SavingSeaFood - North Carolina to put recreational anglers under the same violation schedule as commercial fishermen

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North Carolina to put recreational anglers under the same violation schedule as commercial fishermen

NORFOLK, Va. -- September 18, 2012 -- North Carolina is taking a tougher stance on recreational fishing rule-breakers.

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Marine Fisheries Commission late last year adopted new laws that will place recreational anglers under the same violation schedule as commercial fishermen.

The laws go into effect Oct. 1, and violators could lose their licenses for anywhere from 30 days to two years.

“Fishermen will face longer license suspensions for most violations,” Louis Daniel, director of the Division of Marine Fisheries, said in a press release. “However, non-resource-related violations will no longer count against suspension or revocation of a license.”

The state started its Coastal Recreational Fishing License in 2007, but it included no laws that would result in losing a license for violating fishing rules. The new law changes that.

Minor convictions accumulated over a three-year period could result in anywhere from a 30-day to 90-day suspension of an anglers’ license. Four or more convictions in a three-year period will result in a one-year revocation of an anglers’ license. That angler would have to apply for reinstatement after one year.

Read the full story at the Virginian-Pilot

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