September 15, 2015 — A new law passed this summer by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Pat McCrory rolls back a pair of controversial fisheries management measures approved by state lawmakers in 2014.
Senate Bill 374, sponsored by Sen. Bill Cook (R – Beaufort), repeals the for-hire coastal recreational fishing licenses logbook requirement and ends a joint agreement that allowed NOAA Fisheries Enforcement to also have jurisdiction in state waters.
Some members of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission members and staffers at the Division of Marine Fisheries said the log book was going to be required by federal regulators in the near future, and imposing the rule last year divided the recreational fishing community along interest group lines.
Charter industry participants cited the distraction of keeping and recording catches when the captain should be attending to the safety of the boat and the fishing needs of their clients.
Read the full story at the Outer Banks Voice