Kathy Rawls will be new director of Division of Marine Fisheries
MOREHEAD CITY – When Kathy Rawls becomes the new director of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries on May 1, she will have plenty of experience to draw on. Rawls has been with the Division for more than 25 years, the past seven as the Fisheries Management section chief.
She also will be the first woman to head the agency since the Fisheries Commission Board became the Division of Commercial Fisheries in the late 1920s.
“There are already a number of women in pivotal roles at the division, and I do feel a responsibility to represent them and other female colleagues, but I also know that gender is not part of the job description,” Rawls said. “The best way for me to represent women in the science field is to be a darned good director of the Division of Marine Fisheries and being a good director will involve doing the best I can for the division, the marine fisheries resource, and the people of North Carolina.”
Rawls began her career at the Division of Marine Fisheries in 1990 as a river herring technician, a position she held for three years, before leaving to work on her family’s farm. She also ran a private business during this time, but her love for fishing continued to grow. She returned to the division in 1999 as a technician on a striped bass project, and worked her way up to biologist supervisor, a position she held for eight years until May 2011, when she was promoted to manager of the division’s Northern District, based in Elizabeth City. She became Fisheries Management Section chief in April 2014.
Rawls, 53, was born and raised in Windsor, North Carolina and graduated from Lawrence Academy in Merry Hill. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1989.
She attributes her love for fishing and interest in marine biology to her parents. She recalled that when she was growing up, her dad was responsible for catching the fish (his success at this continues to be hit or miss even today) and she and her mom would cut open fish stomachs to see what they had been eating. With this background, Rawls knew from a very early age that she wanted to be a marine biologist.
Rawls continues to enjoy spending time with her family and friends fishing, going to the beach, camping, and riding 4-wheelers on the family farm.
Congratulations!!!
The North Carolina Fisheries Association would like to congratulate, new Director, Kathy Rawls. We look forward to working closely with Director Rawls in the future. Congratulations Kathy!!
SCIENCE BEHIND YOUR SEAFOOD
https://www.scienceandseafood.com/
“This website, The Science Behind Your Local Seafood, is all about Your Health.
North Carolina’s coastline is dotted with commercial fishing communities that have provided fresh, sustainable, locally harvested seafood for generations. While we are indeed fortunate for the abundance of delicious seafood supplied by these fishing families, it is much more than simply an enjoyable meal. Fish is among the healthiest foods on the planet. It’s loaded with important nutrients, such as protein, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids all of which are incredibly important for your body and brain. We’ll explore the health benefits of eating local seafood utilizing well-documented scientific information from well-respected health professional and scientists that directly affects you. Let’s get started . . .”
https://www.scienceandseafood.com/
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE for 4/30/2021:
NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
There was action on only two of the bills we’ve been listing, so it was rather light this week when it comes to fisheries legislation. The next two weeks will be rather busy as the crossover deadline is May 13th. Rather than copy the entire list, here are the two bills where action was taken this week on the bills previously listed.
H-281 LOGGERHEAD TURTLE/STATE SALTWATER REPTILE; see action below
sponsored by Iler, Hanig, McElraft, Shepard, Autry, Belk, Brown, Butler, Carter, Clemmons, Dahle, Goodwin, Harrison, Hawkins, Insko, Majeed, Moss, Penny, Warren
Passed by the House on 4/22 by a vote of 115-0; now in Senate Rules. https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H281v1.pdf
H-327 UPDATE LEGISLATIVE REVIEW OF RULES PROCESS; see action below
sponsored by Moffitt, Riddell, Stevens, Yarborough, Clampitt
Original bill:
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H327v1.pdf
Committee substitute adopted by Judiciary 2 Committee on 4/28. Bill is now in House Rules. NOTE: The original bill was over 3 pages long. The adopted substitute is one page so is substantially different than the original.
PCS adopted on 4/28 and now in Rules:
https://webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewBillDocument/2021/50857/0/H327-PCS30351-BH-7
God bless,
Jerry
