GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 215*

Short Title:  Extend Core Sound Moratorium.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representative Preston.

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Referred to:  Environment and Natural Resources.

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March 2, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ON ISSUING SHELLFISH CULTIVATION LEASES IN CORE SOUND, TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES AND THE PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR TO REPORT THE RESULTS OF THE SHELLFISH MAPPING AND HUMAN USE MAPPING OF CORE SOUND TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON SEAFOOD AND AQUACULTURE AND THE MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION, AND TO REQUIRE THE MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION TO REVIEW THESE RESULTS AND REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON SEAFOOD AND AQUACULTURE, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON SEAFOOD AND AQUACULTURE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Section 3 of Chapter 547 of the 1995 Session Laws, Regular Session 1996, as amended by subsection (b) of Section 1 of Chapter 633 of the 1995 Session Laws, Regular Session 1996; Section 27.33 of Chapter 18 of the 1996 Session Laws, Second Extra Session; Section 12 of S.L. 1997-256; Section 8 of S.L. 1997-347; Section 6.14 of S.L. 1997-400; Section 15 of S.L. 1998-23; and Section 1 of S.L. 1998-56, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 3.  Notwithstanding G.S. 113-202, a moratorium on new shellfish cultivation leases shall be imposed in the remaining area of Core Sound not described in Section 1 of this act.  During the moratorium, a comprehensive study of the shellfish lease program shall be conducted.  The moratorium established under this section covers that part of Core Sound bounded by a line beginning at a point on Cedar Island at 35°00'39"N - 76°17'48"W, thence 109°(M)	to a point in Core Sound 35°00'00"N - 76°12'42"W, thence 229°(M) to Marker No. 37 located 0.9 miles off Bells Point at 34°43'30"N - 76°29'00"W, thence 207°(M) to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse at 34°37'24"N - 76°31'30"W, thence 12°(M) to a point at Marshallberg at 34°43'07"N - 76°31'12"W, thence following the shoreline in a northerly direction to the point of beginning except that the highway bridges at Salters Creek, Thorofare Bay, and the Rumley Bay ditch shall be considered shoreline.  The moratorium shall expire July 1, 2000."
Section 2.  The Division of Marine Fisheries and the Primary Investigator for the Human Use Mapping Project in Core Sound shall report the results of the shellfish mapping and human use mapping of Core Sound to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture and the Marine Fisheries Commission no later than October 1, 1999.
Section 3.  The Marine Fisheries Commission shall review the results of the shellfish mapping and human use mapping of Core Sound and shall report its findings, including any recommendations, to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture no later than February 1, 2000.
Section 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.