THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 21, 1994 TAG: 9409210426
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
A panel of state lawmakers gave a lukewarm reception Tuesday to one of the most powerful members of the General Assembly who briefed panel members on a proposed license for coastal anglers.
``Why have a saltwater fishing license?'' Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, asked the panel Tuesday afternoon. ``You can easily and quickly understand that the resources is in need of these funds. . . and these funds should come from the users.''
Basnight and other coastal legislators are paving the way for debate in the General Assembly on the issue early next year even as one Marine Fisheries Commission study committee prepares to hold public meetings on a committee proposal that would require sports anglers to pay $15 per year to fish in coastal waterways.
Basnight met with a House and Senate panel studying seafood and aquaculture issues for about an hour and answered questions about the saltwater fishing license.
``It's time that North Carolina does its part to enhance the fishery. . . . and make it better for all those who use it,'' Basnight said.
But Sen. Robert G. Shaw, R-Guilford, said fisheries regulators are targeting the wrong group with a new license. He said more fees and controls need to be placed on the state's commercial fishermen who catch more fish than the state's sports anglers.
``There are so many problems we have, yet we're going to nail the individual who's the least responsible of all,'' said Shaw. ``I don't like the tax.''
Generally, proponents of a saltwater fishing license for sports fishermen generally say the revenue from license sales could be used to better manage and conserve the state's sports fisheries. But opponents question whether money raised from the sale of saltwater fishing licenses - the state's estimated 600,000 sports anglers could pay as much as $9 million a year in license fees - will be spent properly.
Questions over how to spend the proceeds from license sales recently threatened to stall the license until Basnight offered a plan earlier this month that infused new life into it.
Basnight proposed that the state create a trust fund with the proceeds from sales of the new license, the interest from which would be used to improve the state's fisheries stocks and related programs.
But Basnight's ideas about spending the money raised by a saltwater fishing license are contrary to the study committee's recommendations for the money.
While the study committee recommends spending about 10 percent of the license proceeds to administer the program and about 20 percent for fisheries enforcement, Basnight said Wednesday no money from license sales should go for either expense.
``The trustees would only spend the funds to enhance the resource and not regulate the resource,'' Basnight told the legislative panel Tuesday.
Basnight's proposal has rankled some members of the saltwater license study committee who, during a meeting last week in Washington, said they feel their study has been usurped by the dynamic Senate leader.
The proposed license also faces growing opposition from some commercial fishermen who say that by encouraging sports fishing while a two-year freeze on commercial fishing is in effect, the state is acting unfairly.
But Basnight's presentation helped change the mind of at least one commercial fisherman.
``We on the commercial side of this were a little bit leery of this,'' said Gerry Smith, Carteret County commercial fisherman. ``But we're up a creek. If this money will help buy us a paddle, let's buy a paddle and get out of it.''
Basnight's support will mean a great boost for the proposal when debate begins in the General Assembly, but other coastal legislators are coming under increased pressure to vote against the measure.
A petition - signed by about 1,230 people in two weeks - which asks anglers to oppose the saltwater fishing license circulating among northern coastal counties. And another petition opposing the license - with about 1,500 signatures - is circulating in southern coastal counties, home of Rep. David Redwine, D-Brunswick, co-chairman of the seafood and aquaculture committee.
``You've been hearing from the large saltwater fishing clubs,'' said Redwine. ``But you're not hearing from individual saltwater fishermen. I have a petition waiting for me at home with 1,500 signatures.''
Redwine said many of those who signed the petition believe the $15 proposed fee for an annual fishing license is too high.
But Basnight said that amount could be reduced before the license becomes law, if most legislators believe it should be.
``It's good that we have the debate,'' he said. by CNB