May 6, 2013 — Watermen, restaurant owners, county commissioners and others are headed for Raleigh today to argue against a bill that would prohibit commercial catches of striped bass and other gamefish.
A public forum on the bill will be held at 1:30 p.m., said state Rep. Paul Tine, a Dare County Democrat.
Now making its way through the state House of Representatives, the bill would designate red drum, speckled trout and striped bass as coastal gamefish. It proposes to limit fishing to hook-and-line methods, which would put them off limits to commercial trawlers in state waters.
Opposition is strong among commercial interests in Dare County, who argue that the bill would essentially remove the fish from local restaurants and seafood markets.
“This is a public trust commodity,” Tine said today while driving to Raleigh.
The bill acknowledges a need to balance commercial and recreational interests, but goes on to say that “the General Assembly recognizes the importance of providing plentiful fishery resources to maintain and enhance tourism as a major contributor to the economy of the state”
A longtime proponent of the designation, the Coastal Conservation Association, argues that the species need continued protection.