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HB 544

Limited Shark Fishing Tournament Moratorium.

2023-2024 Session Introduced by Terry Brown and 3 co-sponsors

Imposes a seasonal ban on shore-based shark landings for recreational tournaments May 1 to Oct 31 at eight NC beaches, overriding other rules.

Signed by Gov. 6/2/2023
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Bill Summary · HB 544

HB 544 — Limited Shark Fishing Tournament Moratorium (North Carolina, 2023)

Status: Enacted (Session Law 2023‑26). Signed by the Governor 6/2/2023. Effective date: July 1, 2023. Adds G.S. § 113‑192.

Main purpose

To prohibit shore‑based shark landings that are made as part of recreational fishing tournaments during the peak tourist season at specified southeastern North Carolina beaches. The intent is to place a seasonal moratorium on a specific type of tournament activity in designated coastal communities.

Key provisions

  • Creates a new statute, G.S. § 113‑192, titled “Moratorium on certain shark fishing tournaments during tourist season.”
  • Prohibits, each year between May 1 and October 31, taking (landing) sharks as part of a recreational fishing tournament when the person landing the shark is:
    • on the shoreline, or
    • on a structure attached to the shoreline at any of the named locations.
  • Named locations covered by the moratorium:
    • Carolina Beach
    • Caswell Beach
    • Holden Beach
    • Kure Beach
    • Oak Island
    • Ocean Isle Beach
    • Sunset Beach
    • Bald Head Island
  • The prohibition is established “notwithstanding any other provision of law or proclamation issued by the Marine Fisheries Commission,” i.e., it is a statutory limitation that applies even if other rules or proclamations would otherwise allow such tournament landings during that period.

Who is affected

  • Recreational fishing tournament organizers and participants who land sharks from shore or shore‑attached structures at the listed beaches during May 1–Oct 31.
  • Municipalities named in the statute (local governments and tourism economies).
  • State enforcement and fisheries agencies responsible for implementing and enforcing coastal fisheries law (enforcement mechanisms and penalties are governed by existing fisheries/statutory enforcement frameworks; the statute itself does not specify new penalties).

Implementation / timeline

  • Law effective July 1, 2023; applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
  • Administration and enforcement will proceed under existing marine fisheries enforcement authority and relevant statutes.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Conservation and public‑safety goals: seasonal reduction in shore‑based shark tournament activity during peak tourist months may lower human‑wildlife conflicts and address local safety/visitor concerns.
  • Economic/organizational effects: tournament organizers and related businesses (charter operators, bait/gear sellers, local hospitality) could see reduced shore‑based tournament activity during the specified season; organizers may shift to boat‑based tournaments or other locations/times.
  • Regulatory interaction: because the statute expressly overrides conflicting Marine Fisheries Commission proclamations for the specified activity, the Commission’s authority to allow such shore‑based tournament landings at those locations/times is limited by this statute.

(For details, see Session Law 2023‑26 and G.S. § 113‑192.)

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

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