15A N.C. Admin. Code 3L.0103

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 9, November 1, 2024

Section 03L .0103 - PROHIBITED NETS, MESH LENGTHS AND AREAS

(a) It is unlawful to take shrimp with nets with mesh lengths less than the following:

(1) Trawl net - one and one-half inches;

(2) Fixed nets, channel nets, float nets, butterfly nets, and hand seines - one and one-fourth inches; and

(3) Cast net - no restriction.

(b) It is unlawful to take shrimp with a net constructed in such a manner as to contain an inner or outer liner of any mesh length. Net material used as chafing gear shall be no less than four inches mesh length, except that chafing gear with smaller mesh may be used only on the bottom one-half of the tailbag. Such chafing gear shall not be tied in a manner that forms an additional tailbag.

(c) It is unlawful to take shrimp with trawls that have a combined headrope of greater than 90 feet in Internal Coastal Waters in the following areas:

(1) North of the 35° 46.3000' N latitude line;

(2) Core Sound south of a line beginning at a point 34° 59.7942' N - 76° 14.6514' W on Camp Point; running easterly to a point 34° 58.7853' N - 76° 09.8922' W on Core Banks; to the South Carolina State Line;

(3) Pamlico River upstream of a line from a point 35° 18.5882' N - 76° 28.9625' W at Pamlico Point; running northerly to a point 35° 22.3741' N - 76° 28.6905' W at Willow Point; and

(4) Neuse River southwest of a line from a point 34° 58.2000' N - 76° 40.5167' W at Winthrop Point on the eastern shore of the entrance to Adams Creek; running northerly to a point 35° 01.0744' N - 76° 42.1550' W at Windmill Point at the entrance of Greens Creek at Oriental.

(d) Effective January 1, 2017 it is unlawful to take shrimp with trawls that have a combined headrope of greater than 220 feet in Internal Coastal Waters in the following areas:

(1) Pamlico Sound south of the 35° 46.3000' N latitude line and north of a line beginning at a point 34° 59.7942' N - 76° 14.6514' W on Camp Point; running easterly to a point 34° 58.7853' N - 76° 09.8922' W on Core Banks;

(2) Pamlico River downstream of a line from a point 35° 18.5882' N - 76° 28.9625' W at Pamlico Point; running northerly to a point 35° 22.3741' N - 76° 28.6905' W at Willow Point; and

(3) Neuse River northeast of a line from a point 34° 58.2000' N - 76° 40.5167' W at Winthrop Point on the eastern shore of the entrance to Adams Creek; running northerly to a point 35° 01.0744' N - 76° 42.1550' W at Windmill Point at the entrance of Greens Creek at Oriental.

(e) It is unlawful to use a shrimp trawl in the areas described in 15A NCAC 03R .0114.

(f) It is unlawful to use channel nets except as provided in 15A NCAC 03J .0106.

(g) It is unlawful to use shrimp pots except as provided in 15A NCAC 03J .0301.

(h) It is unlawful to use a shrimp trawl that does not conform with the federal rule requirements for Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) as specified in 50 CFR Part 222.102 Definitions, 50 CFR Part 223.205 (a) and Part 223.206 (d) Gear Requirements for Trawlers, and 50 CFR Part 223.207 Approved TEDs. These federal rules are incorporated by reference including subsequent amendments and editions. Copies of these rules are available via the Code of Federal Regulations posted on the Internet at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html and at the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557 at no cost.

15A N.C. Admin. Code 03L .0103

Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-182; 143B-289.52;
Eff. January 1, 1991;
Amended Eff. May 1, 2015; April 1, 2009; July 1, 2006.

Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-182; 143B-289.52;
Eff. 1/1/1991;
Amended Eff. 5/1/2015; 4/1/2009; 7/1/2006.

Readopted by North Carolina Register Volume 37, Issue 01, July 1, 2022 Eff. Pending legislative review pursuant to S.L. 2019198.