THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 12, 1995 TAG: 9505120462
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROANOKE ISLAND LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
What a difference a year makes.
One year ago, officials at the North Carolina Aquariums on Roanoke Island, Fort Fisher and Pine Knoll Shores were like kids on Christmas Eve, eagerly anticipating $10 million in state funding over two years for expansion and improvements.
The treasure never came. Instead, the General Assembly approved a scaled-back proposal providing $1.2 million for preliminary design work on expanded facilities.
Now, the aquarium could be in for an even sadder awakening if a House proposal calling for a study on consolidating the three North Carolina Aquariums comes to pass.
By a 59-51 margin last week, the Republican-controlled House approved a provision sponsored by Rep. Frank Mitchell, R-Iredell, that provides funding for such a study, by the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources.
The provision is included in the 81-page continuation budget approved by the House.
``This special provision was placed in there because North Carolina has three aquariums on the coast,'' Mitchell told a Wilmington newspaper last week.
``We cannot identify another state that has three. All we're asking for is for the department to do a study. If they come back and say three aquariums are needed, that's fine.''
However, the director of the Roanoke Island facility, as well as local legislators, say three aquariums are needed.
``This hit us completely out of the blue,'' said Rhett White.
``Because the aquariums are spread out on the coast, they are accessible to more people. It's easier for a school group from Rocky Mount to come to Manteo. Just as it's easier for students in Wilmington to get to Pine Knoll Shores than to drive to Manteo.
``Three facilities makes the aquariums accessible to people throughout North Carolina.''
Last year, the Roanoke Island facility attracted 300,000 visitors.
``All three aquariums are located in resort areas,'' said White. ``On Roanoke Island, I'd say 85 percent of our visitors come from out of state.''
Conversely, he said, most of the visitors at the Pine Knoll Shores aquarium are from North Carolina.
The aquariums also are invaluable resources for national and state marine regulatory agencies, White said. In recent months, the aquarium has assisted in attempts to free stranded sea turtles, pilot whales and other mammals.
Funding for the consolidation study must still pass muster in the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority. A tougher fight is expected there. Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare, said Thursday that he wants to study the proposal.
``We want to sit down with Rep. Mitchell and see what this proposal is about,'' Basnight said from his Raleigh office. ``I don't really understand what it's about. It's always been my understanding that the aquariums were already consolidated under one director. If we find out that it will result in real savings, we'll consider it. If it doesn't, we won't.''
Basnight said an appropriations panel will decide next week whether to send the bill on to the full Senate for a vote. by CNB