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Saltwater license approved
By BARRY SMITH
FREEDOM RALEIGH BUREAU
RALEIGH - In 2006, $15 will get a you a saltwater fishing license in North Carolina. The state House Saturday night overwhelmingly approved a bill requiring the annual license for saltwater recreational fishing. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Easley for his signature.
The House approval, by a vote of 66-33, came even as supporters of the bill admitted that there were flaws in the plan.
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Pryor Gibson, D-Montgomery, said that the chairs of House and Senate oversight committees had agreed to meet in September to go over about a half-dozen concerns in the bill. But he asked his fellow House members to go ahead and approve it anyway.
"I would just ask you to seriously consider improving the fisheries in North Carolina," Gibson said.
Gibson also answered a concern that some had expressed - that the license could hurt tourism - by repeating a statement that a supporter of the license had made a few years ago.
"A saltwater fishing license will not keep people from the coast," Gibson said. "But the lack of fish will."
According to the bill, a person fishing on the shoreline or in a boat would have to purchase the $15-a-year license. A seven-day permit designed for tourists and one-time fishermen would cost $1. The measure also would apply to anyone collecting crabs, clams or shrimp. Anyone under 18 would be exempt. It applies to the ocean and saltwater sounds and rivers.
Funds from the license would to into a N.C. Saltwater Fishing Fund, with the assets being invested.
An 11-member board of trustees - appointed by the governor, speaker of the House and president pro-tem of the Senate - would administer the investment income. Money could go for projects such as construction of artificial reefs and the restoration of sea grasses and oyster reefs.
Grants could also be used to pay for fisheries management research for specific species. Money could be used for land acquisition for fishery habitat enhancement or for public access to coastal fishing waters.
Opponents of the bill said that lawmakers would be hearing from their constituents when the people realize the affects of the new license, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2006.
"The first time one of your constituents doesn't buy a license and gets a $200 fine, they're going to really talk to you," said Rep. Billy Owens, D-Pasquotank.
"Be prepared to answer to your neighbors and folks back home," said Rep. Wayne Sexton, R-Rockingham.
Others suggested that the General Assembly shouldn't pass a bill that they know is flawed.
"I think it's bad to ask people to pass a law with the promise that you're going to come back and fix it," said Rep. Robert Grady, R-Onslow.
"Why not delay it until we get everything worked out," said Rep. Jean Preston, R-Carteret.
"This bill is flawed," said Rep. John Rayfield, R-Gaston. "We can hold this bill for another year and make it a better bill."
But Rep. Danny McComas, R-New Hanover, said that the bill was a good one, even though it's not perfect.
"This is the first time in six, seven, eight years that we've been able to get a bill out of the Senate," McComas said.
He said that he would like to see some things changed, such as exempting people who are older than 65.
Gibson said that some of the other areas that supporters will look at changing in the license before it takes effect are lowering the penalties, addressing concerns of charter boat captions and providing exemptions for poor and disabled people.
Mike Ward, president of the Coastal Conservation Association, a sportsfishing group, which supports the bill, was pleased.
"This was a complete volunteer effort by concerned anglers," Ward said. He said that the legislation means that the states largest resource will be managed.
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