RALEIGH, N.C. — June 4, 2014 — The state Senate has passed a budget bill that includes a new commercial fishing fund proposed by the N.C. Fisheries Association and backed by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission.
This isn’t the only change the Senate has proposed for the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ budget. The Senate proposes closing one of the division’s regional offices and cutting several staff positions.
On May 31, the Senate engrossed – put in final form after committee review and approval – Senate Bill 744, the 2014 Appropriations Act. The bill includes creating an N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund, a new fund the NCFA (a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the state seafood industry) proposed in February to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission at its regular meeting.
This bill, if passed by both sides of the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Pat McCrory, would set the fiscal 2014-15 state budget. The budget bill now goes to the state House for further review and amendments.
Jerry Schill, NCFA president, said Monday that he’s very pleased the Senate included the fund in its budget bill.
Read the full story at the Cateret County News-Times