The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public meeting to discuss the Atlantic Ocean monkfish large mesh gill net fishery at 6 p.m. March 3 at the division’s Manteo Office, 1021 Driftwood Drive, Manteo.
The purpose of the meeting is for division staff to explain to fishermen the permit requirements and other conditions for participation in the fishery.
The permit will allow for monitoring of the fishery, thereby reducing the threat of gill net interactions with marine mammals, Atlantic sturgeon or sea turtles while the traditional monkfish fishery continues in North Carolina.
The fishery is scheduled to open March 16 and will close no later than April 14. The fishery is limited to a specified area between the Virginia state line and Wimble Shoals, off the coast at Rodanthe. The season may close by proclamation prior to April 14 if sea surface temperatures exceed 52 degrees, when sea turtles become more active, or if there are interactions with marine mammals, Atlantic sturgeon, or sea turtles.
For more information, contact Beth Egbert, division biologist, at 252-473-5734 or Beth.Egbert@ncdenr.gov.