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HB 442

An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties of the Department of State and its departmental administrative board, establishing the Pharmaceutical Collection Sites Educational Program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Missy Cerrato and 11 co-sponsors

Expands access for flounder and red snapper while banning nearshore shrimp trawling within 0.5 miles of shore for four years, pending stock review.

Referred to Health
0
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Bill Summary · HB 442

Summary — HB 442: Flounder / Red Snapper Seasons & Shrimp Trawl (North Carolina)

Status: Withdrawn from Calendar (per tracker)
Introduced: 2024–2025 session (filed Mar 2025)
Jurisdiction: North Carolina General Assembly

Purpose

HB 442 creates a four‑year pilot program to expand recreational and commercial access to southern flounder and red snapper while also restricting nearshore shrimp trawling. The bill is framed to restore recreational seasons, support coastal fishing businesses, and require updated stock assessment and reporting to inform future management.

Key provisions

  • Recreational southern flounder

    • Require a recreational harvest season of at least six weeks between May 15 and November 15 each year.
    • Recreational daily creel limit: 1 fish per person per day.
    • Other size/manner/area/gear limits from Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder FMP continue to apply.

  • Commercial southern flounder

    • Set a commercial quota of 750,000 pounds (total allowed catch).
    • Quota accounting: any quota overage in one year is deducted from the following year; unused quota in one year is added to the following year.

  • Red snapper (state waters)

    • Allow a year‑round recreational red snapper season.
    • Creel limit: 2 fish per person per day.
    • Minimum size limit: 20 inches.

  • Science, reporting, and review

    • Division of Marine Fisheries must complete a southern flounder stock assessment by July 1, 2026 (using recent data).
    • Division must report results of the assessment by August 1, 2026, and then annually each August 1 with progress on rebuilding and timetables for further access increases.

  • Shrimp trawling nearshore prohibition

    • Amend G.S. 113‑187 to prohibit taking shrimp with a trawl net in coastal fishing waters located within one‑half mile of the shoreline (new statutory subsection).
    • The Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) must adopt temporary and permanent rules to implement the prohibition.
    • This prohibition becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

  • Duration / sunset

    • Sections creating the flounder/red snapper pilot (Sections 1–2) expire August 1, 2029 (four‑year pilot).

Who is affected

  • Recreational anglers and charter fishing operations (expanded seasons/limits).
  • Commercial flounder fishermen and quota managers (750,000 lb quota and carryover rules).
  • Shrimp trawl operators that fish inside 0.5 mile of shore (will need to cease trawling in that zone or shift gear/areas).
  • Division of Marine Fisheries, Fisheries Director, and Marine Fisheries Commission (directed to amend plans, complete assessment, and adopt rules).
  • Coastal businesses and communities (economic and ecological effects).

Enforcement, penalties & administrative steps

  • Violation of trawl prohibitions is enforced under the existing statutory enforcement framework (G.S. 113‑187), which carries criminal penalties (listed offenses include mandatory misdemeanor classification for certain violations).
  • MFC must promulgate rules (temporary and permanent) to implement the trawl ban.
  • Division must perform and report on the stock assessment and annual status.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Economic: intended to benefit recreational fishing and tourism by increasing in‑state opportunity versus neighboring states.
  • Conservation/biology: expands fishing access while requiring an updated stock assessment; outcomes depend on stock status and effectiveness of monitoring.
  • Fisheries operations: nearshore shrimpers will face spatial restrictions that may require operational changes; enforcement & compliance resources will be needed.
  • Management: carries a four‑year testing window with required reporting to inform future permanent changes.

Note: This summary is based on the bill text (Committee Substitute #2 / Fourth Edition). The procedural status (Withdrawn From Calendar) and final disposition should be verified with the official legislative records for the current session.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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