North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina S977: Moratorium on New Coastal Fishing Regulations.
Status: In committee, May 4, 2026
What the bill says
An act to establish a temporary moratorium on regulatory actions affecting commercial and recreational fishing pending review and implementation of the north carolina collaboratory study of the coastal and marine fisheries of the state and to reestablish the joint legislative commission on seafood and aquaculture.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON REGULATORY ACTIONS AFFECTING COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING PENDING REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLABORATORY STUDY OF THE COASTAL AND MARINE FISHERIES OF THE STATE AND TO REESTABLISH THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON SEAFOOD AND AQUACULTURE. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: PART I. MORATORIUM ON NEW COASTAL FISHING REGULATIONS LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE SECTION 1. Legislative Findings. - The General Assembly finds the following: (1) The seafood industry and recreational fishing sector are essential to the economic stability, food supply, tourism economy, and cultural heritage of the State. (2) In 2021, the General Assembly directed the North Carolina Collaboratory to conduct a study on the overall status of the coastal and marine fisheries regulated by the State (Collaboratory Study). (3) The Collaboratory Study is intended to serve as the primary policy guidance for future coastal and marine fisheries management decisions. (4) Ongoing regulatory changes and instability have created significant economic uncertainty for commercial fishermen, charter operators, recreational anglers, seafood dealers, seafood processors, and related businesses. (5) A temporary suspension of regulatory expansion is necessary to allow for full legislative review and consideration of the Collaboratory Study and its recommendations. SECTION 2. Legislative Purpose. - The purpose of this Part is to establish a comprehensive …
Sponsors
- Hanig, Bobby (R, 1) · primary sponsor
- Sanderson, Norman W. (R, 2)
Latest actions
- : Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
- : Passed 1st Reading
- : Filed
Subjects: Public, Unc, Studies, Commissions, General Assembly, Coastal Resources, Policy Collaboratory, Fisheries
Common questions
- What is S977?
- S977 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Moratorium on New Coastal Fishing Regulations.
- What does S977 do?
- In its own words: An act to establish a temporary moratorium on regulatory actions affecting commercial and recreational fishing pending review and implementation of the north carolina collaboratory study of the coastal and marine fisheries of the state and to reestablish the joint legislative commission on seafood and aquaculture.
- What is the status of S977?
- In committee as of May 4, 2026. Latest action: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (May 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored S977?
- Hanig, Bobby (R, 1), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for S977?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S977
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.