Raleigh, NC ---In a letter directed to Dr. Louis Daniels, Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries, the recently formed North Carolina Chapter of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA-NC) has called for a complete removal of all mobile and fixed net gear from all non-coastal waters, which include sounds, bays, estuaries and creeks. By unanimous vote, the RFA-NC board decided that a ban of all net gear in non-coastal waters is a proactive and responsible course of action with respect to the management of North Carolina's natural resources.

"North Carolina's non-coastal waters serve many critical functions for important finfish such as summer flounder, spot, red drum, speckled seatrout, croaker, striped bass, grouper and menhaden, among many others found along the entire Atlantic Coast," explains Tim Barefoot, owner of Barefoot Fishing Gear and Co-Chairman of the RFA-NC. "These important assets demand protection from highly efficient gear types."

Many coastal states along the Atlantic coast have recognized that highly efficient net gear is not compatible with sensitive areas typically found in non-coastal waters and implemented prohibitions on highly efficient net gear. North Carolina has over 200,000 areas of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), which is essential for many important commerical and recreational finfish and shellfish. Bottom-disturbing fishing gear, such as gillnets, dredges, etc., has been identified as a threat to SAV. RFA-NC believes a prohibition of bottom disturbing gear in non-coastal and estuarine waters is consistent with long-term management goals pursued by the state of North Carolina, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Furthermore, highly efficient gear in bays and estuaries has an excess ive impact on juvenile fish, which utilize these productive areas in this stage of their life history.

"There are an estimated 2 million recreational anglers in North Carolina and their economic importance to the state economy can not be overlooked," continues Barefoot. "While we recognize that an absolute maximum of 4,000 commercial fishermen may be impacted by this prohibition, there are sufficient opportunities available through buyout programs, retraining, and aquaculture to invalidate the excuse that commerical fishermen will be put out of business. The benefits, to all fish species along the mid and south-Atlantic coast, are far too great not to act."

"It is time for North Carolina to become better stewards of their inshore marine fisheries," states Charles Milam, RFA-NC Co-Chairman.

"We are looking forward to working with the state of North Carolina and the RFA-NC board members on this important campaign," states Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the RFA.