North Carolina SB 1065: Moratorium on New Coastal Fishing Regulations.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 1065

Short Title: Moratorium on New Coastal Fishing Regulations. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Hanig and Sanderson (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S1065-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON REGULATORY ACTIONS 2
AFFECTING COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING PENDING REVIEW 3
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLABORATORY STUDY 4
OF THE COASTAL AND MARINE FISHERIES OF THE STATE AND TO 5
REESTABLISH THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON SEAFOOD AND 6
AQUACULTURE. 7
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
9
PART I. MORATORIUM ON NEW COASTAL FISHING REGULATIONS 10
11
LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE 12
SECTION 1. Legislative Findings. – The General Assembly finds the following: 13
(1) The seafood industry and recreational fishing sector are essential to the 14
economic stability, food supply, tourism economy, and cultural heritage of the 15
State. 16
(2) In 2021, the General Assembly directed the North Carolina Collaboratory to 17
conduct a study on the overall status of the coastal and marine fisheries 18
regulated by the State (Collaboratory Study). 19
(3) The Collaboratory Study is intended to serve as the primary policy guidance 20
for future coastal and marine fisheries management decisions. 21
(4) Ongoing regulatory changes and instability have created significant economic 22
uncertainty for commercial fishermen, charter operators, recreational anglers, 23
seafood dealers, seafood processors, and related businesses. 24
(5) A temporary suspension of regulatory expansion is necessary to allow for full 25
legislative review and consideration of the Collaboratory Study and its 26
recommendations. 27
SECTION 2. Legislative Purpose. – The purpose of this Part is to establish a 28
comprehensive and enforceable moratorium preventing both direct and indirect regulatory 29
expansion affecting commercial and recreational fishing activity until the Collaboratory Study 30
can be fully evaluated by the General Assembly. 31
32
COMPREHENSIVE MORATORIUM ON EXPANDING COASTAL FISHERIES 33
REGULATION 34
SECTION 3. Definitions. – In addition to the definitions in G.S. 113-128 and 35
G.S. 113-129, the following definitions apply to this Part: 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 1065-First Edition
(1) Collaboratory Study. – The study conducted by the North Carolina 1
Collaboratory on the overall status of the State's coastal and marine fisheries, 2
as directed by the North Carolina General Assembly pursuant to Section 8.11 3
of S.L. 2021-180, as amended by Section 2.10 of S.L. 2022-6. 4
(2) Recreational fishing. – Any activity preparatory to, during, or subsequent to 5
the taking of any fish by any means if the purpose of the taking is to obtain 6
fish that are not to be sold. 7
(3) Regulatory action. – Any of the following: 8
a. The adoption or amendment of a rule as provided under Article 2A of 9
Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. 10
b. The adoption or amendment of a fisheries management plan as 11
provided in G.S. 113-182.1. 12
c. The implementation of temporary management measures as 13
authorized by the Secretary of Environmental Quality under 14
G.S. 113-182.1(e1). 15
d. The issuance of a proclamation by the Fisheries Director in accordance 16
with authority delegated by the Marine Fisheries Commission under 17
G.S. 113-221.1. 18
e. The imposition of a condition or limitation in a license authorizing a 19
person to engage in activities connected with marine and estuarine 20
resources. 21
f. The implementation of any policy, guidance, or interpretive statement 22
that purports to have binding legal effect on members of the public. 23
(4) Seafood industry. – Any of the following: 24
a. Commercial fishing operations, as defined in G.S. 113-168. 25
b. Fish dealers licensed under G.S. 113-169.3. 26
c. For hire vessels, as defined in G.S. 113-174. 27
d. Marine aquaculture, as defined in G.S. 113-215. 28
e. The cultivation of shellfish, as provided under Article 16 of Chapter 29
113 of the General Statutes. 30
f. The operation of an ocean fishing pier licensed under G.S. 113-169.4. 31
g. The handling, processing, packaging, and marketing of fishery or 32
seafood products from coastal fishing waters. 33
(5) State marine fisheries agency. – The following agencies or officers charged 34
with implementing and enforcing the laws related to coastal fishing, coastal 35
fisheries, and marine and estuarine resources: 36
a. The Division of Marine Resources of the Department of 37
Environmental Quality. 38
b. The Fisheries Director. 39
c. The Marine Fisheries Commission. 40
d. The Secretary of Environmental Quality. 41
SECTION 4. Comprehensive Moratorium on Regulatory Expansion. – 42
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Subchapter IV of Chapter 113 of the General 43
Statutes or Part 5D of Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General S