THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 22, 1995 TAG: 9503220259
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Merry Hill fisherman Terry Pratt has plied the waters of the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds for some 30 years, making his living off fish and shellfish.
But Pratt, who now works part-time as a carpenter, says he is no longer able to make a living fishing full-time.
And he blames that on regulations - particularly those promulgated by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Pratt, president of the Albemarle Fishermens Association, and Bob Peele, deputy director of the N.C. Fisheries Association, a commercial fishing trade group based in New Bern, were seeking support from coastal legislators for a plan to ease some of the regulatory burdens.
``The present system is not working,'' Pratt said.
``It's not our intention to dilute regulatory authority.
``We want to protect the resource,'' Pratt said.
``But we want to get at the difference between cooperate and dictate.''
Pratt and Peele may face an uphill battle finding a sponsor for a bill calling for North Carolina's withdrawal from the ASMFC because several coastal legislators said they were not yet willing to take that step.
The move is opposed by most recreational fishing interests as well as the state's top-ranking fisheries regulator.
``I think it's an absolutely huge mistake,'' said Robert V. Lucas, chairman of the state Marine Fisheries Commission.
``I don't want to do anything on the spur of the moment,'' said Rep. W.C. ``Bill'' Owens Jr., a Pasquotank County Democrat.
``Resignation from the ASMFC could lead to even more regulations down the road.''
The ASMFC oversees a fisheries management program, begun in 1980, that develops cooperative management plans for marine, estuarine and migratory species of fish.
Before 1993, compliance with these plans - which cover such important species of fish as weakfish or gray trout and flounder - was voluntary.
But in 1993, Congress adopted the federal Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, which required states to comply with ASMFC plans or face sanctions - such as a moratorium on fishing for the species in question.
Pratt and Peele contend the agency has failed to comply with many of the provisions of the act.
Pratt said that by moving to withdraw from the agency, the state could force the ASMFC to comply with provisions of the federal legislation.
And they hope other ASMFC states will join in the effort.
``We're here laying the groundwork for the removal of North Carolina in conjunction with other states,'' Pratt said.
Earlier this year, the Virginia legislature approved a measure calling for the state to withdraw from the ASMFC in 1996.
Officials with the ASMFC in Washington were unavailable for comment Tuesday. by CNB