THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603140141
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Long : 133 lines
On March 14, the North Carolina Moratorium Steering Committee held a meeting on the Outer Banks to discuss various issues facing the sport and commercial fishing industry.
One of these issues was a recreational/saltwater sport fishing license. On paper, this looks and sounds like a really great idea. The people behind all this have a really wonderful story to tell, and it goes something like this:
Once upon a time. . .
``Everybody that goes fishing in our coastal waters, residents and tourists alike, needs to help contribute to the resource because they take from it. So we're going to license everybody and take all this money and put it in a super trust fund and earmark it for `resource enhancement,' and we promise and cross our hearts that we'll never touch it for anything else. Don't you think this is a great idea? All the other states have it.''
The end.
Folks, this story doesn't end right here. I feel if you really look deeper, here is what you will find:
Behind this license you will find a large group of well-meaning radical sport fishermen who have strong political ties and a mindset of, ``We're going to change the world whether you like it or not.''
Fellow Carolinians, going saltwater fishing is one of the few last free privileges we have, and it is being threatened in an attempt to raise more money to feed the never-ending hunger of the bureaucracy.
Also woven into the inner mesh of this fairy tale is a self-interest vendetta launched by the radical sport fishing sector to amass large numbers and revenue through a ``licensing process'' that will inevitably be used against the commercial fishing industry in the end.
Another part of this fairy tale is that the revenues collected and earmarked ``resource enhancement'' would be used to study and improve water quality problems.
Folks, we don't need to study or appoint committees to study this problem. The corporate hog farms, huge farming operations, towns and cities dumping into the rivers and creeks and coastal developers are the problem. Also part of the problem is that our elected officials have chosen to side with these self-interest groups, turning their backs on the people who put them in office. This has resulted in major pollution in the fisheries' breeding grounds and nurseries.
If anyone was to be taxed, or should I say ``licensed,'' it should be these self-interest groups, for they exploit and destroy and pay absolutely nothing in return.
If our elected officials were doing their jobs, we wouldn't need committees to study and improve water quality.
Folks, don't get me wrong. I run a charter boat all summer and commercial fish all winter. I see both sides of the issue.
Levying a tax or license for the privilege to just go cast your line into our coastal waters is not the answer.
The answer lies within our elected officials waking up and doing their jobs. The North Carolina Moratorium Steering Committee has a big job ahead of it.
I feel that there are many, many positive things that this committee can and will do to help North Carolina remain one of the best states in America for fishing - sport and commercial alike - but in the same breath I do feel we should not support this tax.
Rick Caton
F/V Free Agent
Manteo Jetties are needed
Real emotions were stirred when ``Freddy'' the whale grounded on the spoils of the Oregon Inlet. This fact, even though I am a lover of whales and other sea creatures, stirred much deeper emotions in me.
It reminded me of the complete inaction of our elected officials, except for lip service, on the entire Oregon Inlet Stabilization Project. Shortly after the Secretary of the Interior rode into Wanchese accompanied by environmentalist ``henchwomen'' and swept away our inlet permits, our governor appointed a special commission to study the problem. Do any of my Democratic friends remember that time of emotions and ``I'm in favor of jetties'' statements?
Let's ask ourselves what has happened since, in spite of our pleading, letters and meetings. Nothing has happened; the special committee has been silent. Our Owens-led county commissioners have done nothing. Marc Basnight, in his lofty state position of power, has accomplished very little. The governor has requested nothing from his special commission. In short, as I have said so many times, there is complete, deafening silence.
Along comes Freddy to remind us of the treacherous inlet. Just weeks ago, we had trawlers go aground. That was also mentioned, but only in passing.
Where are our priorities? Shouldn't we worry just slightly about our basic industry, ``the fisheries?'' You can be assured the Oregon Inlet, its promise and its dangers will be an important part of my party's upcoming campaign.
Daniel Gray
Chairman
Dare County Republican Party
Avon one
The Carova Beach Volunteer Fire Department recently voted to oppose a service district on the Fruitville Outer Banks. Five years ago, I spearheaded a drive to implement a service district in the Carova Beach area. A 3-cent per 100 cap was recommended to the county, as a tax to be set aside for a service district. After much debate and discussion, it was determined that future commissioners would not be governed by a cap placed on the taxes by the existing council members.
Some problems were brought to our attention:
All areas of Carova Beach would have to be surveyed, because some of the roads are on private property.
The majority of people who live here do so because of lower taxes and less congestion.
Residents chose to live in Carova Beach for its pristine beauty and peacefulness. Now our homes are being abused by four-wheel-drive vehicles, as well as all-terrain vehicles. This unfortunate situation exists due to lack of manpower by law enforcement agencies.
Repeated requests have been voiced by full-time residents for some type of permit system to protect our beaches. The fees collected by such a system would generate additional revenue, which could in turn be channeled back for additional law enforcement personnel. This should help curb the destruction done to our dune line, as well as our roads, by non-residents.
If a service district was implemented in this area, it would provide a field day for real estate developers and agents. Property values and taxes would increase. Massive building, as seen in Corolla, would be the ruination of the Fruitville Outer Banks, and sewer and water would be a major problem.
It recently came to our attention that the service district was needed to provide access for our firefighting equipment. This statement is untrue. Every vehicle at Station Seven is in fact a four-wheel drive. If building materials can reach the construction site, so can we. If we don't need improved roads, why should our taxes be raised to provide a service we do not need or want? This is taxation without representation.
Walter J. Leveridge
President
Carova Beach Volunteer Fire Department
Corolla by CNB