COASTAL 



TIDINGS 



New Snapper-Grouper 

 Harvest Restrictions 



ABOVE: North Carolina waterfronts have many uses. 



Changing 

 Waterfronts Forum 



Along North Carolina's coast, 

 waterfronts are seeing many changes. 

 Although traditional maritime operations 

 still occupy some waterfront areas, 

 numerous marine facilities are being 

 redeveloped for residential or other uses. 



To share ideas about this dynamic 

 situation, North Carolina Sea Grant will host 

 "North Carolina's Changing Waterfronts: 

 Coastal Access and Traditional Uses" on 

 June 5. The event will be held at the New 

 Bern Riverfront Convention Center. 



The one-day forum will include: 

 sessions on how and why waterfronts 

 are changing; cultural and economic 

 factors; options for communities and 

 property owners; and innovative efforts 

 in other states. 



Registration will be required. 

 For more information, contact North 

 Carolina Sea Grant, 91 9/51 5-2454 or 

 jack_thigjen@ncsu.edu. Look for updates 

 on www.ncseagrant.org. — A.G. 



The South 

 Atlantic Fishery 

 Management 

 Council (SAMFC) 

 has approved new 

 harvest restrictions 

 on the snapper- 

 grouper fishery. 

 The new regulations reduce the current 344,508- 

 pound snowy grouper quota to 1 5 1 ,000 pounds 

 in 2006. By the third year of the plan, the quota 

 will fall to 84,000 pounds with a limit of 100 

 pounds per trip. These quotas apply to North 

 Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east 

 Florida — the areas regulated by SAMFC. 



Although these restrictions may seem 

 severe to some, the SAFMC expects that fishers 

 will reap rewards when stocks of snapper- 

 grouper species rebound. However, some 



scientists have cautioned that the "rebound" 

 may take as long as 30 years. 



Commercial fishers worry that the new 

 quotas may drive them out of business. In 

 response to these new limits, the N.C. Division 

 of Marine Fisheries says fishers will probably 

 target a different species to make up lost 

 income. But, SAMFC managers warn, that 

 may only shift the fishing pressure elsewhere. 



A popular "alternate" species is tilefish, 

 which often mix with snowy grouper off the 

 coast of North Carolina. This makes it difficult 

 for fishers to target tilefish, for fear that snowy 

 grouper will be caught as bycatch. 



Many fishers suggest the quotas should 

 be tailored to each state, similar to the striped 

 bass and summer flounder plans. However, 

 SAMFC plans to go ahead with the new 

 regional restrictions as written. — E.S. 



Spring 'Encore for Oysters' Planned 



Th 



Ih ree regional public 

 forums celebrating the 

 eastern oyster will be held 

 on Saturday, March 

 25. During the events, 

 participants will learn 

 about oyster projects 

 taking place along the 

 North Carolina coast 

 through poster displays, 

 field trips and presentations. 



The daylong "Encore for zfiRty 

 Oysters" — at the N.C. Aquariums at Fort 

 Fisher and at Roanoke Island, and the Duke 

 University Marine Lab in Beaufort — are 

 cosponsored by the North Carolina Coastal 

 Federation. Activities will include morning 

 presentations, lunchtime displays and a 

 selection of afternoon field trips. 



Participants will learn about a variety of 

 projects focused on improving and restoring 

 oyster habitat including: wetland restoration, 

 stormwater control, oyster reef restoration, 



oyster shell recycling and oyster 

 gardening. Depending on 

 the region, field trips may 

 include a visit to a living 

 shoreline, oyster and 

 wetland restoration 

 projects, or a local oyster 

 hatchery. 



Additional 

 sponsorship for the 

 forums is made possible by 

 North Carolina Sea Grant, N.C. 

 Estuarine Research Reserve, N.C. Department 

 of Environment and Natural Resources, 

 N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, 

 Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuanne Program, 

 Environmental Defense, Nature Conservancy 

 and the University of North Carolina at 

 Wilmington, among others. 



Space is limited, and registration is 

 required. For a detailed agenda, field trip 

 descriptions and registration information go to 

 www.nccoast.orgor call 252/393-8195. — E.S. 



4 Coastwatch I Spring 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 



