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Hatteras - Ocracoke Auxiliary 



North Carolina Fisheries Association 



P.O. Box 183 



Buxton, N.C. 27920 



May 26, 1993 



Congressman Thomas J. Manton 



U.S. House of Representatives 



Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries 



Room 1334, Longworth House Office Bldg. 



Washington, D.C. 20515-6230 



Dear Congressman Manton: 



Ihe Hatteras - Ocracoke Auxiliary of the North Carolina Fisheries Association 

 is deeply concerned about the creation of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries 

 Cooperative Managenent Act. 



Our organization represents commercial fishing families on two islands of 

 North Carolina's Outer Banks. Commercial fishing operations here are small 

 family-owned and operated businesses. Our boats are small vessels with, 

 typically, a two-man crew although it is not uncommon for many of our 

 owners to fish singlehadedly. Most of our boats are not large or fast 

 enough to venture off-shore, especially considering that weather conditions 

 here change frequently and abruptly. Traditionally our fishermen have 

 relied on in-shore species, such as weakfish and bluefish. 



Our commercial fishing ccmmunity is not opposed to the sensible regulation 

 of our fishery resources. In 1992 the North Carolina Division of Marine 

 Fisheries implemented a number of new regulations for our weakfish fishery. 

 We have complied with those regulations. We believe that the North Carolina 

 Division of Marine Fisheries should be credited with developing fishery 

 management plans that take into consideration both the protection of our 

 marine resources and the continuation of the conmercial industry. 



In contrast, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has, historically, 

 ignored the economic impact of its actions. The Striped Bass Conservation Act 

 of 1984 devastated many North Carolina ccmmercial fishermen and their families. 

 It should be possible to develop legislation that protects our resources but 

 also protects our commercial fishing families. A closure of the weakfish 

 fishery during our prime fishing season would be devastating to not only 

 our fleet but to our entire community. There seems to be a lack of a sound 

 scientific basis for dictating moratoriums or closures in the fishery. 



We have enclosed a copy of a description of our area's sink net fleet and 

 our concerns regarding an expansion of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 

 Cbmmission's authority. We prepared this information for Congressman 

 Lancaster several months ago. 



We ask that you respect our interests and concerns in developing legislation 

 to protect not only our marine resources but also our commercial fishing 

 families. Please call me (919-995-4131) if you wish to discuss this matter. 



Thank you. 



Sincerely, 



Susan B. West 

 President 



