
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994                    TAG: 9406030598 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: D1    EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA  
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: 940602                                 LENGTH: Short

FISHING LICENSE FREEZE BILL CLEARS HOUSE COMMITTEE

{LEAD} RALEIGH A bill that would freeze for two years the sales of virtually all new commercial fishing licenses cleared its first legislative hurdle Wednesday when it was endorsed by a House panel on environmental issues.

The moratorium would go into effect July 1, under the House proposal.

{REST} The bill appears headed for easy approval by the state legislature.

Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, who two weeks ago questioned the need for the study, said Wednesday that he now favors the proposal and is backing a provision in the Senate's budget bill that appropriates money for it.

The bill also includes provisions for a new license that will be required for fishermen who ply coastal waters for crabs.

The license will cost $7.50 for residents and $100 for non-residents for individual licenses and $22.50 for vessel crab licenses.

Under the bill, the owner of a vessel and up to two crew members will be covered by the vessel's crab license. by CNB