering Hurricane Florence relief measures. The full House and Senate reconvene next week, and lawmakers are trying to sort through the damage estimates before then.
Those numbers help these committees come up with how much money they should ask for when the Legislature votes on a recovery package. But the commercial fishing industry doesn’t have the full picture yet.