LEGISLATIVE UPDATE for 3/26/2012:

NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

There was more going on behind the scenes this week than can be reported here. Let’s just say there were some “shenanigans”. A bill that has fish in it that started out in the Wildlife Resources Committee and was to then be referred to Marine Resources was magically stripped of its referral to Marine Resources. However, due to the diligence and persistence of Chairman Bobby Hanig, the referral was restored. (His wardrobe may have helped in making that happen.)

Busy week next week with fish bills being heard on Tuesday in the Senate Committee on Ag, Natural Resources & Environment at 10:00 and the House Marine Resources Committee at 2:00.

S-26 TERMINAL GROIN DEFINITION; nothing new as of 3/26
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/Senate/PDF/S26v0.pdf
Currently in the Senate Agriculture, Energy & Environment Committee

H-2 BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN AS STATE MARINE MAMMAL
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H2v1.pdf
Favorable report by the House State Government Committee; was scheduled in the House Marine Resources Committee on 3/23 but was postponed till Tuesday, 3/30 at 2:00pm.

H-87 FUNDS/NEW NORTH CAROLINA MARITIME MUSEUM; nothing new as of 3/26
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H87v1.pdf
Currently in the House Committee on Appropriations; if favorable Rules.

H-161 ADDRESS ABANDONED AND DERELICT VESSELS;
sponsored by Hanig, McElraft, Iler & Shepard;
Favorable report by Marine Resources & Rules Committees; now in Rules. Passed the House 119-0 on 3/24; now in Senate Rules
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H161v2.pdf

H-181 WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION AMENDMENTS;
sponsored by Adams, Yarborough & Wray;
favorable report by Wildlife Resources Committee on 3/23; scheduled in Marine Resources on Tuesday, 3/30 at 2:00pm.
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H181v2.pdf

H-182 INCREASING MEAT PRODUCTION AND CAPACITY; nothing new as of 3/26
The above is the “short title”; full title is: AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE MEAT AND SEAFOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES IN NORTH CAROLINA BY MAKING PERMANENT THE “INCREASING SEAFOOD AND MEAT PRODUCTION AND CAPACITY” GRANT PROGRAM
sponsored by McNeely, Gillespie, Hanig, and Elmore;
Currently in Agriculture Committee; if favorable to Marine Resources.
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H182v0.pdf

S-279 REGULATE NAVIGABLE WATERS (New Bern, Bridgeton, Oriental);
sponsored by Sanderson, Steinburg;
Currently in Agriculture; scheduled to be heard on 3/30 at 10:00am
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/Senate/PDF/S279v1.pdf

S-296 COLLABORATORY/FISHERIES STUDY
sponsored by Lee, Sanderson, Lazzara, Garrett, Mayfield, Steinburg
Currently in Agriculture; scheduled to be heard on 3/30 at 10:00am
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/Senate/PDF/S296v1.pdf

S-317 MARINE FISHERIES REFORM
sponsored by Sanderson;
similar to a bill by the same name passed by the Senate 46-1 in 2019 but never heard in the House; similar, but there are some significant changes.
Currently in Agriculture; scheduled to be heard on 3/30 at 10:00am
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/Senate/PDF/S317v1.pdf

H-281 LOGGERHEAD TURTLE/STATE SALTWATER REPTILE
sponsored by Iler, Hanig, McElraft, Shepard, Autry, Belk, Brown, Butler, Carter, Clemmons, Dahle, Goodwin, Harrison, Hawkins, Insko, Majeed, Moss, Penny, Warren
Currently in Marine Resources and was scheduled on Tuesday 3/23 but postponed; now scheduled on 3/30 at 2:00pm.
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H281v1.pdf

H-327 UPDATE LEGISLATIVE REVIEW OF RULES PROCESS
sponsored by Moffitt, Riddell, Stevens, Yarborough, Clampitt
Currently in Judiciary 2; scheduled to be heard by Judiciary 2 Committee on 3/30 at 2:00pm
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H327v1.pdf

 

FEDERAL:

No action was taken on House Bill 628, Shellfish Aquaculture Improvement Act of 2021 as of 3/26/2021.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/628

God bless,

Jerry

 

 

Stakeholder Input Needed From Fishing Industry

North Carolina Fisheries Stakeholder,

Coastal Carolina Riverwatch seeks your valued input and participation in a new program that will be developed by fisheries stakeholders to benefit fisheries in North Carolina – Water Quality for Fisheries (WQ4F) Program.

The WQ4F program, through the development of an inclusive Industry Working Group, will determine, from the fishing communities, what water quality issues are impacting our fisheries, will evaluate current water quality programs and research in coastal North Carolina, and will collaboratively develop outreach for coastal citizens and visitors to better understand water quality impacts on fisheries and what all of us can do in our daily lives to help improve coastal water quality.

As a valued member of the fishing community, we look to you for your guidance, input, and participation in this process by attending a series of facilitated Industry Working Group stakeholder meetings.

Please register for the first Stakeholder meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 7th from 4:30 – 6:00 PM.  This will be a virtual (Zoom platform) meeting with participation by phone available.  We will begin the meeting at 4pm to troubleshoot with those who need assistance with connecting to the Zoom meeting.  Click here to register.

Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to working with you to protect and improve our fisheries for today and for future generations.

 

Larry Baldwin

Crystal Coast Waterkeeper®

Coastal Carolina Riverwatch

700 Arendell Street, Suite #2

Morehead City, NC 28557

(252) 670-1413