February 21, 2014 — Commercial fishermen will be paying more to catch fewer fish in the future, after the N.C. Department of Marine Fisheries commission voted for a 100 percent increase in commercial fishing licenses and the elimination of a harvest season for river herring.
However, a feared vote to add further limitations to spotted seatrout harvests and requirements for reduced bycatch devices of shrimp trawlers did not go through.
The MFC voting took place Wednesday and Thursday during a business meeting at Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City.
North Carolina’s commerical fishermen offered the proposal to increase 6 license fees: Standard Commercial Fishing License; Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License; License to Land or Sell; License for Fish Dealers; Recreational Commercial gear licenses; and Shellfish Licenses, according to the North Carolina Fisheries Association.
The proposal, which will be taken to the General Assembly for this year’s short session, would fund a sea turtle observation program. The proposal was put together by commercial fishermen and endorsed by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, the Department of Environment & Natural Resources and the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission.
Read the full story from the Sun Journal