THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 13, 1995 TAG: 9509130412
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
North Carolina lawmakers should reduce the size of the Marine Fisheries Commission and expand its jurisdiction, according to the chairman of a panel studying the agency.
``It's important to note that these are just recommendations that will be discussed by the subcommittee in Manteo and reported to the Moratorium Steering Committee,'' said Charles Manooch, chairman of a moratorium subcommittee. ``But I'd like to see us close the book on several recommendations pertaining to the commission.''
The proposed changes include:
Reducing the Marine Fisheries Commission from 17 to not less than seven and not more than 11 members;
Shortening terms for commission members from six to three years;
Compensating commission members on a daily rate - up to about $300 per day for their services in addition to travel expenses currently paid to members;
Strengthening qualifications, ethical standards and attendance requirements;
Establishing formal advisory committees, under the state fisheries director, for the commission;
Expanding the authority of the commission to address habitat and water quality issues.
Manooch outlined his subcommittee's recommendations for the state's fisheries commission with the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture at the first meeting of a reorganized joint study commission of the legislature.
His subcommittee will discuss these recommendations at 1 p.m. today at the North Carolina Aquarium in Manteo. The subcommittee will report its findings Thursday at a 10 a.m. meeting of the fisheries Moratorium Steering Committee at Penguin Isle Restaurant in Nags Head.
The recommendations will be included in a package of proposed legislation designed to revamp coastal fisheries management.
The ability of the Marine Fisheries Commission to participate in decisions made by other state panels affecting coastal water quality is one of the subcommittee's key concerns, Manooch said.
The commission and staff with the Division of Marine Fisheries can currently comment on proposals by other state agencies that affect fisheries nursery areas or other types of fish habitat, but some members of the commission have said that authority is not enough to preserve valuable habitat and protect water quality.
One proposal would expand the current authority to comment on development and discharge permits to include either a permit appeal or a veto for fisheries officials. Another proposal would expand the authority of state fisheries managers to oversee issues such as primary nursery areas that are of central concern to fishermen, Manooch said.
Concern over fish kills and hog lagoon spills in eastern North Carolina this summer has united commercial fishermen, sports fishing groups and fisheries regulators - three groups who are often at odds over how to best protect the state's coastal fishing stocks.
Some aspects of Manooch's plan - including compensation for fisheries commission members and expanded jurisdiction for the commission - face opposition from some legislators and members of two other panels that oversee coastal environmental issues - the Coastal Resources Commission and the Environmental Management Commission. by CNB