http://hamptonroads.com/2011/02/complaints-fish-kill-surface-again-outer-banks By Erin James The Virginian-Pilot © February 5, 2011 PEA ISLAND, N.C. For the second time in three weeks, reports of a large fish kill off the Outer Banks coastline are drawing attention to controversial commercial fishing practices and the regulations that govern the industry. Commercial trawlers discarded thousands of dead striped bass into the ocean Thursday near the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, according to complaints logged with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Photos of dead fish floating on the water are circulating online - again. Controversy first erupted Jan. 15, when dozens of recreational fishermen witnessed a trawl boat dump thousands of dead striped bass into the water. Angry anglers posted video of the sight on YouTube, setting off a firestorm of criticism. Some speculated that watermen were "high-grading," or dumping smaller fish to keep larger ones and maximize profit without violating the state's 50-fish-per-day limit. State fisheries officials concluded that the Jan. 15 incident was not an intentional result of high-grading, but they changed the rules to discourage the practice anyway. Since the trawl fishery re opened Monday, the agency has enforced a 2,000-pound-per-day limit. "The way that we changed our rules was really to try to minimize the discard mortality - knowing that there would still be some," fisheries spokeswoman Patricia Smith said. On Thursday, fisheries officials responded to the latest complaints by dispatching officials in a helicopter and on foot to investigate. "Given the number of complaints we got a couple of weeks ago, we felt it was necessary to go on up and get our own photos and our own information," Smith said. Investigators counted 251 dead striped bass in the water and on the beach. Most probably were discarded by commercial trawl boats because they were smaller than the legal minimum of 28 inches, Smith said. The practice, known as culling, is legal. Smith said she could not explain the discrepancy between the complaints and the official count, though about two hours elapsed between the time of the complaints and the division's response. "If someone actually has photos of thousands of fish, we'd be happy to see them," she said. Pea Island refuge staff conducted their own investigation Friday. Spokeswoman Bonnie Strawser said employees found 21 striped bass on Pea Island beaches scattered from the northern border at Oregon Inlet south to near Rodanthe. The trawl fishery closed Friday at 6 p.m. At a meeting next week in Pine Knoll Shores, the state's Marine Fisheries Commission - an appointed board of fishermen and scientists - will discuss the state's response to the controversy. The public has opportunities to comment at 6 p.m. Thursday and 8:15 a.m. Friday at the Clam Digger Inn, 511 Salter Path Road. Erin James, (252) 441-1711, erin.james@pilotonline.com ================================================ Fishing reduces stress and gives you a break from our modern world where everything is going a million miles per hour 73 Check & Clear 6 LOC: 38-54-14.60N / 097-14-09.07W |
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