Tradewinds, October/November 2017 by NCCOAST

Tradewinds

COMPLIMENTARY

October/November 2017

“A Publication of North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc.”

WWW. NCFISH.ORG

What is the Health of North Carolina Fish Stocks?

Preserving

Ocracoke’s

Core Sound Decoy Festival turns 30!

Maritime Heritage

mariner’s menu

Board of Directors The North Carolina Fisheries Association Board of Directors is comprised of members representing all of the State’s coastal regions as well as the many facets of the industry gear type, targeted species, and commodity groups. The association elects its board members and officers annually.

Tradewinds A publication of the North Carolina Fisheries Association Tradewinds have been used by captains of sailing ships to cross the world’s oceans for centuries. The captain of a sailing ship would seek a course along which the winds could be expected to blow in the direction of travel. Tradewinds were important in the development of trade and provided a means of transportation and communications to isolated coast communities We are still isolated in a sense even with our modern ships, aircraft, telecommunications and the internet. We need a connection from island.to island, person to person…and to the rest of the world. We hope that this Tradewinds will become as important to you.as the Tradewinds were to our ancestors, not only to in-landers wanting to know more about the coast, but coastal people learning about other coastal people.

NCFA Staff: Glenn Skinner Executive Director Jerry Schill Director of Government Relations Aundrea O’Neal Administration & Accounting/Tradewinds Editor David Bush Fisheries Biologist Part-Time Receptionist & Memberships Nikki Raynor 101 N. 5th Street | PO Box 86 Morehead City, NC 28557 Office: 252-726-(NCFA)6232 | Fax:252-726-6200 www.ncfish.org

Brent Fulcher-252-514-7003 Chairman Glenn Skinner-252-646-7742 Executive Director Dewey Hemilright-252-473-0135 Treasurer Area 1Mike Blanton-252-619-2694 Area 2Dewey Hemilright-252-473-0135 Area 3Mark Vrablic-252-305-2718 Area 4Henry Daniels-252-943-1602 Area 5Wesley Potter-252-229-1881 Area 6Brent Fulcher- 252-514-7003 Area 7- Doug Todd-910-279-2959 At LargeSonny Davis-252-725-0784 At Large- Chrissy Fulcher Cahoon-252-670-7223 At LargeRoss Butler-757-435-5317 At LargeMike “Jimbo” Ireland-252-671-3621 Charter BoatRalphie Craddock-252-473-0953 Albemarle Fisherman’s Association Terry Pratt-252-339-7431 Carteret County Fisherman’s Association Bradley Styron-252-342-8821 Ocracoke Working Waterman’s Association Hardy Plyer-252-928-5601 Pamlico County Fisherman’s Association Wayne Dunbar-252-670-7467 Brunswick County Fishermen’s Association Randy Robinson-910-209-3463 NC Catch-Karen Amspacher The Tradewinds is a free publication published bi-monthly by the NC Fisheries Association. All parties advertised herein and the claims represented are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Though every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all advertising and copy contained herein, the publisher may not be held responsible for typographical errors. The NC Fisheries Association reserves the right to refuse any advertising or editorial deemed inappropriate. The agency, its employees, agents or representatives may not be held responsible for any actions or consequences derived as a result of following advice or instructions contained herein. ©2017

contents

October/November 2017

12 From the Chairman.................. 4 From Glenn Skinner................. 5 A Word From Jerry................... 6

Council & Commission Meetings.....30-31

Legislative Update................... 8

Arapahoe School.................................. 32

From David Bush................... 10

Affiliate News........................................ 35

Preserving Ocracoke........ 12-13

Bluewater Fisherman Assoc................. 36

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum Anniversary Weekend.......... 14 Mariner’s Menu................. 16-17 FEATURE STORY

Health of North Carolina Fish Stocks....................... 20-22 Captain’s Spotlight................. 24

12 28

East Carolina University and the Graying of the Fleet............................ 36

On the Cover:

From back to front, “Little Aron” Styron, John Day, Lucas Styron, and “Big Aron” Styron... Photo provided by Barbara Blake

Ocracoke Pound Nets............ 26 Talk on the Docks................... 28

WWW.NCFISH.ORG advertisers: Ace Marine.............................................. 29 Atlantic Seafood...................................... 17 B&J Seafood........................................... 33 Barbour’s Marine Supply Co................... 15 Beaufort Inlet Seafood............................ 33 Blue Ocean Market................................. 10 Calypso Cottage....................................... 7 Capt. Jim’s Seafood................................ 23 Capt. Stacy Fishing Center..................... 11 Capt. Willis Seafood Market................... 23 Carteret Catch........................................... 6 Carteret County Fisherman’s Association.......................................... 35 Chadwick Tire ........................................ 29 Dr. Westbrook......................................... 22

Fulcher’s Seafood..................................... 9 Gordon’s Net Works.................................. 7 Grudens ................................................. 39 Hardison Tire .......................................... 31 Henry Daniels F/V Joyce D..................... 9 Homer Smith Seafood............................ 15 Hurricane Boatyard................................... 9 J.M. Davis Industries, Inc. ........................ 7 Locals Seafood....................................... 13 Murray L. Nixon Fishery, Inc. ................. 25 NC Catch................................................. 18 N.C. Dept. of Agriculture.......... Back Cover Offshore Marine...................................... 15 O’Neal’s Sea Harvest.............................. 27 Outerbanks Catch................................... 19 Outer Banks Seafood............................. 26

Pamlico Catch......................................... 18 Pamlico Insurance.................................. 23 Potter Net and Twine.............................. 22 Powell Brothers Maintenance................. 27 Quality Seafood...................................... 27 R.E. Mayo Seafood................................. 13 Rocky Mount Cord Co............................ 29 Ted & Todd’s Marine Services................ 10 The Clement Companies........................ 31 Wanchese Fish....................................... 25 Wanchese Trawl..................................... 25 Walker Marine......................................... 15 Wheatly Boys.......................................... 11 Wheatley, Wheatley, Weeks, Lupton & Massie............................................... 4 Wilheit Packaging..................................... 5

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A word from the chairman ... THE INTERNET ...

he internet can be a very enlightening tool at times. It amazes me when I read comments from those who are opposed to commercial fishermen. When they post on certain sites that are known for their anti-commercial fishing rhetoric, there are no fish left in the ocean. The sky is falling, and those bad commercial fishermen are to blame. At times they go so far as mention specific names as the boogeymen that are to blame for their “crisis” in North Carolina’s fisheries. However, some of those critics also have fishing businesses with their own websites, and if you take the time to read what they have to say, it’s 180 degrees different from what they’re saying on their anti-commercial sites with their conspiratorial buddies. For example, Tom Roller has been a frequent contributor to a site that has been highly critical of commercial fishing in general and of the North Carolina Fisheries Association in particular. Tom owns Waterdog Guide Service and has his own website as well. Over several months he rails about how bad things are in our state and why regulations need to be changed or we’ll have nothing in the water to catch. In a documentary in 2015 where he advocates for more regulations on commercial fishing, he states that “our waters are declining, and they’re declining greatly”. He said he easily caught 10 southern flounder a day in the past, and now they’re almost gone. On a blog he started in 2014, he gives this background: Capt. Tom Roller is a full time inshore fishing guide based out of Beaufort, North Carolina. He has spent the last 15 years advocating for better fisheries management in North Carolina and the removal of destructive fishing gears like estuarine gill nets. NC fisheries management is overflowing with corruption at the hands of commercial fishing interests, their lobbyists and their language of misinformation. This site aims to help expose these mistruths. This site is dedicated to the transparency of the politics and news within North Carolina State marine fisheries. Our intent is to notify citizens of important issues that pertain to marine fisheries management in North Carolina. He recently posted this though, on his website: 2017 remains one of the best all around inshore fishing years of my career – excellent speckled trout, red drum of all sizes (from rats to slots to the old drum) and a respectable flounder fishing. I’ve fished literally every second I could and have included some pics

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from a couple of my “Busman’s holidays.” BTW – excellent topwater speckled trout bite lately! And drum! Do not miss out, come down and experience some of North Carolina’s best inshore fishing in years with one of the crystal coast’s most experienced guides (16 years of full time experience). So we went from a tremendous decline in fisheries in 2014/2015 to “…one of the best all around inshore fishing years of my career…” in a mere two years! The moral of this story is be diligent when you read all of the anti commercial fishing rhetoric. Don’t just drink the Kool Aid…do your homework! Brent

A thought from Glenn ... TO SUPPLEMENT OR NOT TO SUPPLEMENT?

o supplement or not to supplement our Fishery Management Plans… that is the question. But what is the answer? To answer this question, you first need to know what a supplement is and what is it’s intended purpose. A supplement is a process that allows the Marine Fisheries Commission (M.F.C) to quickly make temporary changes to a Fishery Management Plan (F.M.P.) until a full amendment can be adopted. This process was ONLY intended to be used in emergency situations where waiting to complete an amendment may jeopardize the overall health of a fish stock and cause the stock in question to crash. It is my opinion that none of the fish stocks managed by the state of NC currently meet the criteria that would justify the approval of a supplement. Unfortunately, this opinion is not shared by a majority of the current M.F.C. members who seem to view any level of uncertainty in the status of a stock as an emergency situation that warrants immediate action. It has even been suggested that these individuals are using the uncertainty as an excuse to misuse the supplement process in an attempt to make

up for years of failure in Raleigh. (i.e. Net bans, gamefish, HB 867) Whatever their motivation may be, I and the NCFA Board view their actions as a blatant misuse of the supplement process. This view recently went to court where two judges ruled in our favor in a lawsuit over the M.F.C. approved supplement to the Southern Flounder F.M.P. Since that time the M.F.C. has requested another supplement, this time to the Striped Bass F.M.P. citing concerns in the Southern and Central population of Striped Bass as their reason for requesting the supplement. While there may be reason for concern, there has been no significant changes in the stock that would justify approval of a supplement; in fact, the Division says the major issues are environmental and biological factors. Neither of which would be addressed in the supplement process. This new supplement request is very similar to the Southern Flounder supplement in many ways and just as before, the authority to approve or deny the supplement belongs to the Secretary of D.E.Q. (Department of Environmental Quality) I can only hope that the current Secretary, Michael Regan, chooses to deny the Striped Bass supplement and avoid the situation where once again a judge would answer the question, “To Supplement or Not to Supplement?” Glenn

From your Editor I hope that you are satisfied with the story qualities that are provided in this publication. My main focus and purpose for taking on this task is to keep our fishermen informed, educate the public and to show that you (whether you are a fisherman or a consumer) are an ESSENTIAL part of our industry! If there is a question, subject or interest that you may have and would like to see in this magazine, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I will try my best to get the question answered, story written or interest directed to the proper people that will supply that information for you. With your continued support, we can show that we are using conservative, sustainable practices to keep our industry going for the years to come. Thank you Again!!! Aundrea O’Neal 252-726-NCFA (6232) 252-503-8302 Aundrea@ncfish.org Tradewinds@ncfish.org

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NCFA Legislative Affairs, Jerry Schill

A word from Jerry ... EPIPHANY

eternal reward. I was just sitting on a plane with William Ellis Smith as he was telling me about his idea for a half percent program for fishermen, (ya know what I mean), but William Ellis died 26 years ago! I’m single and milking cows but have a wife, 4 children with their spouses, 10 grandchildren, a granddaughter in law, and a greatgrandson! I mentioned to our Tradewinds Editor that I didn’t know if my article would be based on fiction or a romantic novel. It’s actually an epiphany. I’m a senior citizen! How did that happen?

ugust 1st of this year marked my 30th anniversary of my first day with the North Carolina Fisheries Association. My title was Executive Director when I started and I remember the night I was hired by the Board of Directors at the Holiday Inn in Jerry Washington NC when one of the Board members commented that he wished they could keep an Executive Director around for awhile, “for maybe 3 years or longer”. At the 10 year mark we had a reorganization and my title was changed to President and also took on the mantle of Corporate Secretary. Effective April 1st of this year I stepped down as President and the Board brought on Glenn Skinner as Executive Director, with my title now being Director of Government Relations. Just recently the offices of NCFA moved from New Bern to Morehead City, so over time things do change. As I was looking through boxes at the office in preparation for the move things slowed to a crawl as I was flooded with CARTERET CATCH memories looking at the articles and news stories in the files and the many photographs of the various events. Many of the people in the pictures have passed on, but the memories remain. We were involved in so much with articles in print and TV and radio interviews constantly. Back in the day, a 30 year anniversary with an employer wasn’t uncommon. Next month, Pam and I will celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary, and again that was not uncommon a few years ago. Experience is great, especially if it’s combined with a good memory. Doesn’t mean much if one has lots of knowledge based on that experience but can’t remember it! I’ve found though, that sometimes it’s just better to shut up and not dampen the excitement, as “been there, done that” only goes so far. What the heck happened? I’m writing an article from an old guy’s perspective! How could that be? My hair was dark brown and all of a sudden it’s as white as snow. I could actually put on a Santa suit and not use a fake beard. Dad, Bernie and I just finished the milking and chilling out in the barn watching the cows eating hay as Dad liked doing, yet Dad sold the farm almost 50 years ago. Did you read what I just wrote above? Pam and I have been married almost 49 years, yet we just got married! My uncle, Fr. Paul Schill, just got a speeding ticket on the way to our wedding. It just happened, yet he’s almost 90 and now and in a retirement carteretcatch.org home. I just sat had supper after a Marine Fisheries Commission Increasing conflicts between commercial and recreational fishermen helped spur the legislation. meeting with Billy & Janice Smith, Murray & Marion Nixon, Jule Photo by Roger Winstead/NC State Communications. & Nancy Wheatly, and Linny Perry but they’ve all gone to their

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Giving

by Jerry Schill

Thanks

The North Carolina General Assembly is somewhat like the energy bunny. It just keeps going, and going, and going… This year was the “long session” which happens in odd years. Next year will be she “short session”. The long session is gaveled in in late January and it varies when it ends. The goal is usually the end of June or first part of July before the July 4th holiday. Sometimes it can go longer, and at times, much longer. The short session begins in late April and lasts for a few months. It’s important to note that we have a “citizen legislature”, meaning members usually have other full time work and take time out to serve in the General Assembly. That can be a real issue for many as their employment can prohibit them from taking a few days off each week while in session, and doing that for several months at a time. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t get rich serving in the North Carolina General Assembly! Legislators usually arrive late Monday evening and return about midday on Thursday, with the thinking that they have Monday and Friday to salvage their work week at their regular job. Used to be that once they adjourned you could kind of “rest easy” till the next regular session, but that has not been the case recently. Last year there were more than one “special session”, even coming close to Christmas. It was close enough that Santa Claus was walking around the halls last December. This year, they went back in August for a few days and are scheduled to go back again October 4th, hopefully for just one day. If a Senator or Representative is retired, no harm unless it messes up a planned trip or vacation. Same for those who can leave their regular jobs with no problems. But for many it’s a real challenge to ask for time off from their regular work to attend yet another special session. In addition to my “paid job” here at NCFA, I do a certain amount of volunteer work, including being the current Chairman of the God & Country Christian Alliance. We recently held our 24th Annual God & Country Banquet in Havelock and enjoyed good food and fellowship. This year we did something that we hope to make a regular part of the banquet. We gave recognition to a young member of the House who decided to resign effective September 15th. That person was Chris Millis of Pender County. We also offered accolades to Tonya, his wife, for the sacrifices she and their three children have made over the 5 years that Chris served in the House. Now, I realize that the God & Country Christian Alliance is not part of NCFA. However, I’ve noticed recently that some of our fishing folks do not quite understand that in North Carolina we have a “citizen legislature” and what that means in terms of sacrifice, especially for young families like Chris, Tonya and their children. In Chris’s case, he advocated for issues that are important to the Christian Alliance certainly, but I mention his recognition here because he was also on the front lines for commercial fishing families. He did so by doing his homework and being prepared while sincerely appreciating the views of those fellow legislators who might not agree with those views. I might add that I personally look at his advocacy beyond that for fishermen. Rather, he has 8

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been an advocate for the entire working class in the State of North Carolina! Of course, there are a few in the General Assembly who are not exactly friendly to commercial fishermen, but still, the point I wish to make here is that most all of them are making sacrifices to serve as members of a “citizen legislature”. When presenting Chris & Tonya Millis the recognition recently, I specifically mentioned his work on behalf of commercial fishing families and the working class in North Carolina. I pray that you will take the time to do it too. CHANGES COMING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY The most immediate change is the resignation of Chris Millis noted above, as his resignation is already effective and someone will be named soon to serve his remaining term ending in 2018. Senator Bill Cook has indicated he will retire after next year’s session, and Rep. Bob Steinburg has indicated he will be a candidate for that district. We’ve heard some other names that might be in the running, and Senator Erica Smith-Ingram will be the incumbent in that newly drawn district. Several other legislators have indicated they will retire after next year. District lines have changed, including House District 1 that includes the Outer Banks and will now include Pamlico County. Michael Speciale currently represents Pamlico County, but effective with the election in November 2018, the county will be in District 1, currently represented by Beverly Boswell. CURRENT ISSUES Even though the General Assembly is not in session at the moment, they keep coming back as noted above, which means H-867 or H-56 can technically come up whenever they come back. NCFA staff continues to meet with political and regulatory folks on a regular basis, such as: Biologist David Bush attends Mid Atlantic and South Atlantic Council meetings and carries the proxy for Rep. Bob Steinburg for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Attending those meetings as well as some advisory or scientific takes up a considerable amount of time but he fills in the gaps with the research and homework needed to represent commercial fishermen adequately. Executive Director Glenn Skinner and I compare notes to make sure other meetings are covered, whether in Raleigh or other locations by the regulatory bodies. For example, upcoming meetings in Morehead City will cover Summer Flounder and Menhaden. Glenn recently met with the Secretary of DEQ and I attended a roundtable discussion hosted by Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler with Ray Starling, the Ag advisor at the White House. I was in Washington DC recently for a menhaden discussion and had an opportunity to meet with Congressional staffers to discuss various federal issues as they relate to fishing. Several of us are staying on top of the appointment process for the Marine Fisheries Commission and a new Director for the Division of Marine Fisheries. Several of our Board and other members are involved in other ways, such as our Chairman Brent Fulcher who recently attended a meeting up north regarding the Habitat Amendment for the Scallop fishery management plan. And, as always, there are ongoing discussions on issues in certain fisheries that we’re involved with that need to stay close to the vest.

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NCFA Fisheries Biologist, David Bush

WHAT’S A POUND NET?

any folks have driven through coastal towns around waterways, or even had the opportunity to boat through them. While doing so, it is likely they have seen rows of stakes or pole sticking up from the water that one could easily mistake for the remnants of an old dock or pier. What they are actually seeing, are the tops of poles holding a very unique fishing gear called a “pound net.” In the late 1860’s, commercial fishermen in North Carolina adopted this fishing gear, which has been said to have possible origins relating to European “weirs” and “fykes,” as well as from fish traps used by Native Americans. The Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association has an exhibit that states, “The first recorded evidence of Pound Net Fishing dates to the late 1500s. English explorers tell of natives using rows of sticks to “impound” fish.” According to the North Carolina Maritime Museum, use of this gear began to pick up steam in 1869, when fishermen in the Albemarle Sound began regularly using pound nets to catch river herring. Since then, the use of pound nets has spread up and down the coasts, as well as into the Great Lakes. The pound net is a passive type of fishing gear that leads fish down a line of net called a lead, into a heart shaped net that directs them into the final portion called a pound. The shape of each portion of the net relies on the fish’s behavior to direct them into the bowl or pound, where they are unable to escape. Starting at the lead, the fish swim along the net until they enter the first heart. This heart shape then directs the fish into the next heart, and then into the trap. The pound is an enclosure of net, which is sized to allow undersized fish the ability to swim through the mesh and out of the pound. The entrance to this enclosure is a funnel shaped net that after the fish has passed through, finds difficulty in returning through it to escape. Once in the pound, they are either harvested or returned alive to the surrounding water. While not all nets use two hearts, nor are they shaped as smoothly as illustrated, the overall concept and shape are generally the same. Over time, fishery regulations and impacts from the weather, such as river flooding caused a decline in the amount of river herring that fishermen could harvest. Many fishermen then altered their gear and switched to southern flounder and other species such as baitfish. Currently in North Carolina, southern flounder is now one of the primary species fishermen target in pound nets. 10

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In addition to the changes in the species fishermen sought, there were many changes in the amount of those using pound nets. Although the decline of the herring fishery saw many fishermen switch to other species, the total number of pound nets is less than half of what is was at its peak. This is unfortunate, because although space is limited and the initial expense of obtaining and setting the gear up is substantial, this is a very selective and sustainable fishing method. The fishermen have the ability to decide what they keep for harvest and what they can release alive. Pound net fishermen also have a great history of supporting sustainable fisheries research. They frequently work with scientist and managers to develop new and better ways to harvest fish, as well as deter the capture of non-target species. North Carolina commercial fishermen stand out as leaders in their profession this way. They constantly refine their techniques, and encourage responsible use of the resources we all share. If you happen to be passing through, slow down and see if you can spot a pound net. If you do, you will be looking at a type of fishing gear that has been used in North Carolina for hundreds of years, if not longer. Loading... Loading...

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Preserving

Ocracoke’s

Maritime Heritage A small North Carolina fishing village fights for survival

By Leah Chester-Davis

June 8, 2017

Ocracoke’s Silver Lake Harbor is bathed in golden light as the sun slides into the Pamlico Sound and the last commercial fishing boats return for the day. Bill Evans guides his vessel to the dock of the small fish house at harbor’s edge, returning from nearly 14 hours on the Atlantic Ocean with fishing partner Logan Jenkins. Due to the weather, it is the first day in several that the island’s commercial fishers have been on the water. “You have to make the most of it when you can,” says Jenkins. “When the fish stop moving is when we turn back.” The two are tired but pleased with the day’s catch. Today it’s mostly Spanish mackerel even though this is also the season for bluefish, speckled trout, southern flounder, sea mullet, sheepshead, black drum and red drum. What the fishermen are allowed to fish for depends on a slew of restrictions and regulations and whether their boats are in the ocean on one side of the island or in the Pamlico Sound on the other. As tourists head to local restaurants to enjoy meals of fresh, wild-caught seafood from nearby waters, the small fish house is a flurry of activity. Three boats, including Evans’s, arrive within a few minutes of the other, each with hundreds of pounds of fish to offload. Most boats fishing off the Carolina coast are considered small with a solitary fisher or a small crew of 2 or 3 people. Basket after basket brimming with Spanish mackerel are dumped onto a conveyor belt that carries the fish from the outside dock to the inside packing room. The conveyor dumps the fish onto a long, narrow table where they are sorted by size. They are then weighed and packed into boxes of ice to move onto a refrigerated truck that will transport them to the Wanchese Fish Company, a couple of islands away. From there, they are shipped to restaurants up the eastern seaboard to New York. Some are held back to be cleaned for the retail store, Ocracoke Seafood Company, at the front of the fish house. Others will go to the local restaurants that cater to the important island tourist industry. The fishermen have contracts with local restaurants and Jenkins sets to work cleaning and fileting a portion of his and Evans’s catch for four different establishments. “Local seafood is important,” Jenkins says. “You get imported seafood you don’t know what it is and you don’t know what is in it. I like the idea of providing fresh, local seafood. I’m all about that. “There aren’t many kids my age who commercial fish,” adds Jenkins, who is 21. “I like seafood and I like heritage. I feel like it’s real important to keep a heritage and a tradition going, especially knowing that it’s fading away real fast.” An island with a rich history. Ocracoke is a treasure of an island that sits at the southern tip of the barrier islands known as the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Accessible only by small private plane, private boat or a 2 ½-hour ferry ride from the mainland or an hour ride from Hatteras Island to the north, Ocracoke is 16 miles long and a half mile to 3 miles wide. It is steeped in maritime history. Edward Teach, also known as the infamous pirate Blackbeard, plied these waters in the early 1700s and German U-boats prowled the coast during World War II. Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, the oldest in operation along the Carolina Coast and the second oldest in the country, stands sentinel over the village with its beacon reaching miles into both the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Ocracoke’s nearly 15 miles of pristine beaches are part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, preventing development and

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helping land top rankings in travel magazines. Wild ponies that are said to be descendants of shipwrecked Spanish mustangs roam a fenced portion of the island. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the small village, also known as Ocracoke, sits at one end of the island and lends a yesteryear charm. Wood-framed cottages (some made of wood salvaged from shipwrecks), white picket fences and people peddling bicycles down the tree-lined streets add to the appeal of this quaint fishing village with less than 1,000 year-round residents. So does the residents’ thick brogue that some call Elizabethan English. Less than 100 miles to the north, the first English-speaking colony was established on Roanoke Island in 1585. The dialect, sometimes referred to as High Tider or “Hoi Toider,” is often attributed to the island’s isolation. Even the small fish house plays a part in Ocracoke’s cultural heritage. It’s also crucial to this spit of land’s future as a fishing village. While the resilient residents have weathered numerous hurricanes, storms and trials inherent in island living, it’s a threat of a different nature that puts the island’s fishing heritage and livelihood in jeopardy. Saving the last fish house. When the last fish house on the island was shuttered and placed on the market about 10 years ago, the island’s small commercial fishing industry faced extinction. Without a fish house, fishermen had no place to pack their boats with ice early in the mornings before heading out to the nearby waters and no place to offload their catch at the end of the day. To haul it to the next island wasn’t feasible when it came to time and fuel costs. No one fisherman could afford the purchase price of the fish house, so the only option was to pull together to keep the fish house open. There was a lot to lose. “If we lost the fishing industry, we would lose more than our access to good, local food. We’d lose a way of life that gives purpose and flavor to a community,” says Robin Payton Payne, former executive director of the nonprofit Ocracoke Foundation. While the remote nature of the island contributes to the fierce independence that seems to be a trait of islanders, it also amplifies the necessity to help out a neighbor, says Rudy Austin, who made his living operating the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry and now runs tours to the nearby island of Portsmouth. “Ocracoke is unique,” he says. ”When I grew up, everybody helped each other. Self-supporting neighbors helped neighbors. That is how we survived in the 1950s and 1960s.” And, no doubt, that was the case generations before, long before the ferries began making daily trips in the 1970s to and from the island. It was in this spirit that the entire community came together to save its last fish house, says Payton Payne. They viewed it as survival for both commercial fishing and the tourism industry, which is essential to the island’s economy. “You can’t call yourself a fishing village if you don’t have a fish house,” explains Austin. “Commercial fishing complements the tourist industry,” adds Hardy Plyler, fisherman and fish house manager. “Tourists visit to see fishermen. They want to see the boats and most especially they want to eat fresh North Carolina seafood. Ocracoke wouldn’t be the same without it.” While the island sponsored fish fries, oyster roasts, bake sales and all sorts of fundraisers, funds from North Carolina’s tobacco buyout program – from the master settlement with cigarette manufacturers – turned out to be

a major source of help, along with other partners. Under the umbrella of the nonprofit Ocracoke Foundation, 35 part-time and full-time fishermen and women formed the Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association (OWWA) and then established the Ocracoke Seafood Company as a for-profit subsidiary that has both a wholesale and retail side. After expenses are covered, profits go to watermen based on individual annual catch. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognized Ocracoke late last year in Rome as “an example of strong collective action in small-scale fisheries that could provide lessons for other fishing communities.” “Part of our charge,” says Plyler, “is to keep the commercial fishing heritage alive on Ocracoke. We feel like the fish house benefits this community and preserves that heritage.” Threats to the local fishing industry. Despite the accolades, they have a major fight on their hands to keep that heritage alive. “Fishermen are aging out,” explains Plyler. Like farming, the average age of fishers is 56. There are a handful of young fishermen and women in their early 20s though Plyler and others are concerned about the odds they face. “All we want is a living,” says Plyler. “Commercial fishing supports fishing families and coastal communities.” Even so, “it’s a hard way to make a living,” says Vince O’Neal, who

bought the Pony Island Restaurant in 1992 to supplement his fishing income. Most people on the island cobble together 2 or more jobs to make ends meet. Like most of the other fishers on the island, O’Neal grew up here and fished with his Dad, uncles and grandfathers. “At least 7, maybe 8 generations,” he says, of his family’s fishing tradition. While he’s proud of the island’s fishing culture – “we provide one of North Carolina’s great natural resources to the public” – he laments the current state of commercial fishing. “Fishing is on the demise,” he says. “There are a lot of reasons: regulations, resources, changing markets, cheaper imported seafood, pollution, and special interest groups that always manage to submit legislation. The problem isn’t overfishing off the Carolina coast. There aren’t a lot of commercial fishermen left.” The Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association has an exhibit located in the former Will Willis Store & Fish House that dates back to the 1930s and sits at the edge of Silver Lake Harbor. It chronicles the island’s fishing heritage. A bumper sticker on display sums up the importance of keeping the local commercial fishing industry alive: Friends don’t let friends eat imported seafood. NOTE: please include this with article: “This article first appeared in John Deere’s The Furrow magazine (johndeerefurrow.com) and Homestead magazine (johndeerehomestead.com).” Nonexclusive second serial (reprint) rights to Tradewinds (via Tideland Electric) for Fall 2017 print edition only.

north carolina fisheries association 13

cswm & hc

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center

CORE SOUND MEANS COMMUNITY TRADITIONS … and when the wind shifts Down East that means Core Sound Season is on its way! Community Heritage

December 2-3, 2017

The first weekend of December has become Down East’s homecoming weekend for friends and neighbors to gather to see some of the region’s finest waterfowl artistry, taste some of the best seafood anywhere, share memories and experience the community spirit that is “Down East.” From decoy carving to boatbuilding, stewed shrimp to scallop fritters, beautiful artwork and more decoys than you can count, the entire Island becomes a showcase of rich traditional art amidst a deep-felt celebration of community. 2017’s Waterfowl Weekend (held in partnership with the Core Sound Decoy Festival) brings out the all Coresounders (young and old, near and far) to come to Harkers Island to experience all that the weekend means to locals and returning visitors year after year. Church dinners, local crafts along the roadside, auctions at the school and museum, children’s activities, artists and carvers from the entire Mid-Atlantic and community church on Sunday brings in the Christmas Season with a blur of crabpot Christmas trees! This year’s Waterfowl Weekend will be especially meaningful as it closes out the Museum’s yearlong 25th Anniversary celebration that has brought together the men and women who have made this community treasure a reality. A highlight for this year’s event will be the Core Sound Heritage Auction (4:30 Sat). This live auction (also available online at www.houseauctioncompany.com) will offer 25 of Core Sound’s finest historic decoys for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase with all proceeds going to the CSWM&HC’s year-round programming.

www.coresound.com

Core Sound Decoy Festival turns 30!

Harkers Island Elementary School comes to life the first full weekend in December each year as the Core Sound Decoy Guild holds its annual Core Sound Decoy Festival. People have been making the pilgrimage to the event since 1988. The 30th Annual Core Sound Decoy Festival will be held on Saturday, December 2nd and Sunday, December 3rd at the Harkers Island Elementary School. Admission is $8 daily, children under 12 free. Sunday is Youth Day with all children under 18 free. 14

www.decoyguild.com

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BARBOUR’S Marine Supply Co. Everything for Boats Since 1919

1-800-682-2643 Offshore Marine Electronics 315 Steel Tank Road Beaufort, NC 28516

252-504-2624 Get “Offshore” and Go Fishing!

north carolina fisheries association 15

mariner’s menu

taste from the past worth repeating ...

or this Spring issue, I dusted off old copies of Coastwatch to search for recipes. Looking back, I found many recipes worth repeating, such as smoked bluefish and Gruyère quiche, pine bark stew, and squid salad. These issues brought back fond memories of former North Carolina Sea Grant colleagues and their accomplishments. Enjoy reading about their work in issues of Coastwatch from 1974 to 1991 at ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastwatch/pdf-archive. The smoked bluefish and Gruyère quiche in the March 1981 issue caught my attention. I was drawn in by its simplicity and the fact it can be served hot or cold. In the newsletter’s opening paragraph, the writer notes, “Centuries ago, the coastal Indians began smoking fish over glowing embers as a means of preservation. By using this method, the catch from a good fall fishing trip could be enjoyed throughout the lean winter months. However, as time passed and refrigerators came into being, preservation was no longer the primary reason people were still smoking fish. The rich, distinctive flavor produced by smoking kept the fires burning and the product in demand.” Other recipes in that issue are dillicious — not misspelled! — dip, smoked fish salad and smoked bluefish omelet. Old, unfamiliar recipes in June/July 1983 included baked fish with stuffed clams, fish muddle and pine bark stew. “Another Carolina original was the pine bark stew. During Revolutionary War times, Carolina cooks concocted the fish stew using the entire roots of pine trees for flavoring, along with a slab of bacon and a red pepper pod,” noted Nancy Davis, former Sea Grant staff writer. In that issue, the recipe for the savory fish stew eliminates the original pine-root flavoring. Jumping ahead to the March 1984 issue, readers learned about squid. Kathy Hart wrote, “While writers and mariners enhanced the size, ferocity and abilities of the squid, the real life and biology of the squid may be stranger than fiction. After all, the squid possesses eyes like a human, fins like fish, arms like an octopus, a beak like a bird, and 16

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power like a jet.” Squid can be prepared many different ways. It is part of the mollusk family that includes other delectable relatives, such as clam, whelk and conch. Joyce Taylor, seafood education specialist with the North Carolina State University Seafood Laboratory and Sea Grant from 1974 to 2003, offered recipes for Greek-style fried squid, squid chowder and squid salad. “When purchasing squid, look for signs of freshness. Color spots on the mantle or skin should be distinct and sharp. The color of the mantle should be bright, like fresh fish. The eyes should be clear and bright and the flesh should be firm and without an odor,” she explained. Look for other retro recipes on the Mariner’s Menu blog, marinersmenu.org. For additional seafood preparation tips and recipes, purchase a copy of Mariner’s Menu: 30 Years of Fresh Seafood Ideas at ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/bookstore. — V.L.

Smoked Bluefish and Gruyere Quiche • 2 8-inch baked pie crusts (frozen) • 1 13-ounce can evaporated milk • 8 ounce Gruyère (or Swiss) cheese • 8 ounce smoked bluefish pieces • 4 eggs • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon paprika • dash cayenne • 3 tablespoons grated onion To heated milk, add cheese and spices. Remove from heat slowly, add fish and onion, and gently fold in beaten eggs. Fill crusts and bake at 325 degrees for about 45 minutes. Serve hot or cold. Serves 12.

Pine Bark Stew • 2-1/2 pounds trout fillets or other fish (you may use 2 species) • 4 bacon strips • 1 cup chopped onions • 1-1/2 cups diced potatoes • 1 quart boiling water • 2 teaspoons salt • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme • 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram • 2-inch piece of dried red pepper pod • 4 or 5 small tomatoes, peeled, or equivalent canned

• 1 cup celery • 1/2 cup chopped red onion • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon pepper Clean squid and cut mantle into 1/2-inch pieces. Place squid in boiling, salted water.Cover and simmer 5 to 10 minutes until tender. Drain and rinse in cold water. Combine remaining ingredients, cover and refrigerate for several hours. Makes about 2 cups.

Cut bacon into squares and sauté over very low heat until lightly browned. Drain off all but about 3 tablespoons fat. Stir in onions and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in potatoes, cover with boiling water, and season with salt, herbs and dried pepper pod. Simmer until potatoes are partly done, about 10 minutes. Add whole fish and continue to simmer for 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or more, until fish flakes easily and potatoes are tender. Remove pepper pod before serving. Serves 6–8. Note: The modern version of this stew eliminates the original pine flavoring.

Squid Salad • 2 pounds whole squid • 2 cups boiling water • 2 teaspoon salt • 1/2 cup salad oil • 1/4 cup lemon juice

Photos by Vanda Lewis

This article was published in the Spring 2017 issue of Coastwatch. For contact information and reprint requests, visit ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastwatch/contact/. Reprinted from Coastwatch, a publication of North Carolina Sea Grant. For reprint requests regarding photos in Coastwatch, contact E-Ching Lee at 919-515-9098 or eching_lee@ncsu.edu.

ATLANTIC SEAFOOD Wholesale Seafood Distributor Fresh & Frozen Hampstead, NC

910.270.3331 • 910.270.4411 north carolina fisheries association 17

All seafood retailers are not created equal

The bar isn’t set very high for truth in advertising when it comes to seafood. In fact, some restaurants tout serving NC seafood (because consumers recognize the superior quality of NC wild caught seafood) when the actual product brought to the table comes from unregulated, foreign sh farms. So don’t be afraid to ask your server or retailer to conrm the origin of their seafood before you order.

That’s why NC Catch annually produces retail market lists for home cooks . . . because if you don’t know your sh, know your shmonger! And if you are a retailer or your favorite retailer doesn’t show up on our list, drop us a line so we can expand the 2018 market list. Access the 2017 list at www.nccatch.org along with recipes and REAL NC SEAFOOD events happening around the state.

Fall 2017 Tradewinds Ad.indd 1

info@nccatch.org 9/13/2017 1:34:54 PM

Building on the success of the state’s four local catch groups and NC Catch, an effort is underway to create a catch group for Beaufort and Pamlico counties. If you would be interested in joining this effort to educate consumers about the importance of local seafood and create new market opportunites contact: Heidi Smith 252.945.7891 heidijernigan@outlook.com Pamlico Tradewinds Ad.indd 18 Catch www.ncfish.org

3/18/2017 7:12:48 PM

north carolina fisheries association 19

What is the Health of North Carolina Fish Stocks? M

any claims have been made by organizations and individuals that North Carolina’s coastal fisheries management has failed its citizens and as a consequence, fish stocks have declined dramatically, resulting in poor recreational fishing experiences and negatively affecting our state’s economy. Those opinions have led to legislative bills proposing to make some species “gamefish”, whose designation would only allow harvest of those fish by recreational fishermen and bills recommending substantial revamping of fisheries conservation programs. Are these claims of depleted resources true? Are our fish stocks “dwindling”, as some groups claim and drastic action needed to “bring our fish populations back?” First some background. I have studied coastal fishes in North Carolina for over 40 years and been closely

Are our fish stocks “dwindling”, as some groups claim and drastic action needed to “bring our fish populations back?” involved in conservation of state and federal fish populations during that span. I am also a lifelong recreational fisherman that grew up fishing in our 20

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state’s rivers. Scientific experts in fisheries from all over the world note that fish populations are highly variable and will fluctuate greatly depending on the environment and in some cases, fishing. Objective fishermen also know this, and refer to the cyclic nature of fish stocks. Second, many of the fish that occur in North Carolina and are harvested by our fishermen migrate or move to and from other states. So, fish in North Carolina can and are sometimes affected by fishing in other areas and the environment of those areas. Third, the USA has one of the strongest or most restrictive fisheries conservation programs in the world and North Carolina is consistently recognized by managers in the USA as having one of the most intensive data-gathering and proactive fisheries management programs in the country. Furthermore, the majority of the fish that are harvested in North Carolina are conserved under federal jurisdiction. Many folks do not realize that the conservation of nearshore, migratory ocean fish, such as Atlantic croaker, bluefish and grey trout (weakfish) and many others fall under the jurisdiction of a federal agency, called the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The ASMFC is a congressionally-authorized compact of 15 states that determines conservation measures for Atlantic coast migratory fish/shellfish and can find states out of compliance with their measures. The people and groups that claim North Carolina’s fisheries are overall in a state of decline point to the number of species classified as “Concern” and/or “Depleted” in the annual Stock Status reports produced by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) as proof of failed conservation policies. The DMF is the agency that collects and uses scientific data to determine if species are overfished or if fishing is causing a population decline. They also prepare fishery management plans, with input from stakeholders, which contain all scientific information on a species and recommend conservation actions or management measures on the fisheries that harvest those species. The DMF has been required by the Fisheries Reform Act to prepare fishery management plans on all recreationally and commercially important species for the last 20 years. North Carolina can develop its own fishery management plan such as one for blue crabs, produce one that complements a federal plan such as the one for red drum, or bundle species in a multispecies plan that covers the fishes being managed by federal agencies such as the ones for spot and Atlantic croaker. Stock assessments are the scientific tools used by experts to best determine the population status of fish, incorporating all relevant biological and catch data. These assessments are attempted for each species that comes under state or US jurisdiction, including North Carolina, unless extenuating circumstances prevent such. The stock assessments estimate fish abundance or biomass and compare those estimates to science-based reference values that define a desirable fish population situation (again based on science). If a population estimate is below the desired referenced value that species is deemed overfished and if the fishing rate is higher than the desired reference value, then overfishing is occurring on that species. Overfished (depleted due to fishing) or overfishing (fishing at too high a rate to sustain the population) are the usual terms used worldwide to discuss fish population status. Sometimes fish populations become low or depleted primarily due to natural conditions and stock

assessments can help us determine if those changes are due to fishing or caused by natural conditions (i.e. predation or diseases). Nations that invest in their fisheries conservation programs such as Ireland, USA, New Zealand and Australia, to mention a few, utilize these terms and tools to help guide objective fisheries conservation programs. So what does the scientific evidence and other pertinent information indicate about the status of North Carolina’s fisheries resources? North Carolina is one of the premier recreational fishing states in the USA. Based on federal data, North Carolina is second only to Florida for the whole country in number of coastal fishing trips and numbers of fish caught in both 2014 and 2015. In the last ten years North Carolina has consistently ranked as one of the top four states in the nation for coastal recreational fishing trips and number of fish caught. North Carolina also ranks as one of the top five states for numbers of recreational coastal anglers, usually only second to Florida. Annual Stock Status reports from the DMF do not indicate failed fisheries management policies based on fish population status assessments. In a report to the North Carolina General Assembly in April 2016 the DMF reported that the numbers of fish and shellfish populations that were classified as “viable” had been trending upward since 2011. The federal or National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Fish Stock Sustainability Indices, which monitor the performance of important recreationally and commercially important fish stocks in the USA has been trending upward since its inception in 2000 (17 years). The Indices increase when the status of a fish stock is determined and the fish population’s status improves (either no longer subject to overfishing or is not overfished, or population is rebuilt). NMFS reports that the increases in the Indices reflect that considerable progress has been made in sustainably managing fish stocks in the USA. By law, North Carolina has to comply with federal measures and has never been found to be out of compliance with a federal fisheries plan. Most of our important fish species are conserved under federal plans. So what are the claims that our fisheries resources are in a downhill spiral based on? Groups and individuals point to the DMF’s own analyses that shows only 5 of 22 species that are managed by the state are classified as “Viable” and also point to the fact that 17 species are classified as “Concern” or “Depleted”. Let’s look a little closer at the facts. DMF produces annual stock status reports for 31, not 22, species or species groups and have done so for 19 years. Only four fish species out of the 31 species or species groups are managed solely by the state! Remember most of North Carolina’s fish species migrate up/down the Atlantic coast and fall under a federal agency’s jurisdiction.

The DMF uses classification categories of Viable, Recovering, Concern, Depleted or Unknown. The supposition when a species is classified as “Concern” is that fishing levels are causing the state’s experts to be worried about a species’ population status. However, the DMF sometimes classifies a species as “Concern”, when the best available science shows that the species is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. In doing so, they consider other factors besides fishing levels when making their determinations. Two examples are Atlantic croaker and Albemarle Sound Striped Bass stock status determinations. Also, some species are classified as “Depleted”, when experts have determined the population is mainly affected by factors other than fishing, such as grey trout or weakfish or fishing has been stopped on that species for numerous years, such as Atlantic sturgeon and river herring. The individual fish species listed in the 2016 DMF Stock Status Report were examined to see if overfishing was occurring, if the stock was overfished and if our fish populations were indeed in a depressed state. The DMF report was based on 2015 data, and this article has been updated with more recent, scientificallyreviewed population assessments if available, such as with black sea bass north of Cape Hatteras, spot and Atlantic croaker. A total of 75% of the species or species groups (DMF lumps sharks-40 species; snapper/grouper-75 species) in NC whose population status can be estimated are not overfished. A total of 99% of the species or species complexes in NC whose population status can be estimated are not experiencing overfishing (fished at too high a rate). The snapper/grouper complex and shark complex were counted as being overfished and that overfishing was occurring, even when a minority of the species within those complexes was determined to be overfished and fishing was occurring at too high a rate. Besides those two species groups only one species, summer flounder is experiencing overfishing, and overfishing occurred even when measures had been in place to sustain the population. Additional restrictions were deemed necessary and appropriate action taken by state and federal agencies to reduce the fishing rate. The case of the well studied and responsibly managed summer flounder reflects how variable fish populations are and how effective conservation systems respond to those changing situations. How is management of species under federal jurisdiction going? The NMFS reports that out of 233 species that federal agencies manage and whose population status is known, 84% are not overfished. Out of 313 species, whose fishing rates could be determined, 91% are not being fished at rates resulting in overfishing. (Continued on page 22)

north carolina fisheries association 21

What is the Health of North Carolina Fish Stocks? (Continued from page 21)

Now does that mean everything is okay? Of course, the answer is no. We can always improve. There are several species in North Carolina that need additional or better data to determine their population status. A total of 8 species, such as southern flounder, striped bass in the Pamlico/Neuse and sea mullet could not be assessed for effects of fishing or a new stock assessment was forthcoming. There are several species where commercial and recreational fishing have been stopped for over 10 years, such as river herring and sturgeon, yet the populations have not recovered. Population assessments need to be done more frequently. More or better data need to be collected as to why some species’ populations are not increasing , even though responsible fishing restrictions based on science have been

thank you Jeff & Keri McCann

and all the Staff at Jack’s Waterfront Bar

put in place, such as gray trout and American shad. We do not have adequate management data on sheepshead, white perch, etc. Economics of fisheries should be better studied. Habitat protection could be improved. I could go on. However, the take home message for our country and our state based on science is that we have responsible fisheries conservation programs that are founded on data; and based on that science, our fish populations are being sustained. Few fish populations are overfished and overfishing is not occurring in most of our species. North Carolina has robust fisheries data collection programs supported by taxpayers, one of the best in our country and those data are used to produce fisheries management plans for our state and often heavily leaned on when producing federal fisheries management plans. North Carolina’s leaders had the foresight to create a governance regime where fisheries management plans must be developed for all our important species, stakeholders have frequent opportunity for input, and the plans must be updated regularly to ensure sustainability. These cornerstones should ensure that seafood is sustainably provided to consumers and sustainably harvested by recreational fishermen like myself both now and for the future. − Jess Hawkins has a Master of Science in Biology. He was the former Chief of Fisheries Management with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. He is currently an instructor with the Duke University Marine Laboratory and North Carolina State University CMAST Laboratory teaching Marine Fisheries Ecology.

These special people graciously allow the use of their facility for the Fisherman’s Village at Jack’s in Morehead City, an educational outreach program in support of the North Carolina Commercial Fishing Industry

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north carolina fisheries association 23

CAPT’S

SPOTLIGHT TROY OUTLAND SR. MANTEO, NC

am a 3rd generation fisherman and I pound net out of Mann’s Harbor, NC. My son and oldest grandson fish with me now that they have both served their time in the United States Marine Corp. My son also has his own crabbing operation. I can remember hanging out at our family fish docks as a young boy, cleaning boats and cutting bull lip for crab and trout liners. At the young age of 10, I saved my money and bought a 3 HP Wizard outboard and my grandfather allowed me to put it on his skiff and at the age of 15, I started crabbing after school. I fished seasonally until my now wife graduated from college to teach school. After working on all kinds of boats, in 1982, I decided to start pound netting. I was fortunate enough to work with some of the “Great” pound netters. I use my 25’ Parker and a 32’ Manning to fish my pounds. We fish in the Spring and Summer for crab bait, butterfish and croakers. My main passion is to fish for Flounder in the Fall. We fish in waters that are about 16’ deep and during the Fall Flounder season, we fish four handed. I still believe there is a future for the Flounder pound nets, that’s if we can be regulated by true science and not agenda driven NGO’s. When there are certain people are on the Marine Fisheries Commission and they have their own personal agenda, that is what we call “Voodoo” science. I personally do not believe that the fishermen have been treated fairly for a long-time due to the agenda driven “Voodoo” science. It would be very difficult for a young fisherman to get into this part of the industry because of the cost of gear and finding a good location to set their pound up. Location is the key to success in this business. I was Blessed to be able to buy out Capt. Melvin Twiddy and he taught me a lot. Now there are two more generations that will be able to take over my net locations. Pounds are an old way of life. We pail the fish on a cull table, and are able to release anything that is not in season or undersize in seconds so they it can swim off and live to be caught another day.

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Left to Right in ph

oto: Troy Outland

Jr, Troy Outland Sr, Troy Outland III (TJ Photo Credits: Tro ) y Outland Sr.

Homeport: Mann’s Harbor, NC Electronics: Garmin Chart Owner: Troy Outland Sr. Plotter Builder: Parker Captain Hometown: Halls Year: 1986 Harbor, Harbinger, Currituck Length: 25’ County Hull Material: Fiberglass Beam: 8’ Engine: 250 Yamaha Top Speed: 45 MPH Prop. Size: 14.5 X 15 Ice/Fish Capacity: 4,000 lbs

I think that it is a cool feeling to know that several hundred years ago, Indians were using a similar method on Roanoke Island…where I live! In 2016, we started Outland Seafood to market our own seafood. It has been difficult, but I believe with good, local seafood, we will succeed.

to get the freshest seafood we go to the source everyday.

We have locations in: Suffolk, VA Hampton, VA Wanchese, NC Hatteras, NC

Visit wanchese.com or call us at 757-673-4500.

M U R R AY

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1141 Nixon Fishery Road Edenton, North Carolina 27932 HACCP CERTIFIED www.nixonfishery.com 1-800-672-4756 â&#x20AC;¢ Fax: 252-221-4118 Phone: 252-221-4115 north carolina fisheries association 25

OCRACOKE ISLAND JOURNAL A N O C C A S I O N A L J O U R N A L O F D A I LY I S L A N D L I F E . R E P R I N T E D W I T H P E R M I S S I O N S F R O M P H I L L I P H O WA R D , O C R A C O K E N C , O R I G I N A L P U B L I S H D AT E : O C TO B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 0

Pound Nets

reader recently asked about pound nets. Some of you may remember the spirited conversation we had some time ago about the Ocracoke term “chicken pound.” Off-islanders typically say “chicken yard” or “chicken pen.” We use the word “pound” in the sense of an enclosure (cf. “dog pound”). Thus, a pound net is a special type of fish net arranged so as to direct fish into a pound where they become trapped, and later extracted by commercial fishermen. The best description of pound net fishing I have found is posted on the wall of the Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Exhibit: The first recorded evidence of Pound Net Fishing dates to the late 1500s. English explorers tell of natives using rows of sticks to “impound” fish. The Pound Net consists of three parts: a lead line, the heart and the pound. As a fish is swimming in the water it will encounter the lead line. The lead line will guide the fish to swim toward the tunnel, a passage into the pound. As the fish swims through the tunnel towards the pound the tunnel gets progressively narrower. Fish that don’t enter the tunnel will swim into the heart. The heart takes advantage of the natural schooling tendency of the fish to lead them in a circle and back around to the entrance of the tunnel. Pound net fishing is a traditional method that many islanders learned from their fathers and grandfathers. It is labor intensive but on Ocracoke many favor tradition over ease. Poles 25 feet or longer are made from gum or tupelo. PVC pipe is also used but the 20 foot lengths restrict the use to shallow areas. They are jetted into the bottom until the poles are secure. Since the nets are usually set in shallow areas the tops of the poles can be seen above the water. Pound nets are not permanent. They are taken up seasonally, before storms and for maintenance. The nets are expensive and cost in the range of $10,000. Regular maintenance is critical to keep the nylon clean, free from sea growth and sediment build up.

Pound net fishing is environmentally friendly: ■ Fish are not harmed in the net as they can swim freely until the fishermen release them or they can swim back out along the lead line ■ Small fish can swim through the net holes of the lead line and the heart To bring the catch aboard: ■ Boat slowly approaches the “pound” and unties then lowers the top edge of the net ■ Holding the top edge of the net, it is slowly pulled into the boat so fish gather into one spot. This is called “bunting the net.” ■ The fish are brought into the boat by hand or a dip net. ■ The catch is “culled” to keep only the legal fish, the rest are put back in water. 26

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Below is a photo of a model of a pound net made by Ocracoke native, Edward Carlson O’Neal.

To read an article about pound net fishing that was published on the North Carolina Sea Grant web site: http://www.ncseagrant.org/home/coastwatch/coastwatch-articles?t ask=showArticle&id=580 To watch a YouTube video of pound net fishing on the Scuppernong River in North Carolina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-QtQaJA0Kw Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an article, with a number of photos, documenting the history of water cisterns on Ocracoke Island. Go to http:// www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102110.htm.

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Talk on the Dock COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN LAUREN RIMMER, A TRUE SURVIVOR! By: Barbara Garrity-Blake “Lauren, your mouth is going to get you killed. That’s what my mother tells me!” Indeed, 35-year old single mother Lauren Rimmer does not hold back when defending her livelihood as a commercial fisherman. Hailing from Beaufort, NC, Lauren recently went to Raleigh with fellow fishermen to fight for the industry’s survival. “They asked, you do this for a living? I said, yes, that’s why I’m here!” She believes that fishermen have a responsibility to educate others about their work and counteract negative stereotypes. “I told Senator Harry Brown, you’re actually uneducated about what I do. And I’m uneducated about what you do. So it’s the same concept, sir.” Lauren is the granddaughter of the late Carl Cannon, who ran Cannon Seafood in Beaufort for many years. She grew up fishing with him and with her father, Danny Rimmer. Although she got her degree in therapeutic recreation, and has worked other jobs, her love for the solitude and independence of commercial fishing won out… much to the consternation of her parents. “My father didn’t give me advice because he didn’t want me to fish,” she explained. “But I was bound and determined to figure it out, which moon will be the best, which tide, where can I go?” She playfully added that she’s gained her father’s respect since she “beat him at flounder gigging last year!” As for her mother, “She says, if you’re happy I’m happy. Okay, I’m happy!” Lauren has seen lots of changes in Beaufort and surrounding areas, and worries about the impact of development and loss of habitat on wildlife. “Seven hundred houses are getting built and they’re trying to

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figure out where the bears are coming from that are walking through Beaufort?” She shook her head at the thought of people building their “houses in the marsh.” “How many fish did you kill? What about when you Clorox your porch?” A small-scale fisherman, Lauren targets shrimp, crabs, flounder, and speckled trout. She has a skiff that she trailers from area to area that she calls “the money maker.” Her nine-year daughter Olivia often accompanies her, falling asleep in a bean bag chair during late hours of flounder gigging. “She’s tough,” Lauren emphasized. “I want her to be independent. She loves the water, loves to flounder, has her own little gig. She’s not scared of a thing. Tough little cookie.” Although Lauren does landscaping for a couple of people, more than 90 percent of her income comes from commercial fishing. “I bought my house on commercial fishing,” Lauren emphasized. “I put in my effort, and my money goes where it’s supposed to go. I’m able to take my daughter and do things. There’s plenty to be made in commercial fishing if you know how to manage your money.” This spring, Lauren Rimmer did not wet a crab pot. Why? She was in Fiji for almost 50 days as a contestant on the top-rated reality show Survivor. Her sister, “who loves to get me in trouble,” talked Lauren into going to a casting call in Greenville. Several interviews later, along with a background check, a visit to a doctor, a psychiatrist, an investigation by a private detective, and a trip to California for additional screening, Lauren got word that she made the cut. “They don’t tell you you’re going until two weeks prior to leaving. You have to Fed Ex all your clothes so they can approve them. Then you get on the plan and you’re gone.” Lauren described Survivor as a game of strategy and hardship, designed to “break you down mentally.” Several people are stranded in the wilderness, divided into teams, and must “outwit, outplay, and outlast,” each other for the one-million-dollar grand prize. “We had nothing – I slept on the beach in a sand hole, just to get rid of the bugs and mice. I lost nineteen pounds.” Lauren’s coastal upbringing seems to have benefitted her on the Fiji island. “I ran around that jungle like Mogley. Barefooted. Everybody had shoes on, and they were cut and bleeding every day. Growing up in the middle of a marsh really did help, because I walk looking at the ground, and they walk looking up! One guy stepped on a stake and it shoved through the bottom of his heel. And they sunburned – I never got sunburned.” Did her skills as a commercial fisherman help her endure the physical, emotional, and mental stress of the Survivor game?

“I think having common sense helped. Our teams were the heroes versus the healers versus the hustlers. The heroes were military, gymnasts, swimmer gold medalists. Healers were doctors, nurses, stuff like that. Hustlers were myself, a bell hop, a personal assistant. One of the producers told me, ‘You probably were the only true hustler.’ I think having to grow up hustling, trying to figure things out, being on my own, being a commercial fisherman – simple things like knot tying, oaring a boat - helped me to survive.” Lauren chose a low-key strategy, but couldn’t say if it paid off in the end. “I stayed in the background and did as little as possible, but did it well when I acted. You had to read the vibes off of everybody else. What mood are they in today? Who are they targeting? Who are they talking about? If you did too much, then you had a target on your back.” The current season of Survivor, called “Heroes v. Healers v. Hustler’s, premiered September 27. Have you tuned in to see how Lauren’s doing? Since filming the season, she’s lost no time catching up on her fishing and keeping up with the latest in fish politics. Lauren sells her product to Beaufort Inlet Seafood, and former officer manager and fisheries activist Aundrea O’Neal is her “go-to” person for the latest in fisheries news. “I’ve learned a lot through Aundrea,” Lauren emphasized. “When she says, ‘Girl, let me tell you…’ It makes you listen. Makes you want to be involved, because I like what I have and I want to keep what I have. And the only way to keep it is to listen and to participate.” “If you don’t participate,” she added, “you don’t have the right to say anything.” ________________________________________________ Barbara Garrity-Blake www.raisingthestory.com Living at the Water’s Edge (UNC Press) P.O. Box 91, Gloucester, NC 28528 (252)342-8028

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Council & Commission Meetings

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s August 2017 meeting Highlights Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Boards set 2018 specifications. The table below summarizes commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits (2017 values are provided for comparison purposes). Note that scup specifications for 2019 will be reviewed in 2018.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting - May Meeting Highlights

NC Marine Fisheries Commission May 2017 Meeting Highlights The Executive Committee had extensive deliberations on the impacts of the Secretary of Commerce’s decision to not agree with the Commission’s finding of *NC Secretary of the DEQ, Michael Regan, and Chief Deputy Secretary, John Nicholson, New Jersey’s noncompliance with summer flounder recreational measures. The attended the first night of the meeting, and Deputy Nicholson was able to attend the Committee expressed its concern that summer flounder abundance is decreasing majority of theofsecond day asyear well.will It isimpact hopeful thehealth department continues their and an overharvest the stock this thethat future of the stock. hands on approach and proactive The Committee also expressed its concernoversight. over the uncertainty of how the

Secretary may address future non-compliance findings. TheSouth commission Chuck Fisheries Laughridge as vice chairman. Other positions within the ASMFC’s Atlanticelected State/Federal Management Board met in May and August to receive findings 2017when Atlantic andmakes Spot his appointments. commission are the expected toofbethe made thecroaker Governor Benchmark Stock States Assessment and Peer Reports. While neither assessment Atlantic Marine Fisheries Meeting - May Meeting Highlights Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s August 2017 meeting Highlights The commission voted to ask theReview N.C.Commission Department of Environmental Quality secretary was endorsed by anit independent of fisheries scientists (Peer Review Panel) to authorize to develop apanel supplement to the Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery use, the Panel agreed the general results of the assessment Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Boards set 2018 for management The Executive Committee hadwith extensive deliberations on in the impacts of the Management Plan to make temporary management changes the Central-Southern actions are not necessary. specifications. The table below summarizes commercial quotas and recreational harvestthat immediate Secretarymanagement ofArea, Commerce’s toFear not River agreesystem. with the Commission’s finding of Management excludingdecision the Cape The Board approved the Draft FMP for AMG Cobia for public comment and added limits (2017 values are provided for comparison purposes). Note that scup specifications New Jersey’s noncompliance with summer flounder recreational measures. The Cobia the future SEDAR schedule. for 2019 will be reviewed in 2018. Committee expressed its concern thatcommercial summer flounder abundance is decreasing • Specifically, to: Reduce theindicates annual quota from 25,000 pounds to River Herring stock assessment update stock remains depleted on a A benchmark stock assessment for summer flounder is tentatively scheduled andbasis an overharvest of thethe stock this yeardaily will impact the future health of to the1 stock. 2,500 pounds; Lower recreational bag limit from 2 fish per day fish coastwide though improvements have occurred in several river systems. for peer review in late 2018. Assessment update for scup through 2016 indicates that the TheEel Committee expressed concern over the of how the American Management Board met to its consider North Carolina’s revisedto Glass per day; and also Increase the recreational size limit touncertainty a 24-inch 26-inch slot. The stock was not overfished and overfishing was not occurring. Spawning stock biomass is Secretary may future findings. Eel Aquaculture Plan foraddress 2017,approving 2018 and 2019, with current minimum size limit non-compliance isthe 18revised inches plan with for no possession of fish between 22 estimated to be 206% of the biomass target. The Council and Board adopted the revised the understanding the Board would again be presented theManagement results of the 2018 ASMFC’s Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Board met in May 2018 Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) recommended by the Scientific and Statistical inchesSouth and 27 inches. seasonand laterAugust next year. receive the findings of the 2017 Atlantic croaker and Spot Committee (SSC), which represents a substantial (45%) increase over the previously • Fisheriestomanagement plans: AtlanticBenchmark Menhaden Management Board and reviewed the results of the 2017 Atlantic Stock Assessment Peer Review Reports. While neither assessment implemented 2018 ABC. Black sea bass update indicates that biomass continues to be • Decided to delay review ofwhich the full Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Menhaden Stock Assessment Update, indicates the resource remains was Plan, endorsed by an independent panel of fisheries scientists (Peer Review Panel) high, and the 2015 year class appears to be above average. Bluefish 2018 commercial which began year, to no earlier than 2019.toThis was made contingent it is not overfished northis experiencing overfishing relative current quota and recreational harvest limit are preliminary and will likely change following release healthy; for management use, the Panel agreed with the generalthe results of the assessment upon approval of a supplement. biological reference points. The Board also approved Draft Amendment 3 to the of 2017 final Marine Recreational Information Program harvest estimates. that immediate management actions are not necessary. Interstate Management (FMP) Atlantic forprocess, public and agreed to • Fishery Continue the reviewPlan of the Bluefor Crab plan,Menhaden currently in TheThis Board approvedaddresses the Draftchanging FMP forthe AMG Cobia reference for publicpoints, comment and added comment. amendment ecological review the Southern Flounder plan as soon as the peer reviewed stock Summer Flounder Amendment: The Council and Board considered the July 2017 Cobiaaltering the future SEDAR schedule. and possibly the allocation schemes. Draft Amendment 3 is available to assessment is completed later this year, or in early 2018. recommendations from the Council’s Demersal Committee on draft commercial issues River Herring stock update indicates stocktoremains depleted on a www.asmfc.org andassessment public comments may be submitted Megan Ware A benchmark stock assessment for summer flounder is tentatively scheduled view at: alternatives within the Comprehensive Summer Flounder Amendment. • Review the Shrimp plan as soon as a state study on bycatch reduction devices in coastwide basis though have in several river systems. as wellimprovements as by mail or fax, untiloccurred 5:00 PM (EST) on October for peer review in late 2018.Accepted Assessment update forrecommendation scup through 2016 indicates Requalification: the Committee to move forwardthat theat: comments@asmfc.org, the shrimp trawl fishery is completed, but no later than February 2018, 20, 2017. American Eel Management Board met to consider North Carolina’s revised Glass with analysis of requalifying criteria options for existing federal summer flounder stock was not overfished and overfishing was not occurring. Spawning stock biomass is • Begin review of the Spotted Seatrout plan in 2019, Eel Aquaculture Plan for 2017,approving the revised plan for 2018 and 2019, with moratorium permits, to drop alternatives on tiered permit systems. Several estimated to be 206%and of the biomass target.based The Council and Board adopted the revised • the understanding BeginNext review of the theAugust Bay Scallop, Herring, Interjurisdictional, and meeting: 1, - 3, River 2017; Alexandria, VA the resultsKingfishes Board would again be presented of the 2018 qualifying time period and landings threshold options were analysis, as 2018 Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) recommended byrecommended the Scientificfor and Statistical Striped Mullet plans in 2020, listed below, resulting in a total of 20 initial options for time period/landings threshold season later next year. Committee (SSC), which represents a substantial (45%) increase over the previously • Atlantic BeginMenhaden review of the Hard Clam and Oyster plans in combinations. These management options would not apply to state-specific permits. Management Board reviewed the2022, results of the 2017 Atlantic

implemented 2018 ABC. Black sea bass update indicates that biomass continues to be • Menhaden The commission also accepted the Division of Marinethe Fisheries’ annual update on Stock Assessment Update, which indicates resource remains high, and the 2015 year class appears to be above average. Bluefish 2018 commercial red drum, which cites an nor Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission red drum healthy; it is not overfished experiencing overfishing relative to the current quota and recreational harvest limit are preliminary and will likely change following release stock assessment and management plan, as the formal statutory review3oftothe biological reference points. The Board also approved Draft Amendment the of 2017 final Marine Recreational Information Program harvest estimates. North Carolina Red Drum plan, and(FMP) slate afor new reviewMenhaden of the Red Drum plan for Interstate Fishery Management Plan Atlantic for public 2022 This amendment addresses changing the ecological reference points, comment. Summer Flounder Amendment: The Council and Board considered the July 2017 and possibly altering the allocation schemes. Draft Amendment 3 is available to recommendations from the Council’s Demersal Committee on draft commercial issues Commercial Allocation: The Council and Board considered the Committee The commission also voted to make 1,500 Standardmay Commercial FishingtoLicenses view at: www.asmfc.org and public comments be submitted Megan Ware alternatives within the Comprehensive Summer Flounder Amendment. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting Highlights recommendation to postpone indefinitely any analysis of commercial allocation options in available through the Divisionas of well Marine Fisheries’ eligibility pool for 2017-2018 at: comments@asmfc.org, as by mail or fax, until 5:00 PMthe (EST) on October Requalification: themotion. Committee recommendation to move this amendment, but did notAccepted approve this Commercial allocation options will forward be fiscal year. 20, 2017. with analysis of requalifying criteria options for existing federal summer flounder considered by the Demersal Committee at their next meeting. moratorium Landings permits, Flexibility: and to drop on tieredthe permit systems. Several Next meeting: Sept 11-15, 2017; Postponed until Sept 25-29; Charleston, SC Thealternatives Council and based Board approved Committee NextNext meeting: Nov.August 15-16, Hilton Inn, Kitty Hawk meeting: 1, - 3, Garden 2017; Alexandria, VA recommendation to encourage statesthreshold to developoptions cooperative toward qualifying time period and landings wereagreements recommended formore analysis, as flexible landings policies commercial summer flounder. The Council and Board threshold also listed below, resulting in for a total of 20 initial options for time period/landings voted to remove landings flexibility as an immediate management option within the combinations. These management options would not apply to state-specific permits. amendment but to include an option to add landings flexibility as a frameworkable issue within the Council’s fishery management plan (FMP).

Excessive Shares Amendment: Council staff presented a summary of scoping comments on the Excessive Shares Amendment. The amendment will consider options to ensure that no individual, corporation, or other entity acquires an excessive share of the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) privileges. In addition, the amendment will include a review and potential revision of the goals and objectives for the SCOQ FMP.

Commercial Allocation: The Council and Board considered the Committee recommendation to postpone indefinitely anyNY analysis of commercial allocation options in Next meeting: October 10-12, 2017; Riverhead, this amendment, but did not approve this motion. Commercial allocation options will be considered by the Demersal Committee at their next meeting. Landings Flexibility: The Council and Board approved the Committee recommendation to encourage states to develop cooperative agreements toward more 30 landings www.ncfish.org flexible policies for commercial summer flounder. The Council and Board also voted to remove landings flexibility as an immediate management option within the

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting Highlights

Next meeting: Sept 11-15, 2017; Postponed until Sept 25-29; Charleston, SC

hlights hts

Atlantic States MarineFisheries Fisheries Commission Commission Meeting Meeting Highlights Atlantic States Marine Meeting- May - May Meeting Highlights

set 0182018 nal harvest arvest ecifications ations

Executive Committeehad hadextensive extensive deliberations impacts of the TheThe Executive Committee deliberationson onthe the impacts of the Secretary Commerce’sdecision decision to to not not agree finding of of Secretary of of Commerce’s agreewith withthe theCommission’s Commission’s finding New Jersey’s noncompliancewith with summer summer flounder measures. TheThe New Jersey’s noncompliance flounderrecreational recreational measures. Committee expressedits itsconcern concern that that summer is decreasing Committee expressed summerflounder flounderabundance abundance is decreasing overharvestofofthe thestock stockthis this year year will health of the stock. andand an an overharvest willimpact impactthe thefuture future health of the stock. Committee alsoexpressed expressedits its concern concern over of of how thethe TheThe Committee also overthe theuncertainty uncertainty how Secretary may addressfuture futurenon-compliance non-compliance findings. Secretary may address findings. ASMFC’s South AtlanticState/Federal State/Federal Fisheries Board met in May ASMFC’s South Atlantic FisheriesManagement Management Board met in May August receivethe thefindings findings of of the the 2017 and Spot andand August toto receive 2017Atlantic Atlanticcroaker croaker and Spot Benchmark Stock Assessmentand and Peer Peer Review neither assessment Benchmark Stock Assessment ReviewReports. Reports.While While neither assessment endorsed independent panel panel of (Peer Review Panel) waswas endorsed byby ananindependent of fisheries fisheriesscientists scientists (Peer Review Panel) management use,the thePanel Panelagreed agreed with of of thethe assessment for for management use, withthe thegeneral generalresults results assessment that immediate management actions are not necessary. that immediate management actions are not necessary. Board approvedthe theDraft DraftFMP FMP for for AMG comment andand added TheThe Board approved AMGCobia Cobiafor forpublic public comment added Cobia future SEDARschedule. schedule. Cobia thethe future SEDAR River Herring stockassessment assessmentupdate update indicates depleted on on a a Herring stock indicatesstock stockremains remains depleted scheduled River eduled coastwide basis though improvements have occurred in several river systems. tes hatthat the the coastwide basis though improvements have occurred in several river systems. American ManagementBoard Board met met to revised Glass American EelEel Management to consider considerNorth NorthCarolina’s Carolina’s revised Glass iomass ass is is Aquaculture Planfor for2017,approving 2017,approving the 2018 and 2019, withwith Aquaculture Plan therevised revisedplan planfor for 2018 and 2019, he revised EelEel evised understandingthe theBoard Boardwould would again again be results of of thethe 2018 thethe understanding bepresented presentedthe the results 2018 atistical ical season later next year. season later next year. iously ly Atlantic MenhadenManagement Management Board Board reviewed ofof thethe 2017 Atlantic Atlantic Menhaden reviewedthe theresults results 2017 Atlantic ues to be o be Menhaden Stock AssessmentUpdate, Update, which resource remains Menhaden Stock Assessment whichindicates indicatesthe the resource remains mmercial rcial healthy; it is not overfished nor experiencing overfishing relative to the current owing release healthy; it is not overfished nor experiencing overfishing relative to the current g release biological referencepoints. points.The TheBoard Board also Amendment 3 to3 the biological reference also approved approvedDraft Draft Amendment to the Interstate Fishery ManagementPlan Plan (FMP) (FMP) for forfor public Interstate Fishery Management forAtlantic AtlanticMenhaden Menhaden public comment. This amendment addresses changing the ecological reference points, comment. This amendment addresses changing the ecological reference points, 017 possibly alteringthe theallocation allocation schemes. schemes. Draft 3 is3 available to to andand possibly altering DraftAmendment Amendment is available ial issues sues view www.asmfc.organd andpublic public comments comments may to to Megan Ware view at:at: www.asmfc.org maybe besubmitted submitted Megan Ware comments@asmfc.org,as aswell well as as by by mail PM (EST) on on October comments@asmfc.org, mailor orfax, fax,until until5:00 5:00 PM (EST) October ve forward at: at: rward 2017. 20,20, 2017. der

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South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting Highlights South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting Highlights Next meeting: Sept 11-15, 2017; Postponed until Sept 25-29; Charleston, SC Next meeting: Sept 11-15, 2017; Postponed until Sept 25-29; Charleston, SC

comments on ments on nsure that no e that no clam and m and amendment ndment SCOQ FMP. Q FMP.

north carolina fisheries association 31

a Down County Boil and Fish Stew.

Arapahoe Charter Schoolsents pre

See & See& See Arapahoe Schoolsents Sea SeaCharter& Seapre See& Sea

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Saturday, November 11th Noon-3pm Tickets - $20 (til Oct. 27) See the Dream. Taste the Sea. See the Dream. Taste the Sea. See the Dream. Taste the Sea. Children (Under 12) - $10 Presented by Arapahoe Charter School and the Carolina Fisheries Association Presented working After Oct. 27 or at theNorth door - $25 by Arapahoe Charter School and the together for a Sound Education Presented by Arapahoe Charter School and the North Carolina Fisheries Association North Carolina Fisheries Associationworking working together for a Sound Education together for a Sound Education For tickets, Call You’reGreg invited to tour our Dream

Arapahoe Charter ual School’s First Ann

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. On the menu . .the a custom blend of t ugh -ca ally finest loc with seafood brimmingand clams & shrimp fish a fresh downeast stew!

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currently erSchool or at 252-249-2599 visit under construction Arapahoe Chart nual School’s First An and enjoy a locally-caught www.arapahoecharter.org seafood lunch featuring See

. On the menu . .the a custom blend of ht finest locally-caugwith gr inte mar imCh seafAroo apdahbroe pnuanald shstrim & s An m cla Fir ’s ol ho Sc fish a fresh downeast stew!

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. On the menu . .the of d en bl m sto cu a ht finest locally-caugwith g seafood brimmin and clams & shrimp fish a fresh downeast stew!

Seetothe Taste the Sea. You’re invited tourDream. our Dream You’re invited to tour our Dream Seaa Down County Boil and Fish Stew. School currently under construction and enjoy a locally-caught School currently under construction Presented by Arapahoe Charter School and the . . . nu me seafood lunch featuring Arapahoe Charter School On the and enjoy a locally-caught the North Carolina Fisheries Association working a custom blend ofght a Down County Boil and Fish Stew. finest locally-cau with9005 Hwy 306S, Arapahoe ing brimm

seafood d clams & shrimp an fish a fresh downeast stew!

seafood lunch together for afeaturing Sound Education a Down County BoilCharter and Fish Arapahoe SchoolStew.

Saturday, November 11th NCFA Aids School Building Project 9005 Hwy 306S, Arapahoe Noon-3pm invited to tour our Dream Tickets - $20 (til Oct. 27) You’re Arapahoe Charter School The North Carolina Fisheries Association Arapahoe Charter School, working together to Children (Under 12) - $10 Schooland currently under construction Saturday, provide a Sound Education, invite everyone to enjoy a Down County Boil and ArapahoeFish Stew on Sat-urday, After Oct. 27 or at the door - $25 9005 Hwy 306S, November 11th November 11th, noon-3 pm on the school grounds.

and enjoy a locally-caught seafood lunch featuring Saturday, a Down County Boil and Fish Stew. November 11th Noon-3pm Arapahoe Charter School Tickets - $20 (til Oct. 27) 9005 Hwy 306S, Arapahoe Children (Under 12) - $10 After Oct. 27 or at the door - $25 Saturday, November 11th Noon-3pm Tickets - $20 (til Oct. 27) Children (Under 12) - $10 After Oct. 27 or at the door - $25

The celebration kicks off the last leg of its new $9 million building Noon-3pm complex. Currently under con-struction, over $7.5 million has already been For tickets, Call Greg Tickets - $20 (til Oct. 27) at 252-249-2599secured or visit leaving $1.5 million needed to complete the final stages. Children - $10are donating To launch the last phase of project(Under , NCFA12) members www.arapahoecharter.org seafood for this special event that27 willoroffer a seafood After Oct. at the door -stew $25including fresh, locally-caught clams and shrimp as well as a fish stew, crusty bread and a beverage for $20 (until Oct. 27) or $25 (after the 27th or at the door). Home baked goods will be available for donations. For tickets, Call Greg “As an educational institution we recognize the importance of our commercial at 252-249-2599 or visitfishing heritage through the many students who have connections to the industry that go back many genera-tions,” www.arapahoecharter.org said Dr. Dennis Sawyer, ACS Administrative Director. “This is a way to celebrate that heritage coupled with celebrating the building of our dream school - what better way than with a seafood lunch.” NCFA has been serving North Carolina’s fishing families since 1952 including many Pamlico County families. “This is an opportunity for NCFA to not only serve the fishingCall community For tickets, Greg but to support our educational institutions,” said Glenn Skinner, Executive Director of NCFA. “Schools can play a piv-otal part 252-249-2599 visit in educating the public about the commercialatindustry and we alwaysor look forward to participating in events such as this one.” www.arapahoecharter.org To order advance tickets ($20) for the seafood dinner celebration, visit www.arapahoecharter.org or call Greg at 252-249-2599. Arapahoe Charter School, located at 9005 Hwy 306S, Arapahoe in Pamlico County, is a regional public school of choice serving grades Kindergarten through 12th.

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For tickets, Call Greg at 252-249-2599 or visit www.arapahoecharter.org

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252-637-0483

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Get involved Become a member in your community CONTACT : Albemarle Fisherman’s Association Terry Pratt 252-339-7431 Pamlico County Fisherman’s Association Wayne Dunbar Hwd0123@gmail.com 252-670-7467 Oz Hudgins Home: 252-745-7424 Mobile: 252-571-2002 Carteret County Fisherman’s Association Bradley Styron qualityseafood@clis.com Office: 252-225-0073 Mobile: 252-342-8821 Brunswick County Fishermen’s Association Randy Robinson fishmancsx@gmail.com 910-209-3463 Ocracoke Working Waterman’s Association Hardy Plyler hplyler@gmail.com 252-588-0512 34

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Around the Coast Affiliate News Albemarle Fisherman’s Association

Terry Prat~ “A few Flounder to the Eastern end “pretty fish”, crabs are moving to the Western end, just catching enough to get by. Catfishing just getting by, getting ‘bout 40 cents a pound, and work like hell to get them. Ass load of Sturgeon, few stripers. Boys on the Eastern end are catching green tails like they are going to bed with the Skimmers.”

Oyster Aquaculture is showing good growth and those oysters are being sold locally. Still have some gillnetters for Spanish.”

Brunswick County Fisherman’s Association

Randy Robinson~ “Starting to catch over slot of Red Drum in the Ocean. The Red Drum fishery has become World Class as far as hook and line. King Mackerel have moved in about 2 miles off the beach. We had a charter guy catch 9 King Mackerel one morning last week. Flounder are slowing down, but the Speckled Trout are picking up inshore. Commercials are starting to catch some jumping mullet. Shrimpers are back in from the sound getting ready for the white shrimp season. The inlet was just dredged, but Jose closed it right back in. It’s impassable on a low tide. Lockwood Folly Inlet Association are addressing these concerns continuously.”

Carteret County Fisherman’s Association

Bradley Styron~ “Weather has been holding our pound netters off because of all of the losses over the past few years. Some of the guys are holding off to see what this storm does. Shrimping is still going on at the Northern end, but weather is making it hard to do anything. We want to give Jeff and Keri McCann a big THANK YOU for once again allowing us to have the Fishermen’s Village at their business establishment during the Seafood Festival. We appreciate all of their continuous support.”

Carteret County Fisherman’s Association Proud Affiliate of the North Carolina Fisheries Association

Pamlico County Fisherman’s Association

Wayne Dunbar~ “Just been taking up crab pots because of the low prices, Hurricanes and storms. Transitioning over to Flounder large mesh gillnetting, drop netting for Speckled Trout, Spots, Red Drum and Black Drum.”

Ocracoke Working Waterman’s Association

Ocracoke Fish House~ There’s been a handful of pound netters fishing, no report on landings because they haven’t been able to fish. Waiting on these storms to pass, hopefully with no damage. Good news is that our north carolina fisheries association 35

A WORD FROM: BLUE WATER FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION PO Box 51828, Boston, MA. 02210

I have just returned from the Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel (HMSAP) Meetings in Silver Spring MD., that where held Sept.6-7. To start the meeting, Assistant Administrator to NOOA, Chris Oliver was introduced to the HMSAP Members. We had an opportunity to convey our message of just what we felt NMFS needed to do to help revitalize our Domestic Fisheries. My statement pertained not only to my HMS-PLL Fishery, but to all Commercial Domestic Fisheries under his watch. I told him that the Agency needed to do a better job of promoting the level of Sustainability that our Domestic Fisheries by law, we fish under. We should not allow outside or independent certifies to strong arm our buyers and negatively affect our sustainable fishing efforts. Chris Oliver, with his extensive experience participating in the Regulatory Process in the Pacific was all too familiar with this problem. He has seen firsthand the negative financial impact

these outside or independent certifiers can have on a fishery. He suggested that it may be time for NMFS to develop our own US Sustainable Certification to help protect our Commercial Domestic Fisheries and their efforts towards sustainable fishing. Personally, I believe in a boat to plate certification as well. I would be proud to put the name of my vessel, it’s US Documentation Number as well as my Federal Permit Numbers on every fish I land. I am proud of my Sustainable Fishing Efforts as should NMFS that of who’s Regulations I and my fellow HMSPLL Fishermen fish under.

Martin T Scanlon Owner Operator, F/V Provider II Board of Director BWFA

East Carolina University and the Graying of the Fleet

Debra A. Kosko DNP, MN, FNP-BC

Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world, with an occupational mortality rate of 118 for every 100,000 workers. That’s the highest of all occupations in the US. At the same time, we are witnessing the graying of the fleet, with a consistent rise in the average age of the fishing workforce in the US. An indicator of an aging population can be seen through health insurance availability, as fishers watch health insurance they receive through fishing programs dry up. Fishers have a high rate of skin cancer, especially in North Carolina, where there is consistent sun exposure. Nearly 25 percent of the North Carolina fishing community has reported having skin disorders. Other health effects include traumatic injury, hearing loss, other cancers, musculoskeletal conditions, lung disorders, psychosocial effects, mental health disorders, and zoonotic diseases. The East Carolina University Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) is a collaborative program of the College of Nursing, Brody School of Medicine and the Physician Assistant Program. GWEP provides health screening for North Carolina’s older adult fishers, from Hatteras to the Cape Fear region. The screening focuses on changes as we age, such as balance, hearing and cognition. The screening takes about 10 minutes. GWEP also has a network of collaborating medical services for people with and without insurance. If you would like information about GWEP has to offer fishers in your community or would like our GWEP nurses to attend your event anywhere along our North Carolina coast, please contact Dr. Debra Kosko at koskod@ecu.edu or 252-744-6421. 36

www.ncfish.org

References: National Academies Press (2008), NRC, IOM Review of NIOSH Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Research Program. OSHA, Confined Space Safety on Commercial Fishing Vessels, retrieved from: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/confinedspacesafety-commercialfishingvesselsfactsheet.pdf CDC, NIOSH, Commercial Fishing Safety, retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/fishing/decksafety.html Lucas, D. L., Kincl, L. D., Bovbjerg, V. E., Lincoln, J. M., & Branscum, A. J. (2014). Workrelated traumatic injuries onboard freezer-trawlers and freezer-longliners operating in Alaskan waters during 2001-2012. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 57(7), 826836. doi:10.1002/ajim.22310 Green, A., (2003). “Sea Science: Skin Cancer Project Targets Fishing Community, North Carolina Seawatch.

Tradewinds is a bi-monthly publication owned and published by North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. (NCFA). The North Carolina Fisheries Association is a non-profit organization based on Families, Heritage, and Seafood. Commercial fishermen established the North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. in 1952 to serve fishing families by protecting their heritage and promoting seafood. Over six decades later, NCFA still believes the commercial fishing industry begins and ends with families â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from those who harvest seafood to those who help supply the industries needs and to those who enjoy the harvest. We are committed to presenting an accurate portrait of the industry and the people who sustain it.

Tradewinds Ad Prices are as follows: Full Page: 8.62 X 11.25 Half Vertical: 3.625 X 9.75 Half Horizontal: 7.375 X 4.75 Quarter Page: 3.625 X 4.75 Eighth Page: 3.625 X 2.1875 Business Directory (30 Words)

$400.00 $250.00 $250.00 $150.00 $100.00 $ 35.00 (Not Business Cards) *

The above rates are based per issue. For any additional information or to advertise, call 252-503-8302 or email: Aundrea@ncfish.org or Tradewinds@ncfish.org Note: With Annual Prepaid Ad Commitment there is a 10% discount off the top (excludes Business Directory) **As a courtesy your ad will also be placed on NCFISH.ORG in a digital Tradewinds Flipbook**

Ocracoke Working Watermen's Association 416 Irvin Garrish Hwy, Ocracoke, NC

2017

o-YSTEB ROAST

30 Dec I 2-5 PM Desserts and Hot Apple Cider from 3-6 pm. At the Watermen's Exhibit located at the Community Square on the Docks GOOD FOOD, GOOD CAUSE, GOOD

PEOPLE!

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NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. Box 86 101 N. 5th Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 www.ncfish.org 252.726.NCFA (6232)

NCFA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

If you enjoy fresh North Carolina seafood and you support the hardworking fishing families that put it on the plate, become a member today!

MEMBER INFORMATION Name: Mailing Address: City, State, Zip: Email: Primary Phone: Other Phone: Website:

COMMERCIAL MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES Commercial Fisherman Dealers, Packers & Processors

Receive Tradewinds and Weekly Updates with your membership.

$25

a. $1,0000,000 or more

$1250

b. $500,000 - $999,999

$750

c. Up to $499,999

$500

Half Percent Contributor - ½ % of Gross Stock of Catch

☐

Half-percent contributors pay dues based on gross stock of their catch allowing fishermen to pay dues based on a small percentage of their profit. For example, for $1,000 in stock you would pay $5. Participating fish houses deduct the ½%, match it and send it to NCFA. Fishermen and boat owners may contribute a ½% dues without a matching contribution and fish houses may contribute with only a few fishermen.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES Individual

Receive Tradewinds with your membership and Weekly Updates via email.

$25

Business Sponsor

Receive Tradewinds with your membership and Weekly Updates via email.

$250

Thank you for joining the North Carolina Fisheries Association! 38

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