Last week, the House passed several bills, adopting new state animals and expanding recreational fishing of flounder and red snapper in North Carolina.
HB 442 passed the House 77-35 last week. Sponsored by Reps. Frank Iler, R-Brunswick; Edward Goodwin, R-Chowan; and Ted Davis Jr., R-New Hanover, this bill would create a pilot program that would expand the recreational fishing of red snapper and flounder in North Carolina over a four-year period.
Currently, the recreational fishing season for flounder is limited to four days and only one day for red snapper, under the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
“…the recreational fishing industry contributes significantly to the economy of coastal North Carolina,” reads the bill.
The bill proposes a recreational fishing season for flounder of not less than six weeks between May 15 and Nov. 15 annually, with a limit of one fish per person, per day. Similarly, a year-round red snapper season with a limit of two fish per person, per day; and a 20-inch size limit in state waters.
HB 597 would establish the osprey as the state raptor. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Celeste Cairns, R-Carteret; Steve Tyson, R-Craven; Carson Smith, R-Pender; Charles Miller, R-Brunswick. A “raptor” is a bird of prey with a hooked beak and large talons that feed mainly or exclusively on meat, according to Merriam-Webster. Other examples of raptors include hawks, eagles, owls, and vultures.
“… Ospreys are raptors that are plentiful in North Carolina, inhabiting estuaries, lakes, rivers, and marshes throughout the Coastal Plain, but can often be seen nesting as well near lakes and rivers in other parts of the State,” reads the bill.
Finally, HB 441 establishes the loggerhead turtle as the state saltwater reptile. Three representatives sponsor this bill: Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort; Frank Iler, R-Brunswick; Edward Goodwin, R-Chowan; and Ted Davis Jr., R-New Hanover.
“…the loggerhead sea turtle is the most common sea turtle found along the coast of North Carolina,” reads the bill. “…female loggerhead sea turtles dig hundreds of nests on the beaches of North Carolina.”
All three bills passed the House and were sent by special message to the Senate. After being received in the Senate, they were referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
The post House bills name new state raptor and saltwater reptile, expand fishing season first appeared on Carolina Journal.