Call to Action for CCA Members Regarding Red Drum...

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CCA members, the most sought after fish by our members is the red
drum. The pursuit of this fish constitutes over $50 million in economic
contribution to our coastal communities. By contrast, the value of the
commercial harvest is only $200,000. This makes red drum one of North
Carolina's most valuable recreational species.



The red drum have been over fished for many years. Very restrictive harvest
regulations that were put in place seven years ago have been effective in causing the
stock to be on the road to recovery. Contrary to misleading false reports by
certain individuals, Red Drum are not yet recovered. Indeed the current FMP
does not even take into account the loss of huge numbers of dead juvenile
red drum from the small mesh gill net fishery. The management plans for red
drum are currently being reviewed. There are some dangerous provisions in
the options for new regulations on which all of us should voice our
concerns.

There are two options for commercial regulation one supported by the
Division of Marine Fisheries to keep things status quo at 7 fish per day and
another proposed regulation that would allow commercial fishermen to
increase their daily harvest from the current 7 fish and raise that to 10
fish. Not only will this jeopardize the recovery of the stock but may cause
this fishery to become valuable enough that they become significant targets
of the commercial industry increasing the harvest dramatically. In the early
stages of the current management regulations, less restrictive daily limits
lead to massive overages in the commercial catch. We do not need to repeat
previous management mistakes.

The other proposal of concern is the use of small mesh gill nets in nursery
areas. We are opposed to use of these nets in nursery areas at all. However,
there are again two proposals. The one is a proposal to require attendance
of these nets in nursery areas 24/7/365 but only north of Core Sound. The
other supported by the DMF would require attendance year round statewide.
There is no reason to restrict this regulation to the northern area alone. The
attendance of these nets year round in nursery areas should be statewide.
While this does not totally eliminate the substantial killing of juvenile
fish in the nursery areas, it would greatly reduce the current level of
impact. Gill nets currently waste nearly as many red drum as are harvested
legally.

We need to have your voice heard on these important provisions. We urge you
to attend and speak up at the Regional Advisory Committee meetings in
Raleigh on March 4, in New Bern on March 5, Hatteras March 6 or Wilmington
on March 11. Tell the committees you want no increase in daily commercial
trip limits and want the small mesh gill nets out of nursery areas
statewide. At minimum, the small mesh gill nets should be attended 24/7/365
in all nursery areas statewide. The exact times and locations of the
meetings are below:



Raleigh, March 4 at 6:00 PM at the McKimmon Center

New Bern, March 5 at 6:00 PM at the Craven County Agriculture Center

Hatteras, March 6 at 6:30 PM at Hatteras Civic Center

Wilmington, March 11 at 6:30 PM at Dobo Hall UNCW

Finfish Meeting, Washington, NC at Noon at DENR Bldg.

Please pass these on to all you know and encourage them to attend these
meetings. Don't let the recovery of Red Drum be derailed.

Stephen Ammons
CCA of North Carolina