Coastal Conservation Association

House Bill 353 - A path to greater conservation, economic and financial benefits for the citizens of North Carolina
Contact Us Join CCA! Banquet Schedule Undercurrents CCA NC Home Page
	The Coastal Game Fish Bill
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2011 HOUSE BILL 353 The primary sponsors of House Bill 353 (Designation of Coastal Game Fish) are Representatives Darrell McCormick (R), Rick Glazier (D), Dan Ingle (R) and Ruth Samuelson (R). Their Co-Sponsors are Representatives Alice Bordsen (D), Susi Hamilton (D), Dewey Hill (D), Darren Jackson (D), Marvin Lucas (D); Paul Luebke (D); Danny McComas (R), Chuck McGrady (R); Marian McLawhorn (D); Tim Moore (R); Ray Rapp (R); Deborah Ross (D); Fred Steen (R); Harry Warren (R); Winkie Wilkins (D); Michael Wray (D) For the text of the legislation and the latest update on legislative action, please visit the page dedicated to H.B. 353 at the North Carolina General Assembly web site. What's Good for the Goose... TIDE Jul/Aug 2009 Industrial harvest of wildlife resources is a concept so foreign to Americans that a large percentage of the public would probably assume the practice no longer goes on anywhere in this country. Indeed, the very idea seems as much a part of history as grainy images of buffalo hunters in the Old West. States began to eliminate the commercial exploitation of wild resources beginning early in the 19^th century. The federal government stepped in to prevent the commercial harvest of ducks, geese and buffalo. The commercial take of deer, elk, quail, pheasant, wild turkeys, bass, sturgeon and trout was eliminated in favor of conservation and providing increased public access to public resources. As an unexpected but welcome bonus, governments quickly realized that doing so brought the highest economic return in the form of revenue and taxes. Ultimately, the decision to outlaw the industrial harvest of wildlife was driven by a simple truth – commercial activity places a dollar value on a wild animal which all too often drives harvest past sustainable levels. Fortunately, such commercial harvest was recognized as an unsustainable activity and relegated to a historical footnote in this country many decades ago. With one glaring exception..... Click HERE for the rest of the story. Did you know? While H.B. 353 makes a compelling case for greater economic benefits to North Carolina through game fish status, currently commercial fishermen pay no state sales tax on any item they use while fishing, and another bill currently in play seeks to have commercial fishing boats avoid paying property taxes altogether: H.B. 747	House Bill 353 is an act to designate red drum, striped bass and spotted sea trout as coastal game fish. It is designed to help foster a recreational fishery currently worth exponentially more in dollars and jobs than the commercial fishery. The bill would enhance a public trust resource for the citizens of North Carolina (and other states) and would help end over-fishing and bring North Carolina in compliance with the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997. Similar to game fish bills that have been successfully implemented in Texas and Florida, HB 353 would require that these species be harvested by hook-and-line only and it would prohibit the sale of these species. In 2005, only 691 commercial fishermen landed a red drum and only 216 of those make more than $200 from red drum harvest. For striped bass, the highest value commercial fishery of the three, only 614 fishermen landed striped base in the estuary fishery and only 201 fishermen landed fish in the ocean fishery. Across both fisheries, only 68 fishermen earned more than $2,000 a year selling striped bass in 2004. Finally, for spotted seatrout, only 921 fishermen landed spotted seatrout and only 105 landed more than $1,000 worth of spotted seatrout in 2008. This suggests that very few, if any, commercial fishermen are dependent on harvests of these three species. Click to see CCA North Carolina Briefing Document on H.B. 353 - The Coastal Game Fish Bill CCA North Carolina Gamefish News Economics make the case for North Carolina gamefish bill - April 18, 2011 North Carolina has the opportunity to increase the economic impact of fishery management to the entire state with a single bill - H.B. 353, a bill to make striped bass, red drum and speckled trout gamefish. According to a study released this week by Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina, the economic impacts of recreational angling for those three species dwarf those of the commercial sector and make a compelling case for legislative measures that enhance recreational fisheries. Click HERE for the complete economic analysis Marine Fisheries Commission sanctions striped bass slaughter - Feb. 14, 2011 In an appalling disregard for the indiscriminate killing of striped bass by the commercial trawl net fishermen, the North Carolina Marine fisheries Commission (NCMFC) voted to continue these wasteful practices. CCA North Carolina Seeks End to Trawling - Feb. 10, 2011 In response to a rash of massive striped bass kills along the coast, CCA North Carolina will request the NC Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) to eliminate trawling of any kind as a permissible fishing gear for striped bass. The incidents, photographed and videotaped by recreational anglers in the area, were the result of commercial trawling operations in state waters and have prompted outrage up and down the East Coast. CCA North Carolina will request decisive action at the MFC meeting in Pine Knolls, Feb. 10-11. “The MFC has an obligation to responsibly manage these resources,” said Jay Dail, Chairman of the CCA NC. “Allowing a fishery to dump thousands of dead stripers over the side as a regular course of doing business is not responsible management. At the very least, the Commission should immediately outlaw the use of indiscriminate, highly destructive trawls in state waters in favor of more selective gear.” Different Regulations, Same Result off North Carolina - Feb. 7, 2011 In a mistake that was entirely predictable, the state’s Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) has allowed the use of large trawl nets among large schools of striped bass. And, for the third time in less than three weeks, a massive striped bass kill has occurred. The latest example of "regulatory dead discards" was photographed from a helicopter off Oregon Inlet this week and was again evidenced by a long trail of dead striped bass in the vicinity of commercial trawlers. The latest kill was four miles long and a half-mile wide, and consisted of thousands of dead stripers that were dumped at sea after being snared and culled by commercial boats. Striped Bass Latest Target of Destructive Fishing Practices in North Carolina - Jan. 19, 2011 January 15th marked the opening for commercial harvest of striped bass in N.C. Following this opening, hundreds, if not thousands, of dead striped bass, red drum, and other fish were seen and photographed floating in NC waters. These dead fished were caught by commercial trawl boats and dumped over the side. This type of fishery requires “culling” or selecting the largest caught fish and discarding the rest, dead or alive.	Click HERE for a 5-minute video on NC fisheries management and the need for game fish status Richen Brame, CCA Atlantic States Fisheries Director Click here to see an interview with Dr. Louis Daniels of NCDMF Click here to see an interview with Capt. Charles Brown of Old Core Sound Guide Service The coastal gamefish bill is the catalyst for insuring that our fisheries will be properly managed and intact for future generations. Watch this 1993 video and consider the precautionary words of Franc White of the Southern Sportsman as they relate to the issues at hand today. CLICK HERE for BENEFITS OF GAMEFISH STATUS VIDEO This video by Stripers Forever contains exciting footage of striped bass fishing along with appearances by some of the sport’s best-known personalities discussing the need for striped bass to be designated as game fish. What Can North Carolina Expect from Passage of the Game Fish Bill? PLENTY! Click below for letters from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on the impact gamefish status has made in those states. Impact of Gamefish Status in Florida Impact of Gamefish Status in Texas Fisherman vs. fisherman Fox News Video H.B. 353 News Healthy inshore fisheries will boost coastal and inland businesses, tackle shop owners say North Carolina Sportsman February 6, 2012 Visiting fishermen say gamefish protection would benefit coastal tourism and economies North Carolina Sportsman January 26, 2012 Legislators revive debate on ‘gamefish' idea StarNews Online January 18, 2012 Ex-commercial angler: North Carolina needs to chart new saltwater course North Carolina Sportsman January 17, 2012 Mooneyham: Restrictions keep fishermen home Reflector.com January 17, 2012 'Game Fish' Bill Pits Commercial Fishermen vs. Recreational The Lincoln Tribune August 9, 2011 North Carolina considers limits on commercial fishing Trade Only Today August 9, 2011 Outdoors: Bill to give red drum, spotted seatrout and striped bass game-fish status still alive as part of study Fayetteville Observer June 26, 2011 NC watermen wary of latest legislative twists The Virginian-Pilot June 26, 2011 Stripers Forever - Update on NC HB 353 June 22, 2011 'Game fish' issue likely to be addressed before 2012 StarNewsOnline.com June 20, 2011 Gamefish proposal sent to new legislative panel The Outer Banks Voice June 19, 2011 Taking Liberties: Fishermen Cast Wide Net in Fight to Save Bass, Trout Fox News - Article June 18, 2011 Gamefish status bill dead, but likely to be reincarnated in 2012 short session of N.C. Legislature North Carolina Sportsman June 15, 2011 Politics may strangle vote on game-fish bill North Carolina Sportsman June 9, 2011 Marine management News & Observer June 7, 2011 Reeling in a win for recreational fishing News & Observer May 24, 2011 Game-fish bill on track to move from North Carolina House to Senate North Carolina Sportsman May 20, 2011 Divide up the catch? A bill says no more News & Observer May 18, 2011 Click Below to Send a Message to Your State Representative: Help Conserve North Carolina's Striped Bass, Red Drum and Spotted Sea Trout Fisheries Keep America Fishing Commercial fisherman gather in Burgaw to protest game-fish bill WWAY NewsChannel 3 May 3, 2011 NPR finds hundreds of pounds of dead striped bass caught in illegal net Baltimore Sun May 2, 2011 Police probe another illegal fishing net Annapolis Capital May 2, 2011 Pender commissioners reconsider game fish opposition StarNewsOnline.com May 1, 2011 Pender County Commission meets on HB 353 North Carolina Sportsman April 29, 2011 Bill would ban sale of red drum, striped bass, speckled sea trout StarNewsOnline.com April 22, 2011 Game fish status possible for fish Sun Journal April 21, 2011 Pender to vote again on opposition to fishing bill Carolina Coast Online April 20, 2011 EDITORIAL: Game-fish bill would have little impact on legal commercial fishing, study shows North Carolina Sportsman April 19, 2011 CCA: Economics make the case for North Carolina gamefish bill SaltWater Sportsman Magazine April 19, 2011 CCA: Economics make the case for North Carolina gamefish bill Marlin Magazine April 19, 2011 Economics Make the Case for North Carolina Gamefish Bill Sport Fishing Magazine April 19, 2011 Game fish status causing a stir among recreational, commercial anglers Garner News April 12, 2011 Proposed bill has commercial fishermen seeing red WECT-V6 April 5, 2011 Gamefish proposal seen as jobs bill by House sponsor North Carolina Sportsman March 29, 2011 Let 'em eat cake, says CCA Outer Banks Sentinel March 24, 2011 Battle brews over game fish proposal News & Observer March 24, 2011 Throw back gamefish bill, commissioners say The Outer Banks Voice March 21, 2011 'Game fish' proposal draws fierce opposition StarNewsOnline.com March 18, 2011

CCA: Economics make the case for North Carolina gamefish bill SaltWater Sportsman Magazine April 19, 2011

CCA: Economics make the case for North Carolina gamefish bill
SaltWater Sportsman Magazine
April 19, 2011