May 2, 2017 — The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s priorities would shift from sustainability to conservation under proposed legislation that commercial fishermen view as potentially dangerous to their trade.
House Bill 867, which is supported by N.C. Sound Economy and a multitude of environmental groups, explicitly states conservation would become the commission’s focus. Under the legislation, the nine-member commission that crafts rules for the state’s fisheries would also be granted the authority to tweak management plans at will outside of the typical five-year review schedule.
North Carolina had four depleted and 13 fisheries of concern, according to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ latest stock status report.
“We have found that it takes too long to make changes to the management of these species and that has caused many of our species to become depleted,” said David Knight, a N.C. Wildlife Federation policy analyst.
H.B. 867, supporters say, is grounded in science and would allow fisheries to make full recoveries by revamping the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997 — ultimately benefiting both commercial and recreational fishermen. Commercial fishermen view the legislation differently, claiming it gives a commission that has swung toward recreational fishermen too much sway.