THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 18, 1994 TAG: 9410180346
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
More than half the estimated 150 anglers who turned out Monday night for a public hearing on a proposed saltwater fishing license indicated they opposed charging to fish in North Carolina's coastal waters.
Asked at the start of the hearing called by the Marine Fisheries Commission how they felt about the controversial issue, about 60 percent raised their hands to show their opposition.
Some of the anglers said they wanted to know more about it, and others said they wholeheartedly endorsed the idea.
But a vocal opponent, Tom Wagner of Wanchese, presented petitions he said were signed by 2,577 people from 30 states - including 1,080 signers from North Carolina - who were against the proposal.
``Most of the people don't want to be taxed anymore,' Wagner said.
An Outer Banks motel owner, Joe Evanoff, agreed. ``Recreational fishermen already spend large amounts of money here,'' Evanoff said. ``They pay a 10 percent sales tax at my motel, 7 percent to eat at a restaurant, and money in tackle shops and stores.
``We all own the fisheries, but commercial fishermen depleted the stocks, and we should make people who take the fish pay for them.''
Proponents of the proposal said the license fees would preserve fishing for the future.
State Senate President Marc Basnight, D-Manteo, leading the drive to get funds to invest in enriching the fisheries, said in answer to charges that he has flip-flopped on the issue that he opposed the idea in the early '80s but favors it now ``because I see the need for funds to conserve the state fisheries.''
``I changed my mind,'' Basnight said. ``I'll do what is best and right and proper. We need to do this for tomorrow.''
Some speakers contended the proposed fees were too high and suggested they be cut to $7.50 a year, which matches the fees Virginia now charges to fish in the Chesapeake Bay. Others suggested that charter boats that go past the three-mile limit would be in federal waters and should be exempt.
The hearing was the first of three scheduled for northeastern North Carolina. Another is set for tonight at 7 p.m. in Pitt County Community College in Greenville, and a third is scheduled Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Carteret County Community College in Morehead City.
The meetings were called by the Marine Fisheries Commission to get public reaction before making a proposal to the General Assembly. Under the study agency's latest proposal, anglers would pay $5 a week, $15 a year or $250 for a lifetime license to fish in the state's coastal waters. Owners of boats and piers could exempt their patrons by buying licenses for their facilities.
An estimated 600,000 people fish in the state's coastal waters each year, according to fishing regulators, and a $15 license could produce as much as $9 million a year.
Basnight has recommended that the money produced by licenses be put into a trust fund, with the proceeds all used to benefit the state's fisheries. by CNB