NEW BERN, N.C. — July 30, 2013 — Members of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission rejected a petition Tuesday from a man seeking to close the state's sounds and rivers to trawlers.
The Sun Journal of New Bern reports a joint meeting of the Finfish, Habitat and Water Quality, Sea Turtle and Shellfish-Crustacean Advisory committees met in New Bern Tuesday to hear the request petition filed by Tim Hergenrader.
The four committees voted separately, and all voted to reject it with only one dissenting vote from within the shellfish committee and one abstention in the sea turtle committee.
A petition for rulemaking has been filed asking to adopt a rule that makes the state's internal coastal water permanent secondary nursery areas.