Currituck County Republican Sen. Bobby Hanig says the forthcoming announcement of a new company’s nearly $1 billion investment in Hertford County will be “transformational” for the area.
North Carolina General Assembly
Vast majority of litter removed from streams is plastic: Study
A three-year study recently published in the journal Community Science finds that about 96% of litter North Carolina waterkeeper organizations and their volunteers removed from trash traps were plastics.
Seafood coalition proposes moving Fisheries to Agriculture
The new North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition’s held its second meeting last week, during which it laid out priorities that include transferring the Division of Marine Fisheries from the Department of Environmental Quality to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Critics say law will derail health, environmental rulemaking
House Bill 402, which became law this past summer despite the governor’s veto, has drawn sharp criticism from environmental and health advocates who argue it will stifle an already daunting rulemaking process and create significant obstacles to addressing pollution.
Hanig announces bid for northeast NC congressional seat
Sen. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck, has announced his candidacy for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
State awards $2.25 million for 10 public water access projects
The Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Grant Program grants go to help local governments in the 20 coastal counties acquire land for public access sites and add or improve amenities.
Fledgling commercial fisheries group looks to boost industry
The North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition, formed in response to the recently proposed ban on shrimp trawling in state waters, met for the first time this week in Morehead City, drawing numerous state and local elected officials.
Group forms to represent commercial shrimpers’ interests
The new coalition is to defend and protect the state’s commercial fishing fleet and industry and was spawned by the recent fight over shrimp trawling in North Carolina’s inland and nearshore coastal waters.
Judge blocks pilot Lake Mattamuskeet algaecide application
A federal court decision Wednesday blocks the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from using a potentially harmful algaecide at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, a compound that environmental groups argued would endanger the waterfowl the refuge is supposed to protect.
Woodard pens letter to Senate leader on roots of ‘Shrimpgate’
Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard sent a letter June 30 to Senate Leader Phil Berger expressing “deep concern” about the last-minute changes to the two House bills that resulted in last week’s “Shrimpgate” protests.
House Republicans decline to take up shrimp trawling bill
The North Carolina Senate’s proposed ban on shrimp trawling in inland and nearby offshore waters is off the table, for now.
‘Injustice’: Lawmakers vow to fight Senate’s shrimp trawl ban
As tempers flare over a proposed ban on shrimp trawling in the state’s inland and nearby offshore waters — a Senate move that supporters deem necessary to protect bottom habitats — coastal legislators opposed to the language vowed Tuesday to side with shrimpers.
‘Shrimp Day’ in Raleigh to protest proposed trawling ban
N.C. Catch, N.C. Watermen United, Carteret County Fisherman’s Association, Ocracoke Seafood Co. and Carteret Catch are calling for supporters to “Save NC Shrimp: Shrimp Day at the Legislature” starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Raleigh.
Senate kicks shrimp trawl ban bill back to House for vote
Despite public outcry against the move, the Senate has voted in favor of the shrimp trawling ban in inshore waters and within a half-mile of the shoreline that was tacked onto a bill earlier this week to open up recreational harvest for flounder and red snapper.
Measure that would halt inshore shrimp trawling advances
A controversial bill in the North Carolina General Assembly that would ban shrimp trawling in inshore waters and offshore waters up to a half-mile gained momentum Tuesday.
Coastal Federation urges public to weigh in on wetland rule
The nonprofit organization that publishes Coastal Review is calling on residents to speak out next week on the legislatively mandated rule change that would diminish North Carolina’s water quality protections.