§ 113-1. Meaning of terms.

In this Article, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression “Department” means the Department of Environmental Quality; “Secretary” means the Secretary of Environmental Quality.

History. 1925, c. 122, s. 3; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(47); 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2015-241, s. 14.30(u), (v).

Local Modification.

Dare: 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 837, s. 3; (As to this Chapter) Tyrrell: 1987, c. 131, s. 2; Washington: 1987, c. 131, s. 2.

Cross References.

As to the organization of the Department of Environmental Quality, see G.S. 143B-279.1 et seq.

As to the Environmental Management Commission, see G.S. 143B-282 et seq.

State Government Reorganization.

The Department and Board of Conservation and Development were transferred to the Department of Natural and Economic Resources by former G.S. 143A-117, enacted by Session Laws 1971, c. 864.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(u), (v), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “Department of Environmental Quality” for “Department of Environment and Natural Resources” and substituted “Secretary of Environmental Quality” for “Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.”

§ 113-2. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 28.

§ 113-3. Duties of the Department.

1. It shall be the duty of the Department, by investigation, recommendation and publication, to aid:
   1. In the promotion of the conservation and development of the natural resources of the State;
   2. In promoting a more profitable use of lands and forests;
   3. Repealed by Session Laws 1977, c. 198, s. 15; c. 771, s. 7;
   4. In coordinating existing scientific investigations and other related agencies in formulating and promoting sound policies of conservation and development; and
   5. Repealed by Session Laws 1977, c. 771, s. 7.
2. Repealed by Session Laws 1959, c. 779, s. 3.

History. 1925, c. 122, s. 4; 1957, c. 753, s. 3; c. 1424, s. 1; 1959, c. 779, s. 3; 1977, c. 198, s. 15; c. 771, s. 7.

Cross References.

For the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Law, see G.S. 143-237 et seq.

For provisions regarding fish kill response protocols and report, see G.S. 143B-279.7.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.18B, provides: “(a) The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall use mechanics employed by the Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [now Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services] for the purpose of performing aircraft maintenance for all aircraft of the Division of Marine Fisheries except for a particular instance when this would be impracticable.

“(b) The Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [now Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services] shall perform aircraft maintenance using its mechanics for all aircraft of the Division of Marine Fisheries, except for a particular instance when this would be impracticable. The Division of Forest Resources shall develop a process to establish priorities for the aviation maintenance needs of all the aircraft in both the Division of Forest Resources and the Division of Marine Fisheries.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(xx), provides: “The Revisor of Statutes shall make the conforming statutory changes necessary to reflect the transfers under this section. The Revisor of Statutes may correct any reference in the General Statutes to the statutes that are recodified by this section and make any other conforming changes necessitated by this section.” Pursuant to that provision, conforming changes have been made in Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.18B, noted above.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2011.’ ”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.5, is a severability clause.

§§ 113-4 through 113-7. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 28.

§ 113-8. Powers and duties of the Department.

The Department shall make investigations of the natural resources of the State, and take such measures as it may deem best suited to promote the conservation and development of such resources.

It shall have the protection of lands and water supplies; it shall also have the care of recreational areas now owned or to be acquired by the State, including the lakes referred to in G.S. 146-7.

It shall make such examination, survey and mapping of the geology, mineralogy and topography of the State, including their industrial and economic utilization, as it may consider necessary; make investigations of water supplies and water powers, prepare and maintain a general inventory of the water resources of the State, and take such measures as it may consider necessary to promote their development.

It shall have the duty of enforcing all laws relating to the conservation of marine and estuarine resources.

The Department may take such other measures as it may deem advisable to obtain and make public a more complete knowledge of the State and its resources, and it is authorized to cooperate with other departments and agencies of the State in obtaining and making public such information.

The Department may acquire such real and personal property as may be found desirable and necessary for the performance of the duties and functions of the Department and pay for same out of any funds appropriated for the Department or available unappropriated revenues of the Department, when such acquisition is approved by the Governor and Council of State. The title to any real estate acquired shall be in the name of the State of North Carolina for the use and benefit of the Department.

History. 1925, c. 122, s. 9; 1927, c. 57; 1947, c. 118; 1957, c. 753, s. 4; c. 1424, s. 2; 1965, c. 957, s. 11; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1977, c. 198, ss. 16, 17; c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 33; 2011-145, s. 13.25(j); 2015-241, s. 14.30(nn).

Cross References.

For the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Law, see G.S. 143-237 et seq.

Transfer of Division of Forest Resources.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(a), provides: “(a) The Division of Forest Resources is transferred from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services with all the elements of a Type I transfer, as defined by G.S. 143A-6.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(yy), provides: “The transfers under this section become effective July 1, 2011, and funds transferred shall be net of any changes enacted by this section.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(zz), provides: “Any references in this act to the Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall be construed to refer to the Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Any references in this act to the Forestry Council of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall be construed to refer to the Forestry Council of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.”

Editor’s Note.

Section 146-7, referred to in the second paragraph of this section, was repealed by the revision of Chapter 146 by Session Laws 1959, c. 683, s. 1.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2011.’ ”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.5, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(j), effective July 1, 2011, in the second paragraph, deleted “charge of the work of forest maintenance, forest fire prevention, reforestation, and” following “It shall have,” deleted “by the preservation of forests” following “water supplies,” and deleted “forests and” preceding “parks.”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(nn), effective July 1, 2015, deleted “State parks, and other” preceding “recreational” in the second paragraph.

§ 113-8.01. Pollution Prevention Pays Programs.

There is established within the Department a non-regulatory technical assistance program to be known as the Pollution Prevention Pays Program. The purpose of this program is to encourage voluntary waste and pollution reduction efforts through research and by providing information, technical assistance, and matching grants to businesses and industries interested in establishing or enhancing activities to prevent, reduce, or recycle waste. The Pollution Prevention Pays Program shall coordinate its activities with the appropriate regulatory agencies.

History. 1989, c. 168, s. 7; 1993, c. 501, s. 10.

§ 113-8.1. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1959, c. 779, s. 3.

§§ 113-9 through 113-13. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 28.

§ 113-14.

Recodified as § 143B-435 by Session Laws 1977, c. 198, s. 26.

§ 113-14.1. Promotion of seashore industry and recreation.

1. Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 28.
2. The following powers are hereby granted to the Secretary and may be delegated to the administrative head of an existing or new division of the Department as herein authorized:
   1. to (3) Repealed by Session Laws 1977, c. 198, s. 18.

(4) Study the development of the seacoast areas and implement policies which will promote the development of the coastal area, with particular emphasis upon the development of the scenic and recreational resources of the seacoast;

(5) Advise and confer with various interested individuals, organizations and State, federal and local agencies which are interested in development of the seacoast area and use its facilities and efforts in planning, developing and carrying out overall programs for the development of the area as a whole;

(6) Act as liaison between agencies of the State, local government, and agencies of the federal government concerned with development of the seacoast region;

(7) Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 28;

(8) Make such reports to the Governor as he may request;

(9) File such recommendations or suggestions as it may deem proper with other agencies of the State, local or federal governments.Provided, however, that the provisions of this section and G.S. 113-14.2 shall not be construed as affecting the authority of the Environmental Management Commission concerning shore-erosion control or prevention, beach protection, or hurricane protection under G.S. 143-355 or any other provision of law.

History. 1969, c. 1143, ss. 2, 3; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 198, s. 18; c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 34.

Editor’s Note.

Section 113-14.2, referred to in the last paragraph of this section, and relating to the former Seashore Advisory Board, was repealed by Session Laws 1971, c. 882, s. 8.

Session Laws 2007-485, s. 2.1, provides: “There is established the Advisory Committee for the Coordination of Waterfront Access within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The Advisory Committee shall be composed of the following members:

“(1) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources or the Secretary’s designee, Chair.

“(2) The Director of the Division of Coastal Management of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or the Director’s designee.

“(3) The Director of the Division of Parks and Recreation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or the Director’s designee.

“(4) The Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or the Director’s designee.

“(5) The Director of the Division of Aquariums of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or the Director’s designee.

“(6) The Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission or the Executive Director’s designee.

“(7) A representative of the State Property Office appointed by the Secretary of Administration.

“(8) The Executive Director of North Carolina Sea Grant.

“(9) One local government representative appointed by the North Carolina League of Municipalities.

“(10) One local government representative appointed by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.”

Session Laws 2007-485, s. 2.2, provides: “The Advisory Committee for the Coordination of Waterfront Access shall:

“(1) Develop a coordinated plan for providing greater waterfront access in the State. This plan shall specifically address geographic diversity of waterfront access, diversity of types of waterfront access, and funding for waterfront access. The entities represented on the Advisory Committee shall adhere to the plan to the maximum extent practicable.

“(2) Develop recommendations for increasing and improving waterfront access in the State.”

Session Laws 2007-485, s. 2.3, provides: “The Advisory Committee shall report its progress in implementing this Part, including any recommendations developed pursuant to this Part, to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture no later than October 1 of each year. The first report required by this section shall be submitted no later than October 1, 2008.” Session Laws 2015-286, s. 4.12(f), effective October 22, 2015, repealed Session Laws 2007-485, s. 2.3.

§ 113-14.2. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1971, c. 882, s. 8.

§ 113-14.3. Publications.

The Department shall publish, from time to time, reports and statements, with illustrations, maps, and other descriptions, which shall adequately set forth the natural and material resources of the State for the purpose of furnishing information to educate the people about the natural and material resources of the State.

History. 1977, c. 771, s. 5; 1989, c. 727, s. 35.

§ 113-15.

Recodified as G.S. 143B-436 by Session Laws 1977, c. 198, s. 26.

§ 113-15.1. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1969, c. 1145, s. 4.

Cross References.

As to transfer of functions, property, etc., of the Division of Community Planning to the Department of Local Affairs, see G.S. 143-326.

§ 113-15.2.

Recodified as G.S. 143B-437 by Session Laws 1977, c. 198, s. 26.

§ 113-16. Cooperation with agencies of the federal government.

The Department is authorized to arrange for and accept such aid and cooperation from the several United States government bureaus and other sources as may assist in completing topographic surveys and in carrying out the other objects of the Department.

The Department is further authorized and directed to cooperate with the Federal Power Commission in carrying out the rules adopted by that Commission; and to act in behalf of the State in carrying out any rules that may be adopted relating to water powers in this State other than those related to making and regulating rates. The provisions of this section are extended to apply to cooperation with authorized agencies of other states.

History. 1925, c. 122, s. 18; 1929, c. 297, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 36.

§ 113-17. Agreements, negotiations and conferences with federal government.

The Department is delegated as the State agency to represent North Carolina in any agreements, negotiations, or conferences with authorized agencies of adjoining or other states, or agencies of the federal government, relating to the joint administration or control over the surface or underground waters passing or flowing from one state to another under the provisions of this section.

History. 1929, c. 297, s. 1; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 37.

§ 113-18. Department authorized to receive funds from Federal Power Commission.

All sums payable to the State of North Carolina by the Treasurer of the United States of America under the provisions of section 17 and other sections of the Federal Water Power Act shall be paid to the account of the Department as the authorized agent of the State for receipt of said payments. Such sums shall be used by the Department in prosecuting investigations for the utilization and development of the water resources of the State.

History. 1929, c. 288; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 38.

§ 113-19. Cooperation with other State departments.

The Department is authorized to cooperate with the North Carolina Utilities Commission in investigating the waterpowers in the State, and to furnish the Utilities Commission such information as is possible regarding the location of the waterpower sites, developed waterpowers, and such other information as may be desired in regard to waterpower in the State; the Department shall also cooperate as far as possible with the Department of Labor, the State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and other departments and institutions of the State in collecting information in regard to the resources of the State and in preparing the same for publication in such manner as may best advance the welfare and improvement of the State.

History. 1925, c. 122, s. 16; 1927, c. 57, s. 1; 1931, c. 312; 1933, c. 134, s. 8; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 39; 1997-261, s. 109.

§ 113-20. Cooperation with counties and municipal corporations.

The Department is authorized to cooperate with the counties of the State in any surveys to ascertain the natural resources of the county; and with the governing bodies of cities and towns, with boards of trade and other like civic organizations, in examining and locating water supplies and in advising and recommending plans for other municipal improvements and enterprises. Such cooperation is to be conducted upon such terms as the Department may direct.

History. 1925, c. 122, s. 17; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 40.

Legal Periodicals.

For note on defining navigable waters and the application of the public trust doctrine in North Carolina, see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 888 (1971).

§ 113-21. Cooperation of counties with State in making water resource survey.

The board of county commissioners of any county of North Carolina is authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to cooperate with the Department or other association, organization, or corporation in making surveys of any of the natural resources of their county, and to appropriate and pay out of the funds under their control such proportional part of the cost of such survey as they may deem proper and just.

History. 1921, c. 208; 1925, c. 122, s. 4; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 41.

§ 113-22. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(k), effective July 1, 2011.

History. 1925, c. 122, s. 22; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 42; repealed by 2011-145, s. 13.25(k), effective July 1, 2011.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-22 pertained to control of State forests.

§ 113-23.

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.43 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-24. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 5.

Cross References.

For present provisions as to conservation of wildlife resources, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

§ 113-25. Notice to Department before beginning business of manufacturing products from mineral resources of State.

Every person, firm or corporation engaging in the manufacture or production of any product from any natural resources, classified as mineral products, shall before beginning such operation, or if already engaged in such business, within 90 days after March 9, 1927, notify the Department of its intention to begin or continue such business, and also notify said Department of the product or products it intends to produce.

Every person, firm or corporation now engaged or hereafter engaging in the manufacture or production of any product from any natural resources of the State classified as mineral products, shall notify the Department when such person, firm or corporation shall discontinue such manufacture or production.

Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall only be fined not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and not less than five dollars ($5.00), in the discretion of the court.

History. 1927, c. 258; 1993, c. 539, s. 828; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

§ 113-26. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1959, c. 683, s. 6.

§ 113-26.1. Bureau of Mines; mineral museum.

The Governor and the Council of State are hereby authorized, in their discretion and at such times as the development of the mineral resources and the expansion of mining operations in the State justify and make reasonably necessary, to create and establish as a part of the Department a Bureau of Mines, or a mineral museum in cooperation with the National Park Service, to be located in the western part of the State, with a view to rendering such aid and assistance to mining developments in this State as may be helpful in this expanding industry, and to allocate from the Contingency and Emergency Fund such funds as may reasonably be necessary for the establishment and operation of such Bureau of Mines or mineral museum.

The Department may adopt rules governing the operation of a Bureau of Mines or mineral museum established under this section.

History. 1943, c. 612; 1953, c. 1104, ss. 1-3; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1987, c. 827, s. 89; 1989, c. 727, s. 44.

§ 113-27. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1959, c. 779, s. 3.

§ 113-28. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2010-96, s. 12, effective July 20, 2010.

History. 1935, c. 115; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 45; repealed by 2010-96, s. 12, effective July 20, 2010.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-28 provided for the reimbursement of the federal government for expense of certain work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

§ 113-28.1. Designated employees commissioned special peace officers by Governor.

Upon application by either the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources or the Secretary of Environmental Quality, the Governor is hereby authorized and empowered to commission as special peace officers such of the employees of the Departments as the Secretary may designate for the purpose of enforcing the laws and rules enacted or adopted for the protection, preservation and government of State parks, lakes, reservations and other lands or waters under the control or supervision of the respective Departments.

History. 1947, c. 577; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1987, c. 783, s. 5; 1989, c. 727, s. 46; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2015-241, s. 14.30(oo).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(oo), effective July 1, 2015, rewrote the section.

§ 113-28.2. Powers of arrest.

Any employee of either the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality commissioned as a special peace officer shall have the right to arrest with warrant any person violating any law or rule on or relating to the State parks, lakes, reservations and other lands or waters under the control or supervision of the employee’s respective Department, and shall have the power to pursue and arrest without warrant any person violating in his presence any law or rule on or relating to said parks, lakes, reservations and other lands or waters under the control or supervision of the employee’s respective Department.

History. 1947, c. 577; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 47; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2015-241, s. 14.30(pp).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(pp), effective July 1, 2015, rewrote the section.

§ 113-28.2A. Cooperation between law enforcement agencies.

Special peace officers employed by either the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality are officers of a “law enforcement agency” for purposes of G.S. 160A-288, and each Department shall have the same authority as a city or county governing body to approve cooperation between law enforcement agencies under that section.

History. 2002-111, s. 1; 2015-241, s. 14.30(qq).

Cross References.

As to cooperation between municipal law-enforcement agencies, see G.S. 160A-288.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(qq), effective July 1, 2015, rewrote the section.

§ 113-28.3. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1989, c. 485, s. 1.

§ 113-28.4. Oaths required.

Before any employee of either the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality commissioned as a special peace officer shall exercise any power of arrest under this Article, the employee shall take the oaths required of public officers before an officer authorized to administer oaths.

History. 1947, c. 577; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(48); 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2015-241, s. 14.30(rr).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(rr), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “either the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality” for “the Department of Environment and Natural Resources” and “the employee” for “he.”

§§ 113-28.5 through 113-28.12.

Recodified as G.S. 63-65 to 63-72 by Session Laws 1979, c. 148, s. 5.

§§ 113-28.13 through 113-28.20. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 86.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-28.17 through 113-28.20 had been reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-28.21 through 113-28.26.

Recodified as G.S. 108B-21 to 108B-26 by Session Laws 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1004, s. 34(c).

§ 113-29.

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.10 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§§ 113-29.1 through 113-33. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011.

History. S. 113-29.1; 1957, c. 584, s. 1; 1969, c. 342, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 50; repealed by 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011. s. 113-30; 1939, c. 317, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 51; repealed by 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011. s. 113-31; 1939, c. 317, s. 3; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 52; repealed by 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011. s. 113-32; 1939, c. 317, s. 4; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 53; repealed by 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011. s. 113-33; 1939, c. 317, s. 5; repealed by 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-29.1 pertained to growing of timber on unused State lands authorized. Former G.S. 113-30 pertained to use of lands acquired by counties through tax foreclosures as demonstration forests. Former G.S. 113-31 pertained to procedure for acquisition of delinquent tax lands from counties. Former G.S. 113-32 pertained to purchase of lands for use as demonstration forests. Former G.S. 113-33 pertained to forest management appropriation.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2011.’ ”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.5, is a severability clause.

§ 113-34. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.12 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-34.1. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.14 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-35. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.16 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-35.1. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2009-484, s. 5, effective August 26, 2009.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-35.1, uniforms for seasonal park employees, was enacted by Session Laws 1987, c. 738, s. 152, and amended by Session Laws 1989, c. 727, s. 56.

§ 113-36. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011.

History. 1915, c. 253, s. 2; C.S., s. 6125; 1925, c. 122, s. 22; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1981, c. 351, s. 1; 1989, c. 727, s. 57; 1999-237, s. 15; 2011-284, s. 74(a), (b); repealed by 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-36 pertained to applications of proceeds from sale of products.

§ 113-37. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.18 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-38. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011.

History. Ex. Sess. 1920, c. 6; 1921, c. 179, s. 17; C.S., s. 6126(a); 1933, c. 537, s. 1; 1939, c. 152; 1943, c. 527; 1957, c. 694; 1959, c. 245; repealed by 2011-145, s. 13.25(n), effective July 1, 2011.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-38 pertained to distribution of funds from sale of forestlands.

§ 113-39. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.20 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-40. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.22 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-41. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.24 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-42. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.26 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-43. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.28 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-44. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.30 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§§ 113-44.1, 113-44.2. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 28.

Cross References.

As to the Forestry Council, see G.S. 143A-66.1 et seq.

§§ 113-44.3 through 113-44.6. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 653, s. 4.

§ 113-44.7.

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.40 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-44.8. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.42 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-44.9. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.44 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-44.10. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.46 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-44.11. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.48 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-44.12. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.50 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-44.13. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.52 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-44.14. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.54 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§ 113-44.15. [Repealed]

Recodified as G.S. 143B-135.56 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(e), effective July 1, 2015.

§§ 113-45 through 113-50. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1975, c. 253.

§§ 113-51 through 113-60.3.

Recodified as Article 75 of Chapter 106, G.S. 106-895 through G.S. 106-910, by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(p), effective July 1, 2011.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-53 was repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 28.

§§ 113-60.4 through 113-60.10.

Recodified as Article 76 of Chapter 106, G.S. 106-920 through G.S. 106-926, by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(r), effective July 1, 2011.

§§ 113-60.11 through 113-60.15.

Recodified as Article 77 of Chapter 106, G.S. 106-930 through 106-934, by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(t), effective July 1, 2011.

§§ 113-60.16 through 113-60.20.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-60.21 through 113-60.31.

Recodified as Article 78 of Chapter 106, G.S. 106-940 through G.S. 106-950, by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(w), effective July 1, 2011.

§§ 113-60.32, 113-60.33.

Recodified as Article 79 of Chapter 106, G.S. 106-955 and G.S. 106-956, by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(y), effective July 1, 2011.

§§ 113-60.34 through 113-60.39.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-60.40 through 113-60.45.

Recodified as Article 80 of Chapter 106, G.S. 106-965 through G.S. 106-970, by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(aa), effective July 1, 2011.

§§ 113-61 through 113-77.

Recodified as Article 81 of Chapter 106, G.S. 106-980 through G.S. 106-996, by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(cc), effective July 1, 2011.

§§ 113-77.1 through 113-77.5.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-77.6 through 113-77.9. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.3(b), effective August 1, 2013.

History. S. 113-77.6; 1987, c. 871, s. 1; 1989, c. 86, s. 1; c. 727, s. 218(56); 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 772, s. 3; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); repealed by 2013-360, s. 14.3(b), effective August 1, 2013. s. 113-77.7; 1987, c. 871, s. 1; 1989, c. 86, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 772, s. 3; 1997-366, s. 1; 2004-179, s. 3.5; repealed by 2013-360, s. 14.3(b), effective August 1, 2013. s. 113-77.8; 1987, c. 871, s. 1; 1989, c. 86, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 772, s. 3; 1995, c. 490, s. 37(a); 2001-486, s. 2.23(a); repealed by 2013-360, s. 14.3(b), effective August 1, 2013. s. 113-77.9; 1987, c. 871, s. 1; 1989, c. 86, s. 1; 1991, c. 689, s. 339; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1044, s. 66; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 772, s. 3; 1997-366, s. 2; 1998-212, s. 14.6(b); 2004-179, s. 3.4; 2007-323, s. 29.14(g); 2009-484, s. 14; 2011-145, s. 13.16; 2012-142, s. 12.10; 2012-145, s. 4.4; repealed by 2013-360, s. 14.3(b), effective August 1, 2013; amended by Session Laws 2014-3, s. 14.14(b).

Editor’s Note.

For provisions of Session Laws 2006-223 preamble and ss. 1-12, which created the Land and Water Conservation Study Commission, see note at G.S. 143B-135.56.

Former G.S. 113-77.7 pertained to Natural Heritage Trust Fund. Former G.S. 113-77.8 pertained to Natural Heritage Trust Fund Board of Trustees. Former G.S. 113-77.9 pertained to acquisition of lands with funds from the Natural Heritage Trust Fund.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.3(k), provides: “The Natural Heritage Trust Fund shall be closed and the remaining fund balance in the Fund shall be transferred to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund established in G.S. 113A-253 as provided in this subsection. It is the intent of the General Assembly to honor the obligations from the Natural Heritage Trust Fund that were authorized prior to the effective date of this section and to ensure that any tax proceeds credited to the Natural Heritage Trust Fund are used for the purposes for which they were collected. Any encumbered funds transferred from the Natural Heritage Trust Fund to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund shall be used for the purpose for which the grant was awarded. The funds transferred from the Natural Heritage Trust Fund to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund that are unencumbered and any funds transferred from the Natural Heritage Trust Fund to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund that were encumbered but become unencumbered after the effective date of this section shall be used to acquire land under G.S. 113A-253(c)(8c) or G.S. 113A-253(c)(8d), as amended by subsection (d) of this section, or shall be used for the continued payment of debt service authorized before the effective date of this section to reimburse the General Fund for debt service on special indebtedness issued or incurred under Article 9 of Chapter 142 of the General Statutes for a natural heritage purpose.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14(k), became effective December 1, 2013.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.3( l ), provides: “The Revisor of Statutes may conform names and titles changed by this section, and may correct statutory references as required by this section, throughout the General Statutes. In making the changes authorized by this section, the Revisor may also adjust subject and verb agreement and the placement of conjunctions.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.’ ”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause.

§ 113-78. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

§§ 113-79 through 113-81. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1947, c. 422, ss. 1, 9.

§§ 113-81.1 through 113-81.3.

Recodified as Article 82 of Chapter 106, G.S. 106-1001 through G.S. 106-1003, by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(ee), effective July 1, 2011.

§§ 113-81.4 through 113-81.13. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present provisions as to license agents, see G.S. 113-270.1.

Editor’s Note.

Subchapter II-A was redesignated as subchapter IIA pursuant to Session Laws 1997-456, s. 27, which authorized the Revisor of Statutes to renumber or reletter sections and parts of sections having a number or letter designation that is incompatible with the General Assembly’s computer program database.

§§ 113-82 through 113-99. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present game laws, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

For repealed sections and local acts continued in effect as to particular counties, see G.S. 113-133.1.

§ 113-99.1.

Recodified as G.S. 113-270.2A.

§§ 113-100 through 113-109. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present game laws, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

For repealed sections and local acts continued in effect as to particular counties, see G.S. 113-133.1.

§§ 113-109.1 through 113-109.5.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-109.6 through 113-109.8. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present game laws, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

For repealed sections and local acts continued in effect as to particular counties, see G.S. 113-133.1.

§ 113-110. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1945, c. 217.

§§ 113-110.1 through 113-112. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present game laws, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

For repealed sections and local acts continued in effect as to particular counties, see G.S. 113-133.1.

§§ 113-113 through 113-113.5. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present provisions as to legislative assent to specific federal acts, see G.S. 113-307.1.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-113.1 through 113-113.5 had been reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-113.6 through 113-113.19. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present game laws, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

For repealed sections and local acts continued in effect as to particular counties, see G.S. 113-133.1.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-113.15 through 113-113.19 had been reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-113.20 through 113-113.23. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present game laws, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

For repealed sections and local acts continued in effect as to particular counties, see G.S. 113-133.1.

§§ 113-114 through 113-120. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present game laws, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

For repealed sections and local acts continued in effect as to particular counties, see G.S. 113-133.1.

§§ 113-120.1 through 113-120.4. [Transferred]

Transferred to G.S. 14-159.6 through 14-159.9 by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 11.

§§ 113-120.5 through 113-120.7. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1980, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present game laws, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

For repealed sections and local acts continued in effect as to particular counties, see G.S. 113-133.1.

§§ 113-121 through 113-126.1. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

Cross References.

For present game laws, see Subchapter IV of this Chapter, G.S. 113-127 et seq.

For repealed sections and local acts continued in effect as to particular counties, see G.S. 113-133.1.

§ 113-126.2. [Repealed]

Not set out.

Editor’s Note.

This section, as amended by G.S. 113-133.1, became applicable to less than 10 counties, and by virtue of its strictly local application it has not been set out.

§ 113-127. Application of Article.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this Article apply throughout this Subchapter.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2.

§ 113-128. Definitions relating to agencies and their powers.

The following definitions and their cognates apply to powers and administration of agencies charged with the conservation of marine and estuarine and wildlife resources:

1. , (2) Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.
2. Fisheries Director. — Director, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality who shall be qualified for the office by education or experience.
3. Marine Fisheries Commission. — The Marine Fisheries Commission of the Department as established by Part 5D of Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes.
4. Marine Fisheries Inspector. — An employee of the Department, other than a wildlife protector, sworn in as an officer and assigned duties which include exercise of law enforcement powers under this Subchapter. All references in statutes, regulations, contracts, and other legal and official documents to commercial fisheries inspectors and to commercial and sports fisheries inspectors apply to marine fisheries inspectors.

(3) Department. — The Department of Environmental Quality.

(4) Executive Director. — Executive Director, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

(5) Inspector. — Marine fisheries inspector.

(6) Notice; Notify. — Where it is required that notice be given an agency of a situation within a given number of days, this places the burden on the person giving notice to make sure that the information is received in writing by a responsible member of the agency within the time limit.

(7) Protector. — Wildlife protector.

(8) Secretary. — Secretary of Environmental Quality.

(9) Wildlife Protector. — An employee of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission sworn in as an officer and assigned to duties which include exercise of law-enforcement powers.

(10) Wildlife Resources Commission. — The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission as established by Article 24 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes and Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 512, s. 5; c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 388, s. 1; c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 641, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(57); 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 1998-225, s. 1.1; 2015-241, s. 14.30(u), (v).

Cross References.

As to the organization of the Department of Environmental Quality, see G.S. 143B-279.1 et seq.

As to the Wildlife Resources Commission, see G.S. 143B-281.1.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(u), (v), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “Department of Environmental Quality” for “Department of Environment and Natural Resources” in subsections (3) and (4a); and substituted “Secretary of Environmental Quality” for “Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources” in subdivision (8).

§ 113-129. Definitions relating to resources.

The following definitions and their cognates apply in the description of the various marine and estuarine and wildlife resources:

1. Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.
2. Animals. — Wild animals, except when the context clearly indicates a contrary interpretation.
3. Big Game. — Bear, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer.
4. Birds. — Wild birds, except when the context clearly indicates a contrary interpretation.
5. Boating and Fishing Access Area. — An area providing access to public waters and which is owned, allocated to, leased, controlled, or managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
6. Bushel. — A dry measure containing 2,150.42 cubic inches.
7. Cervid or Cervidae. — All animals in the Family Cervidae (elk and deer).
8. Coastal Fisheries. — Any and every aspect of cultivating, taking, possessing, transporting, processing, selling, utilizing, and disposing of fish taken in coastal fishing waters, whatever the manner or purpose of taking, except for the regulation of inland game fish in coastal fishing waters which is vested in the Wildlife Resources Commission; and all such dealings with fish, wherever taken or found, by a person primarily concerned with fish taken in coastal fishing waters so as to be placed under the administrative supervision of the Department. Provided, that the Department is given no authority over the taking of fish in inland fishing waters. Except as provisions in this Subchapter or in regulations of the Marine Fisheries Commission authorized under this Subchapter may make such reference inapplicable, all references in statutes, regulations, contracts, and other legal or official documents to commercial fisheries apply to coastal fisheries.
9. Coastal Fishing. — All fishing in coastal fishing waters. Except as provisions in this Subchapter or in regulations of the Marine Fisheries Commission authorized under this Subchapter may make such references inapplicable, all references in statutes, regulations, contracts, and other legal or official documents to commercial fishing apply to coastal fishing.
10. Coastal Fishing Waters. — The Atlantic Ocean; the various coastal sounds; and estuarine waters up to the dividing line between coastal fishing waters and inland fishing waters agreed upon by the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission. Except as provisions in this Subchapter or changes in the agreement between the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission may make such reference inapplicable, all references in statutes, regulations, contracts, and other legal or official documents to commercial fishing waters apply to coastal fishing waters.
11. Crustaceans. — Crustacea, specifically including crabs, lobster, and shrimp.
12. Deer. — White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), except when otherwise specified in this Chapter.
13. Farmed Cervid. — Any member of the Cervidae family, other than white-tailed deer, elk, mule deer, or black-tailed deer, that is bought and sold for commercial purposes.
14. Feral Swine. — Free-ranging mammals of the species Sus scrofa.
15. Fisheries Resources. — Marine and estuarine resources and such wildlife resources as relate to fish.
16. Fish; Fishes. — All finfish; all shellfish; and all crustaceans.
17. Fur-bearing Animals. — Beaver, mink, muskrat, nutria, otter, skunk, and weasel; bobcat, opossum, and raccoon when lawfully taken with traps.
18. Game. — Game animals and game birds.
19. Game Animals. — Bear, fox, rabbit, squirrel, white-tailed deer, and, except when trapped in accordance with provisions relating to fur-bearing animals, bobcat, opossum, and raccoon.
20. Game Birds. — Migratory game birds and upland game birds.
21. Game Fish. — Inland game fish and such other game fish in coastal fishing waters as may be regulated by the Department.
22. Game Lands. — Lands owned, allocated to, leased, controlled, or cooperatively managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
23. Inland Fishing Waters. — All inland waters except private ponds; and all waters connecting with or tributary to coastal sounds or the ocean extending inland or upstream from:
    1. The dividing line between coastal fishing waters and inland fishing waters agreed upon by the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission; or
    2. North Carolina’s boundary with another state.
24. Inland Game Fish. — Those species of freshwater fish, wherever found, and migratory saltwater fish, when found in inland fishing waters, as to which there is an important element of sport in taking and which are denominated as game fish in the regulations of the Wildlife Resources Commission. No species of fish of commercial importance not classified as a game fish in commercial fishing waters as of January 1, 1965, may be classified as an inland game fish in coastal fishing waters without the concurrence of the Marine Fisheries Commission.
25. Joint Fishing Waters. — Those coastal fishing waters in which are found a significant number of freshwater fish, as agreed upon by the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission in accordance with G.S. 113-132(e).
26. Marine and Estuarine Resources. — All fish, except inland game fish, found in the Atlantic Ocean and in coastal fishing waters; all fisheries based upon such fish; all uncultivated or undomesticated plant and animal life, other than wildlife resources, inhabiting or dependent upon coastal fishing waters; and the entire ecology supporting such fish, fisheries, and plant and animal life.
27. Migratory Birds. — All birds, whether or not raised in captivity, included in the terms of conventions between the United States and any foreign country for the protection of migratory birds and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as defined and listed in Part 10 of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
28. Migratory Game Birds. — Those migratory birds for which open seasons are prescribed by the United States Department of the Interior and belonging to the following families:
    1. Anatidae (wild ducks, geese, brant, and swans);
    2. Columbidae (wild doves and pigeons);
    3. Gruidae (little brown cranes);
    4. Rallidae (rails, coots, and gallinules); and
    5. Scolopacidae (woodcock and snipe).
29. Migratory Waterfowl; Waterfowl. — Those migratory birds for which open seasons are prescribed by the United States Department of the Interior and belonging to the Family Anatidae (wild ducks, geese, brant, and swans).
30. Mountain Heritage Trout Waters. — Those waters that run through or are adjacent to a city that has been designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission as a Mountain Heritage Trout City pursuant to G.S. 113-273(e).
31. Nongame Animals. — All wild animals except game and fur-bearing animals.
32. Nongame Birds. — All wild birds except game birds.
33. Nongame Fish. — All fish found in inland fishing waters other than inland game fish.
34. Repealed by Session Laws 2004-160, s. 1, effective August 2, 2004.
35. Repealed by Session Laws 2004-160, s. 1, effective August 2, 2004.
36. Overfished. — The condition of a fishery that occurs when the spawning stock biomass of the fishery is below the level that is adequate for the recruitment class of a fishery to replace the spawning class of the fishery.
37. Overfishing. — Fishing that causes a level of mortality that prevents a fishery from producing a sustainable harvest.
38. Private Pond. — A body of water arising within and lying wholly upon a single tract of privately owned land, from which fish cannot escape and into which fish cannot enter from public fishing waters at any time, except that all publicly owned ponds and lakes are classified as public fishing waters. In addition, the private owners of abutting tracts of land on which a pond not exceeding 10 acres is or has been established may by written agreement cooperate to maintain that pond as a private pond if it otherwise meets the requirements of this definition. If a copy of the agreement has been filed with the Wildlife Resources Commission and the pond in fact meets the requirements of this definition, it attains the status of private pond either 60 days after the agreement has been filed or upon the Commission’s approving it as private, whichever occurs first.
39. Public Fishing Waters; Public Waters. — Coastal fishing waters, inland fishing waters, or both.
40. Public Hunting Grounds. — Privately owned lands open to the public for hunting under the terms of a cooperative agreement between the owner and the Wildlife Resources Commission.
41. Public Mountain Trout Waters. — Those waters designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission that are managed and regulated to sustain a mountain trout fishery.
42. Raptor. — A migratory bird of prey authorized under federal law and regulations for the taking of quarry by falconry.
43. Shellfish. — Mollusca, specifically including oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops.
44. Sustainable harvest. — The amount of fish that can be taken from a fishery on a continuing basis without reducing the stock biomass of the fishery or causing the fishery to become overfished.
45. Upland Game Birds. — Grouse, pheasant, quail, and wild turkey.
46. Wild Animals. — Game animals; fur-bearing animals; feral swine; and all other wild mammals except marine mammals found in coastal fishing waters. In addition, this definition includes members of the following groups which are on the federal list of endangered or threatened species: wild amphibians, wild reptiles except sea turtles inhabiting and depending upon coastal fishing waters, and wild invertebrates except invertebrates declared to be pests under the Structural Pest Control Act of North Carolina of 1955 or the North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971. Nothing in this definition is intended to abrogate G.S. 113-132(c), confer jurisdiction upon the Wildlife Resources Commission as to any subject exclusively regulated by any other agency, or to authorize the Wildlife Resources Commission by its regulations to supersede valid provision of law or regulation administered by any other agency.
47. Wild Birds. — Migratory game birds; upland game birds; and all undomesticated feathered vertebrates. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by regulation list specific birds or classes of birds excluded from the definition of wild birds based upon the need for protection or regulation in the interests of conservation of wildlife resources.
48. Repealed by Session Laws 2011-369, s. 2, effective October 1, 2011.
49. Wildlife. — Wild animals; wild birds; all fish found in inland fishing waters; and inland game fish. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions of wildlife, wildlife resources, wild animals, wild birds, fish, and the like are deemed to include species normally wild, or indistinguishable from wild species, which are raised or kept in captivity. Nothing in this definition is intended to abrogate the exclusive authority given the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to regulate the production and sale of pen-raised quail for food purposes.
50. Wildlife Refuge. — An area of land or waters owned, leased, controlled, or cooperatively managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission which is closed to the taking of some or all species of wildlife.
51. Wildlife Resources. — All wild birds; all wild mammals other than marine mammals found in coastal fishing waters; all fish found in inland fishing waters, including migratory saltwater fish; all inland game fish; all uncultivated or undomesticated plant and animal life inhabiting or depending upon inland fishing waters; waterfowl food plants wherever found, except that to the extent such plants in coastal fishing waters affect the conservation of marine and estuarine resources the Department is given concurrent jurisdiction as to such plants; all undomesticated terrestrial creatures; and the entire ecology supporting such birds, mammals, fish, plant and animal life, and creatures.
52. Wildlife Resources Commission Property. — All lands, game lands, wildlife refuges, artificial constructions in boating and fishing access areas, and all other property owned, allocated to, leased, controlled, or cooperatively managed and designated for public use by the Wildlife Resources Commission.

The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized to modify this definition from time to time by regulations only as necessary to keep it in conformity with governing federal laws and regulations pertaining to migratory game birds.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 18, 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1285; 1987, c. 641, ss. 5, 6; 1991, c. 317, ss. 2, 3; c. 761, ss. 38, 39; 1993, c. 515, s. 6; 1997-142, ss. 2, 3; 1997-261, s. 80; 1997-400, s. 3.5; 1999-339, ss. 1-3; 2003-344, ss. 1-4; 2004-160, ss. 1, 2; 2009-89, s. 2; 2011-369, s. 2; 2013-413, s. 37(a); 2019-204, s. 2.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2004-160, ss. 1 and 2, effective August 2, 2004, repealed subdivisions (12a) and (12b), and added subdivisions (12c), (12d), and (14a).

Session Laws 2009-89, s. 2, effective October 1, 2009, added subdivision (15b).

Session Laws 2011-369, s. 2, effective October 1, 2011, and applicable to acts that occur on or after that date, deleted “wild boar” following “Bear” in subdivision (1b); added subdivision (5c); deleted “wild boar” following “squirrel” in subdivision (7c); inserted “feral swine” in the second sentence of subdivision (15); and deleted subdivision (15b), which was the definition for “Wild Boar.”

Session Laws 2013-413, s. 37(a), rewrote subdivision (7), which formerly read “Fish; Fishes. — All marine mammals; all shellfish; all crustaceans; and all other fishes.” For effective date, see editor’s note.

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 2, effective September 1, 2019, rewrote (1d); rewrote (8a); added (11d); redesignated former (11d) and (11e) as present (11e) and (11f), respectively; added (13c); redesignated former (13c) as present (13d); and added (18).

§ 113-130. Definitions relating to activities of public.

The following definitions and their cognates apply to activities of the public in regard to marine and estuarine and wildlife resources:

1. Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.
2. Falconry. — The sport of taking quarry by means of a trained raptor.
3. Individual. — A human being.
4. Landholder. — Any individual, resident or nonresident, owning land in this State or, when he is the one principally engaged in cultivating the land, leasing land in this State for agricultural purposes.
5. Owner; Ownership. — As for personal property, refers to persons having beneficial ownership and not to those holding legal title for security; as for real property, refers to persons having the present right of control, possession, and enjoyment, whether as life tenant, fee holder, beneficiary of a trust, or otherwise. Provided, that this definition does not include lessees of property except where the lease arrangement is a security device to facilitate what is in substance a sale of the property to the lessee.
6. Person. — Any individual; or any partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other group of individuals capable of suing or being sued as an entity.
7. Resident. — In the case of:
   1. Individuals. — One who at the time in question has resided in North Carolina for the preceding six months or has been domiciled in North Carolina for the preceding 60 days. When domicile in the State for a period of 60 days up to six months is the basis for establishing residence, the individual must sign a certificate on a form supplied by the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission, as the case may be, stating the necessary facts and the intent to establish domicile here.
   2. Corporations. — A corporation which is chartered under the laws of North Carolina and has its principal office within the State.
   3. Partnerships. — A partnership in which all partners are residents of North Carolina and which has its principal office in the State.
   4. Other Associations and Groups Fitting the Definition of Person. — An association or group principally composed of individual residents of North Carolina, with its principal office, if any, in the State, and organized for a purpose that contemplates more involvement or contact with this State than any other state.
   5. Military Personnel and Their Dependents. — A member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed at a military facility in North Carolina, the member’s spouse, and any dependent under 18 years of age residing with the member are deemed residents of the State, of the county in which they live, and also, if different, of any county in which the military facility is located. A member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty outside the State of North Carolina shall be deemed an individual resident of the State for purposes of all the following licenses:
      1. Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-174.2(c)(1) and (c)(4).
      2. Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing Licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-270.1C(b)(1).
      3. Sportsman Licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-270.1D(a).
      4. Hunting Licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-270.2(c)(1) and (c)(5).
      5. Special Activity Licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-270.3(b)(1).
      6. Trapping Licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-270.5(b)(1).
      7. Hook-and-Line Licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-271(d)(1), (d)(2), and (d)(6)a.
      8. Unified Hunting and Fishing Licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-351(c)(1) and (c)(2).
   6. Students. — Nonresident students attending a university, college, or community college in the State.
8. To Buy; Purchase. — Includes a purchase or exchange of property, or an offer or attempt to purchase or exchange, for money or any other valuable consideration.
9. To Fish. — To take fish.
10. To Hunt. — To take wild animals or wild birds.
11. To Sell; Sale. — Includes a sale or exchange of property, or an offer or attempt to sell or exchange — for money or any other valuable consideration.
12. To Take. — All operations during, immediately preparatory, and immediately subsequent to an attempt, whether successful or not, to capture, kill, pursue, hunt, or otherwise harm or reduce to possession any fisheries resources or wildlife resources.
13. To Trap. — To take wild animals or wild birds by trapping.
14. Vessel. — Every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1971, c. 705, s. 3; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 2005-455, s. 1.21; 2011-183, s. 76; 2013-191, s. 1.

Editor’s Note.

G.S. 113-271(d)(1), referred to in subdivision (4)(e)(7) of this section, was repealed by Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(g), effective September 1, 2019.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.21, effective January 1, 2006, added sub-subdivision (4)f.

Session Laws 2011-183, s. 76, effective June 20, 2011, in sub-subdivision (4)e., substituted “Armed Forces” for “armed forces” and made gender-neutralizing changes.

Session Laws 2013-191, s. 1, effective July 1, 2013, added the last sentence in sub-subdivision (4)e.; and added sub-sub-subdivisions (4)e.1. through (4)e.8.

§ 113-131. Resources belong to public; stewardship of conservation agencies; grant and delegation of powers; injunctive relief.

1. The marine and estuarine and wildlife resources of the State belong to the people of the State as a whole. The Department and the Wildlife Resources Commission are charged with stewardship of these resources.
2. The following powers are hereby granted to the Department and the Wildlife Resources Commission and may be delegated to the Fisheries Director and the Executive Director:
   1. Comment on and object to permit applications submitted to State agencies which may affect the public trust resources in the land and water areas subject to their respective management duties so as to conserve and protect the public trust rights in such land and water areas;
   2. Investigate alleged encroachments upon, usurpations of, or other actions in violation of the public trust rights of the people of the State; and
   3. Initiate contested case proceedings under Chapter 150B for review of permit decisions by State agencies which will adversely affect the public trust rights of the people of the State or initiate civil actions to remove or restrain any unlawful or unauthorized encroachment upon, usurpation of, or any other violation of the public trust rights of the people of the State or legal rights of access to such public trust areas.
3. Whenever there exists reasonable cause to believe that any person or other legal entity has unlawfully encroached upon, usurped, or otherwise violated the public trust rights of the people of the State or legal rights of access to such public trust areas, a civil action may be instituted by the responsible agency for injunctive relief to restrain the violation and for a mandatory preliminary injunction to restore the resources to an undisturbed condition. The action shall be brought in the superior court of the county in which the violation occurred. The institution of an action for injunctive relief under this section shall not relieve any party to such proceeding from any civil or criminal penalty otherwise prescribed for the violation.
4. The Attorney General shall act as the attorney for the agencies and shall initiate actions in the name of and at the request of the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission.
5. In this section, the term “public trust resources” means land and water areas, both public and private, subject to public trust rights as that term is defined in G.S. 1-45.1.
6. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a county or city may adopt and enforce ordinances as provided in G.S. 153A-145.3 or G.S. 160A-205, respectively.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1987, c. 641, s. 14; 2013-384, s. 4(b); 2015-70, s. 2.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-384, s. 4(b), effective August 23, 2013, added subsection (f).

Session Laws 2015-70, s. 2, effective June 11, 2015, in subsection (f), inserted “county or” and substituted “G.S. 153A-145.3 or G.S. 160A-205, respectively” for “G.S. 160A-205.”

Legal Periodicals.

For a note on the State’s interest in wild animals, see 2 Campbell L. Rev. 151 (1980).

§ 113-132. Jurisdiction of fisheries agencies.

1. The Marine Fisheries Commission has jurisdiction over the conservation of marine and estuarine resources. Except as may be otherwise provided by law, it has jurisdiction over all activities connected with the conservation and regulation of marine and estuarine resources, including the regulation of aquaculture facilities as defined in G.S. 106-758 which cultivate or rear marine and estuarine resources.
2. The Wildlife Resources Commission has jurisdiction over the conservation of wildlife resources. Except as may be otherwise provided by law, it has jurisdiction over all activities connected with the conservation and regulation of wildlife resources.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article, this Subchapter does not give the Marine Fisheries Commission or the Wildlife Resources Commission jurisdiction over matters clearly within the jurisdiction vested in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the North Carolina Pesticide Board, the Commission for Public Health, the Environmental Management Commission, or other division of the Department regulating air or water pollution.
4. To the extent that the grant of jurisdiction to the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission may overlap, the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission are granted concurrent jurisdiction. In cases of conflict between actions taken or regulations promulgated by either agency, as respects the activities of the other, pursuant to the dominant purpose of such jurisdiction, the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission are empowered to make agreements concerning the harmonious settlement of such conflict in the best interests of the conservation of the marine and estuarine and wildlife resources of the State. In the event the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission cannot agree, the Governor is empowered to resolve the differences.
5. Those coastal fishing waters in which are found a significant number of freshwater fish, as agreed upon by the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission, may be denominated joint fishing waters. These waters are deemed coastal fishing waters from the standpoint of laws and regulations administered by the Department and are deemed inland fishing waters from the standpoint of laws and regulations administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission. The Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission may make joint regulations governing the responsibilities of each agency and modifying the applicability of licensing and other regulatory provisions as may be necessary for rational and compatible management of the marine and estuarine and wildlife resources in joint fishing waters.
6. The granting of jurisdiction in this section pertains to the power of agencies to enact regulations and ordinances. Nothing in this section or in G.S. 113-138 is designed to prohibit law-enforcement officers who would otherwise have jurisdiction from making arrests or in any manner enforcing the provisions of this Subchapter.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; c. 1262, ss. 18, 28, 38; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 641, s. 5; 1989, c. 281, s. 3; 1997-261, s. 109; 2007-182, s. 2.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2007-182, s. 2, effective July 5, 2007, substituted “Commission for Public Health” for “Commission for Health Services” in subsection (c).

§ 113-133. Abolition of local coastal fishing laws.

The enjoyment of the marine and estuarine resources of the State belongs to the people of the State as a whole and is not properly the subject of local regulation. As the Department is charged with administering the governing statutes and adopting rules in a manner to reconcile as equitably as may be the various competing interests of the people as regards these resources, considering the interests of those whose livelihood depends upon full and wise use of renewable and nonrenewable resources and also the interests of the many whose approach is recreational, all special, local, and private acts and ordinances regulating the conservation of marine and estuarine resources are repealed. Nothing in this section is intended to invalidate local legislation or local ordinances which exercise valid powers over subjects other than the conservation of marine and estuarine resources, even though an incidental effect may consist of an overlapping or conflict of jurisdiction as to some particular provision not essential to the conservation objectives set out in this Subchapter.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1987, c. 827, s. 96.

OPINIONS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

See opinion of Attorney General to Mr. Clifton L. Moore, Jr., 41 N.C. Op. Att'y Gen. 642 (1971).

A town municipal ordinance prohibiting the location of gill nets where they are expressly permitted by State law violates G.S. 160A-174(b)(2) and is, therefore, invalid to the extent of the conflict with State law. See opinion of Attorney General to Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, 1998 N.C. Op. Att'y Gen. 31 (7/22/98).

§ 113-133.1. Limitations upon local regulation of wildlife resources; certain local acts retained.

1. The enjoyment of the wildlife resources of the State belongs to all of the people of the State.
2. The Wildlife Resources Commission is charged with administering the governing statutes in a manner to serve as equitably as may be the various competing interests of the people regarding wildlife resources, considering the interests of those whose livelihood depends upon full and wise use of renewable resources and the interests of the many whose approach is recreational. Thus, except as provided in subsection (e), all special, local, and private acts and ordinances enacted prior to the ratification date of the act creating this section regulating the conservation of wildlife resources are repealed. Nothing in this section is intended to invalidate local legislation or local ordinances which exercise valid powers over subjects other than the conservation of wildlife resources, even though an incidental effect may consist of an overlapping or conflict of jurisdiction as to some particular provision not essential to the conservation objectives set out in this Subchapter. In particular, this section does not repeal local acts which restrict hunting primarily for the purpose of protecting travelers on the highway, landowners, or other persons who may be endangered or affected by hunters’ weapons or ammunition or whose property may be damaged.
3. This Subchapter is intended to express State policy relating to the conservation of wildlife resources. Nothing in this section is intended to repeal or prevent the enactment of any city or county ordinance otherwise validly authorized which has only a minor and incidental impact on the conservation of marine and estuarine and wildlife resources. This section does not repeal G.S. 153A-127, G.S. 153A-131, G.S. 160A-182, G.S. 160A-187, and G.S. 160A-188, nor any local act establishing bird sanctuaries, except that local authorities operating bird sanctuaries may not regulate the taking of game or otherwise abrogate valid laws and regulations pertaining to the conservation of wildlife resources.
4. Nothing in this Subchapter is intended to repeal or abridge the regulatory authority of the Game Commission of Currituck County or the Dare County Game and Wildlife Commission.
5. Because of strong community interest expressed in their retention, the local acts or portions of local acts listed in this section are not repealed. The following local acts are retained to the extent they apply to the county for which listed:Alleghany: Session Laws 1951, Chapter 665; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 526; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 556.Anson: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1955, Chapter 286.Ashe: Former G.S. 113-111; Session Laws 1951, Chapter 665.Avery: Former G.S. 113-122.Beaufort: Session Laws 1947, Chapter 466, as amended by Session Laws 1979, Chapter 219; Session Laws 1957, Chapter 1364; Session Laws 1971, Chapter 173.Bertie: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1376; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 287.Bladen: Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 550, Section 2 (as it pertains to fox season); Session Laws 1961, Chapter 348 (as it applies to Bladen residents fishing in Robeson County); Session Laws 1961, Chapter 1023; Session Laws 1971, Chapter 384.Brunswick: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 218.Buncombe: Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 308.Burke: Public-Local Laws 1921, Chapter 454; Public-Local Laws 1921 (Extra Session), Chapter 213, Section 3 (with respect to fox seasons); Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 422, Section 3; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636.Caldwell: Former G.S. 113-122; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 507.Camden: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 362 (to the extent it applies to inland fishing waters); Session Laws 1967, Chapter 441.Carteret: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1036; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 695.Caswell: Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 311; Public-Local Laws 1937, Chapter 411.Catawba: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1037.Chatham: Public-Local Laws 1937 Chapter 236; Session Laws 1963, Chapter 271.Chowan: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 184; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 582.Cleveland: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 587.Columbus: Session Laws 1951, Chapter 492, as amended by Session Laws 1955, Chapter 506.Craven: Session Laws 1971, Chapter 273, as amended by Session Laws 1971, Chapter 629.Cumberland: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 748; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 471.Dare: Session Laws 1973, Chapter 259.Duplin: Session Laws 1965, Chapter 774; Session Laws 1973 (Second Session 1974), Chapter 1266; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 466.Edgecombe: Session Laws 1961, Chapter 408.Gates: Session Laws 1959, Chapter 298; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 748.Granville: Session Laws 1963, Chapter 670.Greene: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 219, Sections 1 and 2; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 360.Halifax: Public-Local Laws 1925, Chapter 571, Section 3 (with respect to fox-hunting seasons); Session Laws 1947, Chapter 954; Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1376.Haywood: Former G.S. 113-111, as modified by Session Laws 1963, Chapter 322.Henderson: Former G.S. 113-111.Hertford: Session Laws 1959, Chapter 298; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 748; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 67.Hoke: Session Laws 1963, Chapter 267.Hyde: Public-Local Laws 1929, Chapter 354, Section 1 (as it relates to foxes); Session Laws 1951, Chapter 932.Iredell: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 577.Jackson: Session Laws 1965, Chapter 765.Johnston: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 342.Jones: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 441.Lee: Session Laws 1963, Chapter 271; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636.Lenoir: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 441.Lincoln: Public-Local Laws 1925, Chapter 449, Sections 1 and 2; Session Laws 1955, Chapter 878.Madison: Public-Local Laws 1925, Chapter 418, Section 4; Session Laws 1951, Chapter 1040.Martin: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1376; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636.Montgomery: Session Laws 1977 (Second Session 1978), Chapter 1142, Section 2.Nash: Session Laws 1961, Chapter 408.New Hanover: Session Laws 1971, Chapter 559; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 95.Northampton: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1376; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 748; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 67; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 548.Orange: Public-Local Laws 1913, Chapter 547.Pamlico: Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636.Pender: Session Laws 1961, Chapter 333; Session Laws 1967, Chapter 229; Session Laws 1969, Chapter 258, as amended by Session Laws 1973, Chapter 420; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 585, as amended by Session Laws 1985, Chapter 421; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 805; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 546.Perquimans: Former G.S. 113-111; Session Laws 1973, Chapter 160; Session Laws 1973, Chapter 264.Polk: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269, as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 167.Randolph: Public-Local Laws 1941, Chapter 246; Session Laws 1947, Chapter 920.Robeson: Public-Local Laws 1924 (Extra Session), Chapter 92; Session Laws 1961, Chapter 348.Rockingham: Former G.S. 113-111; Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 310.Rowan: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269, as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 106, and Session Laws 1977, Chapter 500; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 556.Sampson: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 373.Scotland: Session Laws 1959, Chapter 1143; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 436.Stokes: Former G.S. 113-111; Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 310; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 556.Surry: Public-Local Laws 1925, Chapter 474, Section 6 (as it pertains to fox seasons); Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269, as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 167.Swain: Public-Local Laws 1935, Chapter 52; Session Laws 1953, Chapter 270; Session Laws 1965, Chapter 765.Transylvania: Public Laws 1935, Chapter 107, Section 2, as amended by Public Laws 1935, Chapter 238.Tyrrell: Former G.S. 113-111; Session Laws 1953, Chapter 685.Wake: Session Laws 1973 (Second Session 1974), Chapter 1382.Washington: Session Laws 1947, Chapter 620.Wayne: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 342, as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 43; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 343, as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 45; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 695.Wilkes: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1971, Chapter 385; Session Laws 1951, Chapter 665; Session Laws 1973, Chapter 106; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 507.Yadkin: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1953, Chapter 199; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 507.Yancey: Session Laws 1965, Chapter 522.
6. The Wildlife Resources Commission is directed to review periodically all local acts affecting conservation of wildlife resources and notify local authorities and the General Assembly as to those that:
   1. Substantially duplicate provisions of this Subchapter.
   2. Seriously conflict with conservation policies set out in this Subchapter.
   3. Seriously conflict with conservation policies developed for the people of this State as a whole by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
7. Notwithstanding G.S. 113-133.1(b), Chapter 565 of the Session Laws of 1977 is retained in effect. The following local conservation acts which specify that they must be specifically repealed are so repealed: Chapters 434 and 441 of the Session Laws of 1977. To provide for their retention or repeal in accordance with provisions applying to all other local wildlife acts, the following acts are amended to repeal the cited sections: Section 11, Chapter 258, Session Laws of 1969; and Section 4, Chapter 585, Session Laws of 1977.

History. 1979, c. 830, ss. 1, 14; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1285, ss. 2, 11; c. 1324, s. 2; 1981, c. 249, s. 2; c. 250, s. 2; 1983, c. 109, s. 2; c. 487, s. 2; 1985, c. 112, s. 1; c. 302, s. 1; c. 689, s. 27; 1986, c. 893, s. 4; 1987, c. 33, s. 4; c. 131, ss. 4, 5; c. 245, s. 2; c. 282, s. 16; 1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 955, s. 4; 1989, c. 80, s. 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 837, s. 2; 1993, c. 65, s. 1; c. 221, s. 3; 1995, c. 509, s. 55; 1997-456, s. 26; 1997-496, s. 18; 2006-21, s. 2; 2006-226, s. 20; 2009-89, s. 1; 2014-115, s. 8; 2018-10, s. 2(b); 2019-107, s. 1(b).

Hunting in Greene County.

Session Laws 2010-82, s. 3(a), repealed Session Laws 1975, Chapter 219, s. 3, relating to hunting of foxes during deer season, although it remains listed in subsection (e) of this section.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2019-107, s. 3, made the amendment of the provisions concerning Cleveland County in subsection (e) by Session Laws 2019-107, s. 1(b), effective October 1, 2019, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2006-21, s. 2, effective June 26, 2006, deleted “Session Laws 1979, Chapter 582” following “Session Laws 1973, Chapter 264” in the provisions pertaining to Perquimans County in subsection (e).

Session Laws 2006-226, s. 20, effective August 10, 2006, deleted “Harnett: Former G.S. 113-111, as modified by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636.” preceding the entry for Haywood in subsection (e).

Session Laws 2009-89, s. 1, effective October 1, 2009, in subsection (e), in the entries for “Burke” and “Caldwell,” deleted “Session Laws 1965, Chapter 608, as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 68” preceding “Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636”; in the entry for “Jackson” deleted “Session Laws 1971, Chapter 424” from the end; and deleted the entry for “Mitchell,” which read: “Mitchell: Session Laws 1965, Chapter 608, as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 68.”

Session Laws 2014-115, s. 8, effective August 11, 2014, in subsection (e), deleted “Session Laws 1975, Chapter 397,” preceding “Session Laws 1975” in Polk and Rutherford and made a minor punctuation change.

Session Laws 2018-10, s. 2b, effective October 1, 2018, in the list in subsection (e) deleted the entry for Davie County, which read: “Davie: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1947, Chapter 333”; in the entry for Greene inserted “Sections 1 and 2” after “Chapter 219”; in the entry for Montgomery inserted “Section 2” after “Chapter 1142” and deleted the entry for Rutherford, which read: “Rutherford: Session Laws 1973, Chapter 114.”

Session Laws 2019-107, s. 1(b), effective Oct. 1, 2019, deleted “Public Laws 1907, Chapter 388; Session Laws 1951, Chapter 1101” preceding “Session Laws” in the provision pertaining to Cleveland in subsection (e). For effective date and applicability, see editor’s note.

OPINIONS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Legislature has reserved the regulation of wildlife resources to itself and has thus preempted the entire field, to the exclusion of all local ordinances except those which have only a “minor and incidental” impact on wildlife conservation (e.g., an ordinance prohibiting the discharge of firearms from public roads). See opinion of Attorney General to Mr. H.T. Mullen, Jr., County Attorney, Pasquotank County, 51 N.C. Op. Att'y Gen. 85 (1982).

In light of the clear legislative intention to preempt the entire field of wildlife regulation, a county may not adopt an ordinance regulating the method of trapping wildlife. See opinion of Attorney General to Mr. H.T. Mullen, Jr., County Attorney, Pasquotank County, 51 N.C. Op. Att'y Gen. 85 (1982).

§ 113-134. Rules.

The Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission may, within their jurisdictional limitations imposed by this Article, adopt rules implementing this Subchapter.

History. 1915, c. 84, s. 21; 1917, c. 290, s. 7; C.S., 1878; 1925, c. 168, s. 2; 1935, c. 35; 1945, c. 776; 1953, cc. 774, 1251; 1963, c. 1097, s. 1; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1987, c. 827, s. 97.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2017-190, s. 3.1(a)-(e), as amended by Session Laws 2018-114, s. 17, provides: “(a) Definitions. — ‘Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule’ means 15A NCAC 03I.0104 (Introduce, Transfer or Hold Imported Marine and Estuarine Organisms) for purposes of this section and its implementation.

“(b) Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule. — Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission and the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality shall implement the Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule, as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. — Use of American eels imported from Maryland, Virginia, or South Carolina in an aquaculture operation is exempt from the permitting requirements of the Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule.

“(d) Additional Rule-Making Authority. — The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission, pursuant to this section, shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1) as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided by G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Sunset. — This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 3(a)-(e), provides: “(a) Definitions. — For purposes of this section and its implementation:

“(1) ‘Extensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom without the use of cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(2) ‘Intensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom or in the water column using cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(3) ‘Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule’ means 15A NCAC 03O.0201 (Standards and Requirements for Shellfish Bottom Leases and Franchises and Water Column Leases) for purposes of this section and its implementation.

“(b) Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule. — Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall implement the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. — Shellfish leases shall be terminated unless they comply with the following requirements:

“(1) Franchises recognized pursuant to G.S. 113-206 and shellfish bottom leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 20 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. For intensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually and for extensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease plants a minimum of 15,000 shellfish seed per acre per year.

“(2) Water column leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 50 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. The holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually.

“(d) Additional Rule-Making Authority. — The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1), as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Applicability and Sunset. — This section and rules adopted pursuant to this section apply to all new and renewal shellfish leases granted after July 1, 2019. This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

Session Laws 2021-176, s. 1, provides: “Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3(b1), the amendment to the following rule, as adopted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission on February 25, 2020, and approved by the Rules Review Commission on April 16, 2020, is disapproved: 15A NCAC 10B .0201 (Prohibited Taking and Manner of Take).”

Session Laws 2021-176, s. 2(a)-(e), provides: “(a) Definitions. – For purposes of this section and its implementation, “Cervid Excretion Rule” means 15A NCAC 10B .0201 (Prohibited Taking and Manner of Take).

“(b) Cervid Excretion Rule. – Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Wildlife Resources Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall implement the Cervid Excretion Rule, as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. – No person shall possess or use any substance or material that contains or is labeled as containing any excretion collected from a cervid, including feces, urine, blood, gland oil, or other bodily fluid for the purposes of taking or attempting to take, attracting, or scouting wildlife. This prohibition shall not apply to the following substances:

“(1) Products containing synthetic analogs of cervid excretions and labeled as such.

“(2) Products consisting of or containing natural substances collected by a hunter from a legally harvested cervid in North Carolina.

“(3) Natural substances collected from facilities within North Carolina that have a valid Farmed Cervid License from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and are labeled as such.

“(4) Natural deer urine products containing excretions from facilities within North Carolina that have a valid Farmed Cervid License from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and are labeled as such.

“(5) Natural deer urine products containing excretions from facilities that meet all the following requirements and are labeled as such:

“a. Determined to be free of chronic wasting disease (CWD) based on testing by an independent laboratory using a method that may help detect the presence of CWD prions.

“b. Complies with a federally approved CWD herd certification program and any federal CWD protocols.

“c. Participates in additional herd management requirements as specified by the Wildlife Resources Commission.

“(d) Additional Rulemaking Authority. – The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Cervid Excretion Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1), as though 10 or more written objections had been received, as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Applicability and Sunset. – This section and rules adopted pursuant to this section apply to any cervid excretions used for hunting on or after December 1, 2021. This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

§ 113-134.1. Jurisdiction over marine fisheries resources in Atlantic Ocean.

The Marine Fisheries Commission is directed to exercise all regulatory authority over the conservation of marine fisheries resources in the Atlantic Ocean to the seaward extent of the State jurisdiction over the resources as now or hereafter defined. Marine fisheries inspectors may enforce these regulations and all other provisions of law applicable under the authority granted in this section in the same manner and with the same powers elsewhere granted them as enforcement officers.

History. 1973, c. 1315; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 641, ss. 5, 8.

OPINIONS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Marine Fisheries Commission has the power to regulate North Carolina vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the Marine Patrol has the power to cite those vessels in the EEZ; the Marine Patrol has both subject matter jurisdiction and territorial jurisdiction over State registered vessels in the EEZ, subject to certain restrictions. See opinion of Attorney General to Colonel B. M. Rivenbark, N.C. Marine Patrol Division of Marine Fisheries, 1998 N.C. Op. Att'y Gen. 16 (3/9/98).

§ 113-135. General penalties for violating Subchapter or rules; increased penalty for prior convictions; interpretive provisions.

1. Any person who violates any provision of this Subchapter or any rule adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission or the Wildlife Resources Commission, as appropriate, pursuant to the authority of this Subchapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor except that punishment for violation of the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission is limited as set forth in G.S. 113-135.1. Fishing without a license in violation of G.S. 113-174.1(a) or G.S. 113-270.1B(a) is punishable as an infraction. Otherwise, unless a different level of punishment is elsewhere set out, anyone convicted of a misdemeanor under this section is punishable as follows:
   1. For a first conviction, as a Class 3 misdemeanor.
   2. For a second or subsequent conviction within three years, as a Class 2 misdemeanor.
2. In interpreting this section, provisions elsewhere in this Subchapter making an offense a misdemeanor “punishable in the discretion of the court” must be considered to set a different level of punishment, to be interpreted in the light of G.S. 14-3 or any equivalent or successor statute. Noncriminal sanctions, however, such as license revocation or suspension, and exercise of powers auxiliary to criminal prosecution, such as seizure of property involved in the commission of an offense, do not constitute different levels of punishment so as to oust criminal liability. Any previous conviction of an offense under this Subchapter, or under rules authorized by it, serves to increase the punishment under subsection (a) even though for a different offense than the second or subsequent one.
3. For the purposes of this Subchapter, violations of laws or rules administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission under any former general or local law replaced by the present provisions of this Subchapter are deemed to be violations of laws or rules under this Subchapter.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1991, c. 176, s. 1; c. 761, s. 50.5; 1993, c. 539, s. 836; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1995, c. 209, s. 3; 2013-360, s. 18B.14(m); 2013-385, s. 6.

Cross References.

As to failure to remove posted signs from nonregistered property, see G.S. 113-282.

As to hunting or fishing on registered property without permission, see G.S. 113-285.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 18B.14(m), effective December 1, 2013, in subsection (a), added the second sentence and “Otherwise” in the third sentence, and made a minor punctuation and stylistic change. For applicability, see editor’s note.

Session Laws 2013-385, s. 6, effective December 1, 2013, substituted “an infraction” for “a Class 3 misdemeanor” in the second sentence of subsection (a). For applicability, see editor’s note.

§ 113-135.1. Limitation upon penalty for offense created by rules of Wildlife Resources Commission in certain instances.

1. To prevent unsuspecting members of the public from being subject to harsh criminal penalties for offenses created by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission, the penalty for an offense that is solely a violation of rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission is limited to a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) except as follows:
   1. Offenses set out in subsection (b) of this section are punishable as set forth in G.S. 113-135 or other sections of the General Statutes.
   2. A person who parks a vehicle in violation of a rule regulating the parking of vehicles at boating access or boating launch areas is responsible for an infraction and shall pay a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00).
2. The limitation upon penalty does not apply to any rule violation:
   1. Punishable under G.S. 113-294 or otherwise involving aggravating elements that result in a greater punishment than provided by G.S. 113-135;
   2. That involves a defendant subject to the collection-license provisions of G.S. 113-272.4 or who is a dealer as defined in G.S. 113-273; or
   3. Relating to seasons, bag limits, creel limits, taking fish other than with hook and line, buying or selling wildlife, possessing or transporting live wildlife, taking wildlife at night or with the aid of a conveyance, or falconry.

History. 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 2005-164, s. 1; 2012-200, s. 19.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2012-200, s. 29, made Session Laws 2012-200, s. 19, which amended subsection (a) to increase the fine to $25, applicable to violations and offenses committed on or October 1, 2012. Prosecutions for offenses committed before October 1, 2012 are not abated or affected by Session Laws 2012-200, and the statutes that would be applicable but for Session Laws 2012-200 remain applicable to those prosecutions.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2012-200, s. 19, effective October 1, 2012, substituted “twenty-five dollars ($25.00)” for “ten dollars” in subsection (a). For applicability, see editor’s note.

§ 113-136. Enforcement authority of inspectors and protectors; refusal to obey or allow inspection by inspectors and protectors.

1. Inspectors and protectors are granted the powers of peace officers anywhere in this State, and beyond its boundaries to the extent provided by law, in enforcing all matters within their respective subject-matter jurisdiction as set out in this section.
2. The jurisdiction of inspectors extends to all matters within the jurisdiction of the Department set out in this Subchapter, Part 5D of Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, Article 5 of Chapter 76 of the General Statutes, and Article 2 of Chapter 77 of the General Statutes, and to all other matters within the jurisdiction of the Department which it directs inspectors to enforce. In addition, inspectors have jurisdiction over all offenses involving property of or leased to or managed by the Department in connection with the conservation of marine and estuarine resources.
3. The jurisdiction of protectors extends to all matters within the jurisdiction of the Wildlife Resources Commission, whether set out in this Chapter, Chapter 75A, Chapter 143, Chapter 143B, or elsewhere. The Wildlife Resources Commission is specifically granted jurisdiction over all aspects of:
   1. Boating and water safety;
   2. Hunting and trapping;
   3. Fishing, exclusive of fishing under the jurisdiction of the Marine Fisheries Commission; and
   4. Activities in woodlands and on inland waters governed by G.S. 106-908 to G.S. 106-910.
4. Inspectors and protectors have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of Article 19B of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes pursuant to and within the parameters of a formal agreement entered into under G.S. 106-202.15(10).
5. Inspectors and protectors are additionally authorized to arrest without warrant under the terms of G.S. 15A-401(b) for felonies, for breaches of the peace, for assaults upon them or in their presence, and for other offenses evincing a flouting of their authority as enforcement officers or constituting a threat to public peace and order which would tend to subvert the authority of the State if ignored. In particular, they are authorized, subject to the direction of the administrative superiors, to arrest for violations of G.S. 14-223, 14-225, 14-269, and 14-277.
6. In addition to law enforcement authority granted elsewhere, a protector has the authority to enforce criminal laws under the following circumstances:
   1. When the protector has probable cause to believe that a person committed a criminal offense in his presence and at the time of the violation the protector is engaged in the enforcement of laws otherwise within his jurisdiction; or
   2. When the protector is asked to provide temporary assistance by the head of a State or local law enforcement agency or his designee and the request is within the scope of the agency’s subject matter jurisdiction.While acting pursuant to this subsection, a protector shall have the same powers invested in law enforcement officers by statute or common law. When acting pursuant to (2) of this subsection a protector shall not be considered an officer, employee, or agent for the state or local law enforcement agency or designee asking for temporary assistance. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to expand the authority of protectors to initiate or conduct an independent investigation into violations of criminal laws outside the scope of their subject matter or territorial jurisdiction.
7. Inspectors and protectors may serve arrest warrants, search warrants, orders for arrest, criminal summonses, subpoenas, and all other process connected with any cases within their subject-matter jurisdiction. In the exercise of their law enforcement powers, inspectors are subject to provisions relating to police officers in general set out in Chapter 15, Chapter 15A, and elsewhere.
8. Inspectors and protectors are authorized to stop temporarily any persons they reasonably believe to be engaging in activity regulated by their respective agencies to determine whether such activity is being conducted within the requirements of the law, including license requirements. If the person stopped is in a motor vehicle being driven at the time and the inspector or protector in question is also in a motor vehicle, the inspector or protector is required to sound a siren or activate a special light, bell, horn, or exhaust whistle approved for law-enforcement vehicles under the provisions of G.S. 20-125(b) or 20-125(c).
9. Protectors may not temporarily stop or inspect vehicles proceeding along primary highways of the State without clear evidence that someone within the vehicle is or has recently been engaged in an activity regulated by the Wildlife Resources Commission. Inspectors may temporarily stop vehicles, boats, airplanes, and other conveyances upon reasonable grounds to believe that they are transporting seafood products; they are authorized to inspect any seafood products being transported to determine whether they were taken in accordance with law and to require exhibition of any applicable license, receipts, permits, bills of lading, or other identification required to accompany such seafood products.
10. , (i) Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.
11. The refusal of any person to stop in obedience to the directions of an inspector or protector acting under the authority of this section is unlawful. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 misdemeanor and may include a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00).
12. It is unlawful to refuse to exhibit upon request by any inspector, protector, or other law enforcement officer any item required to be carried by any law or rule as to which inspectors or protectors have enforcement jurisdiction. The items that must be exhibited include boating safety or other equipment or any license, permit, tax receipt, certificate, or identification. It is unlawful to refuse to allow inspectors, protectors, or other law enforcement officers to inspect weapons or equipment if the officer reasonably believes them to be possessed incident to an activity regulated by any law or rule as to which inspectors and protectors have enforcement jurisdiction and the officer has a reasonable suspicion that a violation has been committed, except that an officer may inspect a shotgun to confirm whether it is plugged or unplugged without a reasonable suspicion that a violation has been committed. It is unlawful to refuse to allow inspectors, protectors, or other law enforcement officers to inspect fish or wildlife for the purpose of ensuring compliance with bag limits and size limits. Except as authorized by G.S. 113-137, nothing in this section gives an inspector, protector, or other law enforcement officer the authority to inspect, in the absence of a person in apparent control of the item to be inspected, any of the following:
    1. Weapons.
    2. Equipment, except for equipment left unattended in the normal operation of the equipment, including, but not limited to, traps, trot lines, crab pots, and fox pens.
    3. Fish.
    4. Wildlife.
13. Nothing in this section authorizes searches within the curtilage of a dwelling or of the living quarters of a vessel in contravention of constitutional prohibitions against unreasonable searches and seizures.

In addition, protectors have jurisdiction over all offenses involving property of or leased by the Wildlife Resources Commission or occurring on wildlife refuges, game lands, or boating and fishing access areas managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission. The authority of protectors over offenses on public hunting grounds is governed by the jurisdiction granted the Commission in G.S. 113-264(c).

History. 1915, c. 84, s. 6; 1917, c. 290, s. 2; C.S., s. 1885; 1935, c. 118; 1957, c. 1423, s. 2; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 18, 28, 86; c. 1286, s. 17; c. 1297; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 641, ss. 20, 22; c. 827, s. 98; 1991, c. 730, s. 1; 1997-80, s. 5; 1998-225, ss. 3.1, 3.2; 2011-145, s. 13.25(xx); 2015-263, s. 35(a); 2019-204, s. 8(b).

Cross References.

As to issuance of warning tickets, see G.S. 113-140.

Editor’s Note.

Section 20-125(c), referred to in subsection (f) of this section, was repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 653. See now G.S. 20-130.1.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(xx), provides: “The Revisor of Statutes shall make the conforming statutory changes necessary to reflect the transfers under this section. The Revisor of Statutes may correct any reference in the General Statutes to the statutes that are recodified by this section and make any other conforming changes necessitated by this section.” Pursuant to that provision, conforming changes have been made in subdivision (c)(4). “G.S. 106-908 to G.S. 106-910” was substituted for “G.S. 113-60.1 to G.S. 113-60.3.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2011.’ ”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.5, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-263, s. 35(a), effective December 1, 2015, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date, rewrote subsection (k).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 8(b), effective August 27, 2019, added subsection (c1).

§ 113-137. Search on arrest; seizure and confiscation of property; disposition of confiscated property.

1. Every inspector or protector who arrests a person for an offense as to which he has enforcement jurisdiction is authorized to search the person arrested and the surrounding area for weapons and for fruits, instrumentalities, and evidence of any crime for which the person arrested is or might have been arrested.
2. Every inspector or protector who issues a citation instead of arresting a person, in cases in which the inspector or protector is authorized to arrest, may seize all lawfully discovered evidence, fruits, and instrumentalities of any crime as to which he has arrest jurisdiction and probable cause. When live fish are returned to public fishing bottoms or public waters, the inspector or protector shall state on the citation the quantity returned.
3. Every inspector or protector who in the lawful pursuit of his duties has probable cause for believing he has discovered a violation of the law over which he has jurisdiction may seize in connection therewith any fish, wildlife, weapons, equipment, vessels, or other evidence, fruits, or instrumentalities of the crime, notwithstanding the absence of any person in the immediate area subject to arrest or the failure or inability of the inspector or protector to capture or otherwise take custody of the person guilty of the violation in question. Where the owner of such property satisfies the Secretary or the Executive Director, as the case may be, of his ownership and that he had no knowledge or culpability in regard to the offense involving the use of his property, such property must be returned to the owner. If after due diligence on the part of employees of the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission, as the case may be, the identity or whereabouts of the violator or of the owner of the property seized cannot be determined, such property may be sold by the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission in accordance with the provisions of this section.
4. The Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission may provide by rule for summary disposition of live or perishable fish or wildlife seized by an inspector or protector. If the property seized consists of live fish which may again be placed to the benefit of the public on public fishing bottoms or in public waters, the inspector or protector may require the person in possession of the seized live fish to transport it the distance necessary to effect placement on appropriate bottoms or waters. In the event of refusal by the person in question to transport the fish, the inspector or protector must take appropriate steps to effect the transportation. The steps may include seizure of any conveyance or vessel of the person refusing to transport the fish if the conveyance or vessel was one on which the fish were located or was used to take or transport the fish. When a conveyance or vessel is seized, it is to be safeguarded by the inspector or protector seizing it pending trial and it becomes subject to the orders of the court. Transportation costs borne by the Department or by the Wildlife Resources Commission, as the case may be, may be collected by the agency from the proceeds of the sale of any other property of the defendant seized and sold in accordance with the provisions of this section.Except as provided in subsection (g), when the seizure consists of edible fish or wildlife which is not alive, may not live, or may not otherwise benefit conservation objectives if again placed on open lands, on public fishing bottoms, or in public fishing waters, the inspector or protector must dispose of the property in a charitable or noncommercial manner in accordance with the directions of his administrative superiors.
5. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section, all property seized must be safeguarded pending trial by the inspector or protector initiating the prosecution. Upon a conviction the property seized in connection with the offense in question is subject to the disposition ordered by the court. Upon an acquittal, property seized must be returned to the defendant or established owner, except:
   1. Where the property was summarily disposed of in accordance with subsection (d);
   2. Where possession of the property by the person to whom it otherwise would be returned would constitute a crime; and
   3. Where the property seized has been sold in accordance with subsection (g). In this event the net proceeds of the sale must be returned to the defendant or established owner, as the case may be.Where property seized summarily under subsection (d) is not available for return, an acquitted defendant or established owner is entitled to no compensation where there was probable cause for the action taken. Within 20 days of the final court adjudication of a citation, the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission shall notify any acquitted defendant or established owner of its duly established procedures whereby reimbursement may be sought for live fish seized summarily under subsection (d) that is not available for return. Any action or proceeding to recover compensation must be begun within 30 days after receipt of the notice of applicable procedures. After the expiration of this period of limitation, no right or action or claim for compensation shall be asserted.In safeguarding property seized pending trial, an inspector or protector is authorized in his discretion, subject to orders of his administrative superiors, to make his own provisions for storage or safekeeping or to deposit the property with the sheriff of the county in which the trial is to be held for custody pending trial. In the event the mode of safekeeping reasonably selected by the inspector or protector entails a storage or handling charge, such charge is to be paid as follows:
6. Subject to orders of his administrative superiors, an inspector or protector in his discretion may leave property which he is authorized to seize in the possession of the defendant with the understanding that such property will be subject to the orders of the court upon disposition of the case. Willful failure or inexcusable neglect of the defendant to keep such property subject to the orders of the court is a Class 1 misdemeanor. In exercising his discretion, the inspector or protector should not permit property to be retained by the defendant if there is any substantial risk of its being used by the defendant in further unlawful activity.
7. Where a prosecution involving seized saleable fish is pending and such fish are perishable or seasonal, the inspector or protector may apply to the court in which the trial is pending for an order permitting sale prior to trial. As used in this subsection, seasonal fish are those which command a higher price at one season than at another so that economic loss may occur if there is a delay in the time of sale. When ordered by the court, such sale prior to trial must be conducted in accordance with the order of the court or in accordance with the provisions of this section. The net proceeds of such sale are to be deposited with the court and are subject to the same disposition as would have been applicable to other types of property seized. Where sale is not lawful for public health reasons or otherwise not practicable or where prosecution is not pending, disposal of the fish is in accordance with subsection (d).
8. Pending trial, the defendant or the established owner of any nonperishable and nonconsumable property seized may apply to the court designated to try the offense for return of the property. The property must be returned pending trial if:
   1. The court is satisfied that return of the property will not facilitate further violations of the law; and
   2. The claimant posts a bond for return of the property at trial in an amount double the value of the property as assessed by the court.
9. Upon conviction of any defendant for a violation of the laws or rules administered by the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission under the authority of this Subchapter, the court in its discretion may order the confiscation of all weapons, equipment, vessels, conveyances, fish, wildlife, and other evidence, fruits, and instrumentalities of the offense in question, whether or not seized or made subject to the orders of the court pending trial. If the confiscated property is lawfully saleable, it must be sold; otherwise it must be disposed of in a manner authorized in this section. Unless otherwise specified in the order of the court, sales are to be held by the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission, as the case may be.The Department and the Wildlife Resources Commission may administratively provide for an orderly public sale procedure of property which it may sell under this section. The procedure may include turning the property to be sold over to some other agency for sale, provided that the provisions of subsection (j) are complied with and there is proper accounting for the net proceeds of the sale. In the case of property that cannot lawfully be sold or is unlikely to sell for a sufficient amount to offset the costs of sale, the Department and the Wildlife Resources Commission may provide either for destruction of the property or legitimate utilization of the property by some public agency.
10. Except as provided in subsection (d), if property is seized under subsection (c) or it appears that a person not a defendant has an interest in any property to be sold, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of, the Department and the Wildlife Resources Commission must provide for public notice of the description of the property and the circumstances of its seizure for a sufficient period prior to the time set for sale or other disposition to allow innocent owners or lienholders to assert their claims. The validity of claims are to be determined by the trial court in the event there is or has been a prosecution in connection with the seizure of the property. If there has been no prosecution and none is pending, the validity of claims must be determined by the Secretary or by the Executive Director, as the case may be. When there has been a sale under subsection (g), the provisions of this subsection apply to the net proceeds of the sale.
11. Except as provided in subsection (j) and in subdivision (3) of the first paragraph of subsection (e), the net proceeds of all sales made pursuant to this section must be deposited in the school fund of the county in which the property was seized.

(1) By the defendant if he is convicted but the court nevertheless orders the return of the property to the defendant;

(2) From the proceeds of the sale of the property if the property is sold under court order or in accordance with the provisions of this section; or

(3) By the Department or by the Wildlife Resources Commission, as the case may be, if no other provision for payment exists.

History. 1915, c. 84, s. 6; 1917, c. 290, s. 2; C.S., s. 1885; 1935, c. 118; 1953, c. 1134; 1957, c. 1423, s. 2; 1961, c. 1189, s. 4; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 18, 28; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1083, ss. 1-3; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1993, c. 539, s. 837; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

Cross References.

As to issuance of warning tickets, see G.S. 113-140.

§ 113-138. Enforcement jurisdiction of special conservation officers.

1. The Wildlife Resources Commission by rule may confer law-enforcement powers over matters within its jurisdiction with respect to wildlife resources conservation laws and rules within its jurisdiction upon the employees of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Marine Fisheries Commission may confer law-enforcement powers over matters within its jurisdiction with respect to marine and estuarine resources conservation laws and rules upon the employees of the National Marine Fisheries Service, who:
   1. Possess special law-enforcement jurisdiction that would not otherwise extend to the subject matter of this Subchapter;
   2. Are assigned during the duration of such appointment to duty stations within North Carolina; and
   3. Take the oath required of public officers before an officer authorized to administer oaths.These conferred powers do not constitute an appointment of any officer to an additional office.
2. The Marine Fisheries Commission and Wildlife Resources Commission shall limit the exercise of this authority to situations when:
   1. The best interests of the conservation of marine and estuarine and wildlife resources managed by the respective State and federal agencies are being adversely affected by restrictions upon jurisdictional subject matter that limit law-enforcement authority; and
   2. The best interests of the conservation of marine and estuarine and wildlife resources managed by the adopting Commission will benefit by conferring law-enforcement authority on the employees of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service.
3. The enabling rule shall specify the particular officers or class of officers upon whom the law-enforcement powers are conferred and the geographic areas within which the special enforcement officers can exercise the law-enforcement powers over matters within the jurisdiction of the adopting Commission. The conferred powers may be used only during the scope of employment of the special conservation officers.
4. Unless otherwise provided by the enabling rule, such special enforcement officers shall have the same jurisdiction and powers with respect to resource conservation and the same rights, privileges and immunities (including those relating to the defense of civil actions and payment of judgments) as the State officers in addition to those the federal officer normally possesses.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 18, 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1983, c. 484; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 890, s. 5.

§ 113-139. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

§ 113-140. Warning tickets.

1. In enforcing the laws and rules within their subject matter jurisdiction, wildlife protectors and marine fisheries inspectors may, in accordance with the criteria of this section, issue warning tickets to offenders instead of initiating criminal prosecutions.
2. To secure uniformity of enforcement, the Executive Director and the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries may administratively promulgate standards consistent with subsection (c) providing that warning tickets may or may not be issued with respect to particular offenses, classes of offenses, or ways of committing offenses.
3. A protector or inspector may issue a warning ticket only if all of the following conditions are met:
   1. The protector or inspector is convinced that the offense was not intentional.
   2. The offense is not of a kind or committed in a manner as to which warning tickets have been prohibited by the Executive Director or the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries.
   3. The conduct of the offender was not calculated to result in any significant destruction of wildlife or fisheries resources.
   4. The conduct of the offender did not constitute a hazard to the public.
4. If any law-enforcement officer with jurisdiction over the offense or if any employee of the Wildlife Resources Commission or the Department learns that under the criteria of this section a warning ticket was inappropriately issued to an offender, he must take action to secure initiation of prosecution for the appropriate charge or charges unless barred by the statute of limitations or unless prosecution is not otherwise feasible because of unavailability of evidence or necessary witnesses.
5. Before any warning tickets are issued, the Executive Director or the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries must institute a procedure to ensure an accurate accounting for and recording of all warning tickets issued. This procedure may include use of prenumbered tickets and immediate notation of issuance of the warning ticket on each appropriate license or permit issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission or Department held by the offender. The Executive Director or the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries may also provide for issuance of new, replacement, or renewal licenses and permits bearing the notation. The licenses covered by this subsection include certificates of number for motorboats.
6. This section does not entitle any person who has committed an offense with the right to be issued a warning ticket. That issuance of a warning ticket may be appropriate under the criteria of this section does not restrict in any manner the powers of a wildlife protector or marine fisheries inspector or any other law-enforcement officer under G.S. 113-136, 113-137, and other provisions of law in dealing with hunters, fishermen, operators of vessels, and other offenders and suspected offenders.
7. Issuance of a warning ticket does not constitute evidence of the commission of an offense, but may be used to prevent issuance of a subsequent warning ticket to the same person for a similar offense.

A warning ticket may not be issued if the offender has previously been charged with or issued a warning ticket for a similar offense.

History. 1981, c. 252, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1989, c. 308.

§§ 113-141 through 113-145.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-145.1 through 113-145.8.

Recodified as G.S. 113A-251 through 113A-259 by Session Laws 2003-340, s. 1.3, effective July 27, 2003.

§§ 113-145.9 through 113-150.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-151 through 113-167. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.4, effective July 1, 1999.

Cross References.

For provisions relating to coastal and estuarine commercial fishing licenses, see now G.S. 113-168 to 113-173.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 576, ss. 3 to 6 provided for a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses under G.S. 113-152, 113-153.1, 113-154, and 113-154.1, effective July 1, 1994, until June 30, 1996, with certain exceptions. Renewal of licenses on and after June 1, 1993, under G.S. 113-152, 113-154 and 113-154.1 was allowed. The act created an appeals panel to consider license applications. It provided for a study of the fishing industry, and for a quarterly report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture and the Marine Fisheries Commission. In addition, the act limited the authority of the Marine Fisheries Commission during the moratorium.

The date on the moratorium created by Session Laws 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 576, ss. 3 to 6 was extended to August 15, 1997, and additional amendments and modifications were made by the following acts: Session Laws 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 675, s. 3; c. 769, s. 17.7 (b); c. 770, s. 1; 1995, c. 507, s. 26.5; 1997-256, s. 7; 1997-347, s. 3; 1997-400, ss. 6.1, 6.2, 6.10; 1997-401, ss. 3, 6.1; 1998-212, s. 14.2.

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.2 provides transitional provisions for the moratorium to Article 14A. For a full treatment of the transitional provisions, see the Editor’s Note following G.S. 113-168.2.

Repealed G.S. 113-151 had been repealed by Session Laws 1987, c. 827, s. 100. Repealed G.S. 113-155 had been repealed by Session Laws 1983, c. 570, s. 10. Repealed G.S. 113-157 had been repealed by Session Laws 1983, c. 570, s. 12. Repealed G.S. 113-159 had been repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 975.

Session Laws 1999-209, s. 5, provides that notwithstanding Session Laws 1997-400 and Session Laws 1998-225, a license or endorsement issued for the 1998-1999 license year by the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under Article 14 of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes (now repealed) that has not been suspended or revoked shall continue in effect from July 1, 1999 until the earlier of: (i) the date on which the license or endorsement is replaced by a license or endorsement issued pursuant to Article 14A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes or (ii) August 1, 1999.

§ 113-168. Definitions.

As used in this Article:

1. “Commercial fishing operation” means any activity preparatory to, during, or subsequent to the taking of any fish, the taking of which is subject to regulation by the Commission, either with the use of commercial fishing equipment or gear, or by any means if the purpose of the taking is to obtain fish for sale. Commercial fishing operation does not include (i) the taking of fish as part of a recreational fishing tournament, unless commercial fishing equipment or gear is used, (ii) the taking of fish under a RCGL, or (iii) the taking of fish as provided in G.S. 113-261.
2. “Commission” means the Marine Fisheries Commission.
3. “Division” means the Division of Marine Fisheries in the Department of Environmental Quality.
4. “Immediate family” means the mother, father, brothers, sisters, spouse, children, stepparents, stepbrothers, stepsisters, and stepchildren of a person.
5. “License year” means the period beginning 1 July of a year and ending on 30 June of the following year.
6. “North Carolina resident” means a person who is a resident within the meaning of G.S. 113-130(4).
7. “RCGL” means Recreational Commercial Gear License.
8. “RSCFL” means Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License.
9. “SCFL” means Standard Commercial Fishing License.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(b); 1998-225, s. 4.9; 2001-213, s. 2; 2004-187, s. 6; 2015-241, s. 14.30(u).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Fisheries Reform Act of 1997’.”

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 6.10, provides that, unless otherwise expressly provided, every agency to which the act applies shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of that act only in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, that the act constitutes a recent act of the General Assembly within the meaning of G.S. 150B-21.1, that every agency to which the act applies that is authorized to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the act may adopt temporary rules to implement the provisions of the act, and that s. 6.10 of that act shall continue in effect until all rules necessary to implement the provisions of the act have become effective as either temporary rules or permanent rules. Session Laws 1998-225, s. 5.3 contained a similar provision.

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 6.13, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2010-145, s. 1, provides: “The Marine Fisheries Commission shall adopt rules pursuant to and consistent with G.S. 113-171, as amended by Section 2 of this act, and G.S. 143B-289.52 for the suspension, revocation, and reissuance of marine resources licenses and permits issued under Articles 14A, 14B, and 25A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall not become effective prior to October 1, 2012. In adopting rules pursuant to this section, the Commission shall consider all of the following:

“(1) Whether the rules should differentiate between minor and major violations.

“(2) How to define minor and major violations.

“(3) How service of revocation could be made more efficient.

“(4) How the rules should treat violations related to recreational fishing licenses and permits.

“(5) Whether violations related to littering or assault on a marine patrol inspector should be treated as grounds for suspension or revocation.

“(6) Whether suspension and revocation provisions should be strengthened in cases of harvesting shellfish from polluted waters.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(x)-(z), (aa), provides: “(x) The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall seek the involvement of the commercial fishing industry in North Carolina in the Division’s development of a plan to determine a source of funding necessary to support the Marine Fisheries At-Sea Observer Program that is in addition to the fee increases under this section. As part of this effort, the Division of Marine Fisheries shall conduct at least three public hearings in different coastal county locations to seek the input of, and receive comments of potential additional recurring funding sources from, the individuals involved in the commercial fishing industry. The Division shall receive written comments at the public hearings and take minutes of the public hearings. The minutes shall be made available to the public on the Department’s Internet Web site.

“(y) Following the public hearings under subsection (x) of this section and the Division’s consideration of written and oral comments resulting from the public hearings, the Division of Marine Fisheries shall submit its plan for an additional recurring funding source to support the Marine Fisheries At-Sea Observer Program to the Marine Fisheries Commission. The Marine Fisheries Commission shall vote on whether it endorses the plan.

“(z) No later than March 1, 2014, the Marine Fisheries Commission shall submit a report to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division. This report shall include the results of the Commission’s vote under subsection (y) of this section and its findings and recommendations for an additional source of funding necessary to support the Marine Fisheries At-Sea Observer Program in the event the Commission votes against endorsing the plan.

“(aa) The Division of Marine Fisheries shall use the proceeds it receives as a result of the fee increases under this section to provide support for the 2014-2015 fiscal year for the Marine Fisheries At-Sea Observer Program. In addition, the Division of Marine Fisheries shall provide available funds for the 2014-2015 fiscal year to provide any additional support that is needed to continue the Marine Fisheries At-Sea Observer Program.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2004-187, s. 6, effective August 17, 2004, added clause (iii) and made minor stylistic changes at the end of subdivision (1).

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(u), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “Department of Environmental Quality” for “Department of Environment and Natural Resources” in subdivision (3).

Legal Periodicals.

For a note on estuarine pollution, see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 921 (1971).

For a note on the State’s interest in wild animals, see 2 Campbell L. Rev. 151 (1980).

For 1997 legislative survey, see 20 Campbell L. Rev. 443 (1998).

§ 113-168.1. General provisions governing licenses and endorsements.

1. Duration, Fees. —  Except as provided in G.S. 113-173(f), all licenses and endorsements issued under this Article expire on the last day of the license year. An applicant for any license or endorsement shall pay the full annual fee at the time the applicant applies for the license or endorsement regardless of when application is made.
2. Licenses Required to Engage in Commercial Fishing. —  It is unlawful for any person to engage in a commercial fishing operation without holding a license and any endorsements required by this Article. It is unlawful for anyone to command a vessel engaged in a commercial fishing operation without complying with the provisions of this Article and rules adopted by the Commission under this Article.
3. Licenses, Assignments, and Endorsements Available for Inspection. —  It is unlawful for any person to engage in a commercial fishing operation in the State without having ready at hand for inspection all valid licenses, assignments, and endorsements required under this Article. To comply with this subsection, a person must have any required endorsements and either a currently valid (i) license issued in the person’s true name and bearing the person’s current address or (ii) SCFL and an assignment of the SCFL authorized under this Article. It is unlawful for a person to refuse to exhibit any license, assignment, or endorsement required by this Article upon the request of an inspector or other law enforcement officer authorized to enforce federal or State laws, regulations, or rules relating to marine fisheries.
4. No Dual Residency. —  It is unlawful for any person to hold any currently valid license issued under this Article to the person as a North Carolina resident if that person holds any currently valid commercial or recreational fishing license issued by another state to the person as a resident of that state.
5. License Format. —  Licenses issued under this Article shall be issued in the name of the applicant. Each license shall show the type of license and any endorsements; the name, mailing address, physical or residence address, and date of birth of the licensee; the date on which the license is issued; the date on which the license expires; and any other information that the Commission or the Division determines to be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Subchapter.
6. License Issuance and Renewal. —  Except as provided in G.S. 113-173(d), the Division shall issue licenses and endorsements under this Article to eligible applicants at any office of the Division or by mail from the Morehead City office of the Division. A license or endorsement may be renewed in person at any office of the Division or by mail to the Morehead City office of the Division. Eligibility to renew an expired SCFL shall end one year after the date of expiration of the SCFL.
7. Limitations on Eligibility. —  A person is not eligible to obtain or renew a license or endorsement under this Article if, at the time the person applies for the license or endorsement, any other license or endorsement issued to the person under this Article is suspended or revoked. A person is not eligible to obtain a license or endorsement under this Article if, within the three years prior to the date of application, the person has been determined to be responsible for four or more violations of state laws, regulations, or rules governing the management of marine and estuarine resources. An applicant shall certify that the applicant has not been determined to be responsible for four or more violations of state laws, regulations, or rules governing the management of marine and estuarine resources during the previous three years. The Division may also consider violations of federal law and regulations governing the management of marine and estuarine resources in determining whether an applicant is eligible for a license.
8. Replacement Licenses and Endorsements. —  The Division shall issue a replacement license, including any endorsements, to a licensee for a license that has not been suspended or revoked. A licensee may apply for a replacement license for a license that has been lost, stolen, or destroyed and shall apply for a replacement license within 30 days of a change in the licensee’s name or address. A licensee may apply for a replacement license in person at any office of the Division or by mail to the Morehead City office of the Division. A licensee may use a copy of the application for a replacement license that has been filed with the Division as a temporary license until the licensee receives the replacement license. The Commission may establish a fee for each type of replacement license, not to exceed twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50), that compensates the Division for the administrative costs associated with issuing the replacement license.
9. Cancellation. —  The Division may cancel a license or endorsement issued on the basis of an application that contains false information supplied by the applicant. A cancelled license or endorsement is void from the date of issuance. A person in possession of a cancelled license or endorsement shall surrender the cancelled license or endorsement to the Division. It is unlawful to refuse to surrender a cancelled license or endorsement upon demand of any authorized agent of the Division.
10. Advance Sale of Licenses, License Revenue. —  To ensure an orderly transition from one license year to the next, the Division may issue a license or endorsement prior to 1 July of the license year for which the license or endorsement is valid. Revenue that the Division receives for the issuance of a license or endorsement prior to the beginning of a license year shall not revert at the end of the fiscal year in which the revenue is received and shall be credited and available to the Division only for the license year in which the license or endorsement is valid. Any license revenue carried forward from one fiscal year to the next under this subsection that remains unencumbered and unexpended at the end of the fiscal year in which the license or endorsement is valid shall revert to the General Fund.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.10; 1999-209, s. 6; 2001-213, s. 2; 2013-360, s. 14.8(a); 2014-100, s. 14.10.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 1999-209, s. 4(b), as amended by Session Laws 2000-142, s. 1, effective August 2, 2000, provides that a person who holds a SCFL or RSCFL may take crabs as part of a commercial fishing operation from the coastal fishing waters of North Carolina.

Session Laws 2000-142, s. 2, provides that between August 2, 2000, and ending October 1, 2000, a person who holds an interim crab license established under Session Laws 1999-209, s. 4, may apply for a Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) from the pool of available licenses established under Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.2, as amended by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.24, as provided in this section. Notwithstanding Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.2(c), (e), and (f), as amended by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.24, the Marine Fisheries Commission shall increase the number of SCFLs in the pool of available licenses to the extent necessary to allow the Division of Marine Fisheries to issue a SCFL to each person who holds an interim crab license who applies for a SCFL between August 2, 2000 and October 1, 2000; and who qualifies for a SCFL under the eligibility criteria established pursuant to Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.2(h), as amended by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.24. The Division of Marine Fisheries may issue only one SCFL to a person under this section regardless of the number of interim crab licenses the person holds. The duration of and fee for a SCFL issued pursuant to this section shall be as provided in G.S. 113-168.1 and G.S. 113-168.2, regardless of when the SCFL is issued.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(a), effective August 1, 2013, substituted “twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50)” for “ten dollars ($10.00)” in subsection (h).

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.10, effective July 1, 2014, in subsection (j), inserted “only” near the end of the first sentence and added the last sentence.

§ 113-168.2. Standard Commercial Fishing License.

1. Requirement. —  Except as otherwise provided in this Article, it is unlawful for any person to engage in a commercial fishing operation in the coastal fishing waters without holding a SCFL issued by the Division. A person who works as a member of the crew of a vessel engaged in a commercial fishing operation under the direction of a person who holds a valid SCFL is not required to hold a SCFL. A person who holds a SCFL is not authorized to take shellfish unless the SCFL is endorsed as provided in G.S. 113-168.5.
2. Use of Vessels. —  The holder of a SCFL is authorized to use only one vessel in a commercial fishing operation at any given time. The Commission may adopt a rule to exempt from this requirement a person in command of a vessel that is auxiliary to a vessel engaged in a pound net operation, long-haul operation, or beach seine operation.  A person who works as a member of the crew of a vessel engaged in a mechanical shellfish operation under the direction of a person who holds a valid SCFL with a shellfish endorsement is not required to hold a shellfish license.
3. through (d) Repealed by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.11, effective July 1, 1999.
4. Fees. —  The annual SCFL fee for a resident of this State shall be four hundred dollars ($400.00). The annual SCFL fee for a person who is not a resident of this State shall be the amount charged to a resident of this State in the nonresident’s state. In no event, however, may the fee be less than four hundred dollars ($400.00). For purposes of this subsection, a “resident of this State” is a person who is a resident within the meaning of:
   1. Sub-subdivisions a. through d. of G.S. 113-130(4) and who filed a State income tax return as a resident of North Carolina for the previous calendar or tax year, or
   2. G.S. 113-130(4)e.
5. Assignment. —  The holder of a SCFL may assign the SCFL to any individual who is eligible to hold a SCFL under this Article. It is unlawful for the holder of an SCFL to assign a shellfish endorsement of an SCFL to any individual who is not a resident of this State. The assignment shall be in writing on a form provided by the Division and shall include the name of the licensee, the license number, any endorsements, the assignee’s name, mailing address, physical or residence address, and the duration of the assignment. If a notarized copy of an assignment is not filed with the Morehead City office of the Division within five days of the date of the assignment, the assignment shall expire. It is unlawful for the assignee of a SCFL to assign the SCFL. The assignment shall terminate:
   1. Upon written notification by the assignor to the assignee and the Division that the assignment has been terminated.
   2. Upon written notification by the estate of the assignor to the assignee and the Division that the assignment has been terminated.
   3. If the Division determines that the assignee is operating in violation of the terms and conditions applicable to the assignment.
   4. If the assignee becomes ineligible to hold a license under this Article.
   5. Upon the death of the assignee.
   6. If the Division suspends or revokes the assigned SCFL.
   7. At the end of the license year.
6. Transfer. —  A SCFL may be transferred only by the Division. A SCFL may be transferred pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission or upon the request of:
   1. A licensee, from the licensee to a member of the licensee’s immediate family who is eligible to hold a SCFL under this Article.
   2. The administrator or executor of the estate of a deceased licensee, to the administrator or executor of the estate if a surviving member of the deceased licensee’s immediate family is eligible to hold a SCFL under this Article. The administrator or executor must request a transfer under this subdivision within six months after the administrator or executor qualifies under Chapter 28A of the General Statutes. An administrator or executor who holds a SCFL under this subdivision may, for the benefit of the estate of the deceased licensee:
      1. Engage in a commercial fishing operation under the SCFL if the administrator or executor is eligible to hold a SCFL under this Article.
      2. Assign the SCFL as provided in subsection (f) of this section.
      3. Renew the SCFL as provided in G.S. 113-168.1.
   3. An administrator or executor to whom a SCFL was transferred pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, to a surviving member of the deceased licensee’s immediate family who is eligible to hold a SCFL under this Article.
   4. The surviving member of the deceased licensee’s immediate family to whom a SCFL was transferred pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection, to a third-party purchaser of the deceased licensee’s fishing vessel.
   5. A licensee who is retiring from commercial fishing, to a third-party purchaser of the licensee’s fishing vessel.
7. Identification as Commercial Fisherman. —  The receipt of a current and valid SCFL or shellfish license issued by the Division shall serve as proper identification of the licensee as a commercial fisherman.
   1. Record-Keeping Requirements. —  The fish dealer shall record each transaction at the time and place of landing on a form provided by the Division. The transaction form shall include the information on the SCFL or shellfish license, the quantity of the fish, the identity of the fish dealer, and other information as the Division deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Subchapter. The person who records the transaction shall provide a completed copy of the transaction form to the Division and to the other party of the transaction. The Division’s copy of each transaction form shall be transmitted to the Division by the fish dealer on or before the tenth day of the month following the transaction.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.11; 2001-213, s. 2; 2013-360, s. 14.8(b); 2013-384, s. 2(c); 2014-100, s. 14.9(b).

Editor’s Note.

The subdivision designations in subsection (f) were redesignated at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes.

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.6, provides: “The Revisor of Statutes shall set out Section 5.2 of this act as a note to G.S. 113-168.2, as enacted by Section 5.1 of this act.”

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.2, as amended by 1998-225, s. 4.24, effective July 1, 1998, provides: “(a) Definitions; Citations. The definitions set out in G.S. 113-168 apply to this section. A citation to a provision of the General Statutes in this section means that provision of the General Statutes as enacted by this act.

“(b) Transitional Provisions. In order to effect an orderly implementation of this part and the transition from the moratorium imposed by subsection (a) of Section 3 of Chapter 576 of the 1993 Session Laws, Regular Session 1994, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 675 of the 1993 Session Laws, Regular Session 1994; subsection (a) of Section 26.5 of Chapter 507 of the 1995 Session Laws; Section 7 of S.L. 1997-256; Section 3 of S.L. 1997-347; and Section 6.1 of this act, to the licensing provision of Article 14A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes, the provisions of this section shall apply to the issuance of licenses under Article 14A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes until all Fishery Management Plans have been adopted as required by G.S. 113-182.1 and G.S. 143B-289.22.

“(c) Temporary Cap. There is hereby imposed a temporary cap on the total number of SCFLs that the Division may issue. The temporary cap equals the total number of endorsements to sell fish that establish eligibility for a SCFL under subsection (g) of this section plus 500 additional SCFLs, authorized by subsection (d) of this section.

“(d) 1999-2000 License Year. For the 1999-2000 license year, the Commission is authorized to issue SCFLs as provided in subsection (g) of this section plus an additional 500 SCFLs using the procedure set out in subsection (h) of this section.

“(e) Subsequent License Years. For license years beginning with the 2000-01 license year, the Commission is authorized to issue SCFLs from the pool of available SCFLs as provided in subsection (f) of this section using the procedure set out in subsection (h) of this section.

“(f) Adjustment of Number of SCFLs. The number of SCFLs in the pool of available SCFLs in license years beginning with the 2000-01 license year is the temporary cap less the number of SCFLs that were issued and renewed during the previous year. The Commission may increase or decrease the number of SCFLs that are issued from the pool of available SCFLs. The Commission may increase the number of SCFLs that are issued from the pool of available SCFLs up to the temporary cap. The Commission may decrease the number of SCFLs that are issued from the pool of available SCFLs but may not refuse to renew a SCFL that is issued during the previous license year and that has not been suspended or revoked. The Commission shall increase or decrease the number of SCFLs that are issued to reflect its determination as to the effort that the fishery can support, based on the best available scientific evidence.

“(g) Eligibility for SCFL. Any person who holds a valid endorsement to sell fish of a vessel license on 30 June 1999 is eligible to receive a SCFL. Any person who holds a valid nonvessel endorsement to sell fish, other than a nonvessel endorsement to sell fish issued for an aquaculture operation or a fishing tournament, on 30 June 1999 is eligible to receive a SCFL. The Division shall issue a SCFL to any person who is eligible under this subsection upon receipt of an application and required fees. If the person held more than one endorsement to sell fish, the person is eligible to receive a SCFL for each endorsement to sell previously held. Eligibility to receive a SCFL under this subsection shall expire 30 June 2000.

“(h) Procedure for Issuing Additional SCFLs. The Commission shall determine a procedure for issuing the 500 additional SCFLs authorized by subsection (d) of this section for the 1999-2000 license year and for issuing SCFLs from the pool of available SCFLs authorized by subsection (e) of this section. The procedure shall set a date on which the Division will begin receiving applications and a date on which the determination by lot of which applicants will receive a SCFL will be made. The Commission shall develop criteria to be used by the SCFL Eligibility Board in determining eligibility for a SCFL under this subsection. Criteria shall include the past involvement of the applicant and the applicant’s family in commercial fishing; the extent to which the applicant has relied on commercial fishing the for applicant’s livelihood; the extent to which the applicant has complied with federal and State laws, regulations, and rules relating to coastal fishing and protection of the environment; and any other factors the Commission determines to be relevant. The SCFL Eligibility Board shall review each application for a SCFL that the Division receives during the application period to determine whether the applicant is eligible under the eligibility criteria established by the Commission. The Division shall issue SCFLs under this subsection by lot. All applicants who are determined to be eligible shall have an equal chance of being issued a SCFL.

“(i) SCFL Eligibility Board. There is established a SCFL Eligibility Board. The Board shall apply the eligibility criteria adopted by the Commission to determine whether an applicant for a SCFL is eligible for a SCFL under subsection (h) of this section. The Board shall consist of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources or the Secretary’s designee, the Fisheries Director or the Director’s designee, and the Chair of the Commission or the Chair’s designee. The Secretary shall designate one member of the Board to serve as Chair of the Board. The Commission shall adopt rules to govern the operation of the Board. The Board is exempt from the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Decisions of the Board shall be subject to judicial review under the provisions of Article 4 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.”

The former September 1, 2003, sunset for Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.2 enacted by s. 6.15 of the 1997 act was repealed by Session Laws 2001-213, s. 2.

Session Laws 1999-209, ss. 4(a)-( l ), made effective July 1, 1999, until October 1, 2000, by Session Laws 1999-209, s. 10, and amended by Session Laws 2000-142, s. 1, effective August 2, 2000, provide:

“(a) The definitions set out in G.S. 113-168 shall apply to this section.

“(b) SCFL Valid to Take Crabs. — A person who holds a SCFL or a RSCFL may take crabs as part of a commercial fishing operation from the coastal fishing waters of North Carolina.

“(c) Interim Crab License Required to Take Crabs as Part of a Commercial Fishing Operation; Sale of Crabs. — Except as otherwise provided by this section, it is unlawful for any person to take crabs as part of a commercial fishing operation from the coastal fishing waters of North Carolina without having first procured an interim crab license. A person who works as a member of the crew of a vessel that is taking crabs as part of a commercial fishing operation under the direction of a person who holds an interim crab license is not required to hold an interim crab license. An interim crab license entitles the holder to transfer crabs taken under the interim crab license to a person who holds a Standard Commercial fishing License issued under G.S. 113-168.2 or a Retired Standard commercial Fishing License issued under G.S. 113-168.3.

“(d) Eligibility for Interim Crab License. — Any person who held a valid crab license issued pursuant to G.S.113-153.1 at any time during the period July 1, 1994, through June 30, 1999, is eligible to receive an interim crab license. The Division shall issue an interim crab license to any person who is eligible under this section upon receipt of an application and required fees.

“(e) Duration; Fees. — The interim crab license expires on October 1, 2000. The fee for the interim crab license shall be seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) for a resident of this State and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a person who is not a resident of this State.

“(f) General Provisions. — Subsections (c),(d), (e), (g), (h), and (i) of G.S. 113-168.1 shall apply to the interim crab license.

“(g) License Issuance. — The Division shall issue an interim crab license to eligible applicants at any office of the Division.

“(h) Assignment and Transfer. — Except as provided in this subsection and subsection (j) of this section, it is unlawful to buy, sell, lend, borrow, assign, or otherwise transfer an interim crab license, or to attempt to buy, sell, lend, borrow, assign, or otherwise transfer an interim crab license. An interim crab license may be transferred only by the division. The Division shall transfer an interim crab license only to a person who is eligible to obtain or renew a license or endorsement under G.S. 113-168.1(g). The Division may transfer an interim crab license upon the request of:

“(1) A licensee, from the licensee to a member of the licensee’s immediate family.

“(2) The administrator or executor of the estate of a deceased licensee, to the administrator or executor of the estate. The administrator or executor must request a transfer under this subdivision within six months after the administrator or executor qualifies under Chapter 28A of the General Statutes. An administrator or executor who holds an interim crab license under this subdivision may, for the benefit of the estate of the deceased licensee, take crabs as part of a commercial fishing operation.

“(3) An administrator or executor to whom an interim crab license was transferred pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, to a surviving member of the deceased licensee’s immediate family.

“(4) The surviving member of the deceased licensee’s immediate family to whom an interim crab license was transferred pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection, to a third-party purchaser of the deceased licensee’s fishing vessel.

“(i) Record-Keeping Requirements. — The record-keeping requirements of G.S. 113-168.2(i) shall apply to the interim crab license.

“(j) Exemptions. — A person who is under 16 years of age is exempt from the license requirements of this section if the person is accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian who holds an interim crab license or if the person has in the person’s possession a valid interim crab license issued to the person’s parent, grandparent, or guardian.

“(k) Rules on Incidental Taking of Crabs. — Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the marine Fisheries Commission may adopt rules to allow the landing and sale of crabs taken incidentally in the course of other commercial fishing operations.

“( l ) Note to G.S. 113-168.2 — The Revisor of Statutes shall set out this section [s. 4 of Session Laws 1999-209] as a note to G.S. 113-168.2.”

Session Laws 2000-142, s. 2, provides that between August 2, 2000, and ending October 1, 2000, a person who holds an interim crab license established under Session Laws 1999-209, s. 4, may apply for a Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) from the pool of available licenses established under Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.2, as amended by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.24, as provided in this section. Notwithstanding Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.2(c), (e), and (f), as amended by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.24, the Marine Fisheries Commission shall increase the number of SCFLs in the pool of available licenses to the extent necessary to allow the Division of Marine Fisheries to issue a SCFL to each person who holds an interim crab license; who applies for a SCFL between August 2, 2000 and October 1, 2000; and who qualifies for a SCFL under the eligibility criteria established pursuant to Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.2(h), as amended by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.24. The Division of Marine Fisheries may issue only one SCFL to a person under this section regardless of the number of interim crab licenses the person holds. The duration of and fee for a SCFL issued pursuant to this section shall be as provided in G.S. 113-168.1 and G.S. 113-168.2, regardless of when the SCFL is issued.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.8A(a), provides: “The General Assembly finds that additional funding is necessary to support the Division of Marine Fisheries’ At-Sea Observer Program and for the continued viability of the commercial fishing industry in North Carolina.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(j), made the amendment to subsection (e) by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(b), applicable to fees collected for the 2015-2016 license year and all succeeding license years.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.’ ”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(b), effective August 1, 2013, substituted “G.S. 113-168.5” for “G.S. 113-168.5(d) or the person holds a shellfish license issued pursuant to G.S. 113-169.2” in subsection (a); added the last sentence in subsection (a1); in subsection (e), substituted “two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)” for “two hundred dollars ($200.00)” twice, and deleted “eight hundred dollars ($800.00) or” following “State shall” and “whichever is less” following “state” at the end of the second sentence; and added the second sentence in subsection (f).

Session Laws 2013-384, s. 2(c), effective August 23, 2013, substituted “or beach seine” for “beach seine operation, or menhaden” in subsection (a1).

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(b), effective August 7, 2014, substituted “four hundred dollars ($400.00)” for “two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)” twice in the introductory language of subsection (e). See Editor’s note for applicability.

§ 113-168.3. Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License.

1. SCFL Provisions Applicable. —  Except as provided in this section, the provisions set forth in this Article concerning the SCFL shall apply to the RSCFL.
2. Eligibility; Fees. —  Any individual who is 65 years of age or older and who is eligible for a SCFL under G.S. 113-168.2 may apply for either a SCFL or RSCFL. An applicant for a RSCFL shall provide proof of age at the time the application is made. The annual fee for a RSCFL for a resident of this State shall be two hundred dollars ($200.00). The annual fee for a RSCFL for a person who is not a resident of this State shall be two hundred sixty dollars ($260.00). For purposes of this subsection, a “resident of this State” is a person who is a resident within the meaning of:
   1. Sub-subdivisions a. through d. of G.S. 113-130(4) and who filed a State income tax return as a resident of North Carolina for the previous calendar or tax year, or
   2. G.S. 113-130(4)e.
3. Transfer. —  The holder of a RSCFL may transfer the RSCFL as provided in G.S. 113-168.2.
   1. If the transferee is less than 65 years of age, the transferee holds a SCFL. When the transferee renews the SCFL, the transferee shall pay the fee set out in G.S. 113-168.2.
   2. If the transferee is 65 years of age or older, the transferee may elect to hold either a SCFL or RSCFL. If the transferee elects to hold a SCFL, the transferee shall pay the fee set out in G.S. 113-168.2. If the transferee elects to hold a RSCFL, the transferee shall pay the fee set out in this section.
4. Assignment. —  The RSCFL shall not be assignable.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.12; 2001-213, s. 2; 2013-360, s. 14.8(c); 2014-100, s. 14.9(c).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.8A(a), provides: “The General Assembly finds that additional funding is necessary to support the Division of Marine Fisheries’ At-Sea Observer Program and for the continued viability of the commercial fishing industry in North Carolina.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(j), made the amendment to subsection (b) by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(c), applicable to fees collected for the 2015-2016 license year and all succeeding license years.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.’ ”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(c), effective August 1, 2013, in subsection (b), substituted “one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00)” for “one hundred dollars ($100.00)” and “one hundred sixty-two dollars and fifty cents ($162.50)” for “eight hundred dollars ($800.00) or the amount charged to a resident of this State in the nonresident’s state, whichever is less. In no event, however, shall the fee be less than one hundred dollars ($100.00).”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(c), effective August 7, 2014, in the introductory language of subsection (b), substituted “two hundred dollars ($200.00)” for “one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00)” in the third sentence, and “two hundred sixty dollars ($260.00)” for “one hundred sixty-two dollars and fifty cents ($162.50)” in the fourth sentence. See Editor’s note for applicability.

§ 113-168.4. Sale of fish.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person who takes or lands any species of fish under the authority of the Commission from coastal fishing waters by any means whatever, including mariculture operations, to sell, offer for sale, barter or exchange these fish for anything of value without holding a license required to sell the type of fish being offered.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person licensed under this Article to sell fish taken outside the territorial waters of the State or to sell fish taken from coastal fishing waters. A person licensed under this Article may sell fish taken outside the territorial waters of the State or sell fish taken from coastal fishing waters under any of the following circumstances:
   1. The sale is to a fish dealer licensed under G.S. 113-169.3.
   2. The sale is to the public and the seller is a licensed fish dealer under G.S. 113-169.3.
   3. The sale is of oysters or clams from a hatchery or aquaculture operation to the holder of an Aquaculture Operation Permit, an Under Dock Culture Permit, or a shellfish cultivation lease for further grow out.
3. A person who organizes a recreational fishing tournament may sell fish taken in connection with the tournament pursuant to a recreational fishing tournament license to sell fish. A person who organizes a recreational fishing tournament may obtain a recreational fishing tournament license to sell fish upon application to the Division and payment of a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00). It is unlawful for any person licensed under this subsection to sell fish to any person other than a fish dealer licensed under G.S. 113-169.3 unless the seller is also a licensed fish dealer. A recreational fishing tournament is an organized fishing competition occurring within a specified time period not to exceed one week and that is not a commercial fishing operation. Gross proceeds from the sale of fish may be used only for charitable, religious, educational, civic, or conservation purposes and shall not be used to pay tournament expenses.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.13; 2001-213, s. 2; 2009-433, s. 1; 2013-360, s. 14.8(d).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2009-433, s. 1, effective August 7, 2009, rewrote subsection (b).

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(d), effective August 1, 2013, substituted “one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00)” for “one hundred dollars ($100.00)” in subsection (c).

OPINIONS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

For a discussion of whether a person’s participation in a fishing tournament can constitute a sale of fish requiring an endorsement to sell fish, see opinion of Attorney General to Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director Division of Marine Fisheries, 1998 N.C. Op. Att'y Gen. 15 (3/4/98).

§ 113-168.5. License endorsements for Standard Commercial Fishing License.

1. , (b) Repealed by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.14, effective July 1, 1999.
2. Repealed by Session Laws 2013-384, s. 2(a), effective August 23, 2013.
3. Shellfish Endorsement for North Carolina Residents. —  The Division shall issue a shellfish endorsement of a SCFL to a North Carolina resident at no charge. The holder of a SCFL with a shellfish endorsement is authorized to take and sell shellfish.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.14; 2001-213, s. 2; 2013-384, s. 2(a).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-384, s. 2(a), effective August 23, 2013, deleted subsection (c).

§ 113-168.6. Commercial fishing vessel registration.

1. As used in this subsection, a North Carolina vessel is a vessel that has its primary situs in the State. A vessel has its primary situs in the State if:
   1. A certificate of number has been issued for the vessel under Article 1 of Chapter 75A of the General Statutes;
   2. A certificate of title has been issued for the vessel under Article 4 of Chapter 75A of the General Statutes; or
   3. A certification of documentation has been issued for the vessel that lists a home port in the State under 46 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq., as amended.
2. The owner of a vessel used in a commercial fishing operation in the coastal fishing waters of the State or a North Carolina vessel used to land or sell fish in the State shall register the vessel with the Division. It is unlawful to use a vessel that is not registered with the Division in a commercial fishing operation in the coastal fishing waters of the State. It is unlawful to use a North Carolina vessel that is not registered with the Division to land or sell fish in the State. No registration is required for a vessel of any length that does not have a motor if the vessel is used only in connection with another vessel that is properly registered.
3. The vessel owner at the time of application for registration under subsection (b) of this section shall obtain either a commercial vessel endorsement if the vessel is intended to be used primarily for the harvest of fish for sale, a for-hire endorsement if the vessel is intended to be used primarily for for-hire activities, or both endorsements if the vessel is intended to be engaged in both activities. The owner of a vessel applying for a commercial fishing vessel registration with a for-hire endorsement must affirm liability coverage and knowledge of applicable United States Coast Guard safety requirements.
4. The annual fee for a commercial fishing vessel registration shall be determined by the length of the vessel and shall be in addition to the fee for other licenses issued under this Article. The length of a vessel shall be determined by measuring the distance between the ends of the vessel along the deck and through the cabin, excluding the sheer. The annual fee for a commercial fishing vessel registration is:
   1. One dollar and twenty-five cents ($1.25) per foot for a vessel not over 18 feet in length.
   2. One dollar and ninety cents ($1.90) per foot for a vessel over 18 feet but not over 38 feet in length.
   3. Three dollars and seventy-five cents ($3.75) per foot for a vessel over 38 feet but not over 50 feet in length.
   4. Seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per foot for a vessel over 50 feet in length.
5. A vessel may be registered at any office of the Division. A commercial fishing vessel registration expires on the last day of the license year.
6. Within 30 days of the date on which the owner of a registered vessel transfers ownership of the vessel, the new owner of the vessel shall notify the Division of the change in ownership and apply for a replacement commercial fishing vessel registration. An application for a replacement commercial fishing vessel registration shall be accompanied by proof of the transfer of the vessel. The provisions of G.S. 113-168.1(h) apply to a replacement commercial fishing vessel registration.

History. 1998-225, s. 4.15; 2001-213, s. 3; 2013-360, s. 14.8(e).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(e), effective August 1, 2013, added subsection (b1); substituted “One dollar and twenty five cents ($1.25)” for “One dollar ($1.00)” in subdivision (c)(1); substituted “One dollar and ninety cents ($1.90)” for “One dollar and fifty cents ($1.50)” in subdivision (c)(2); substituted “Three dollars and seventy-five cents ($3.75)” for “Three dollars ($3.00)” in subdivision (c)(3); and substituted “Seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50)” for “Six dollars ($6.00)” in subdivision (c)(4).

§ 113-169. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2013-384, s. 2(b), effective August 23, 2013.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.16; 2001-213, s. 2; repealed by 2013-384, s. 2(b), effective August 23, 2013.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-169 pertained to menhaden license for nonresidents not eligible for a SCFL.

§ 113-169.1. Permits for gear, equipment, and other specialized activities authorized.

1. The Commission may adopt rules to establish permits for gear, equipment, and specialized activities, including commercial fishing operations that do not involve the use of a vessel and transplanting oysters or clams. The Commission may establish a fee for each permit established pursuant to this subsection in an amount that compensates the Division for the administrative costs associated with the permit but that does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) per permit.
2. The Commission may adopt rules to establish gear specific permits to take striped bass from the Atlantic Ocean and to limit the number and type of these permits that may be issued to a person. The Commission may establish a fee for each permit established pursuant to this subsection in an amount that compensates the Division for the administrative costs associated with the permit but that does not exceed thirty dollars ($30.00) per permit.
3. To ensure an orderly transition from one permit year to the next, the Division may issue a permit prior to July 1 of the permit year for which the permit is valid. Revenue that the Division receives for the issuance of a permit prior to the beginning of a permit year shall not revert at the end of the fiscal year in which the revenue is received and shall be credited and available to the Division for the permit year in which the permit is valid.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 2000-172, s. 6.1; 2001-213, s. 2; 2006-254, s. 1; 2013-360, s. 14.8(f).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2006-254, s. 1, effective August 22, 2006, added the subsection (a) designation; and added subsection (b).

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(f), effective August 1, 2013, added the second sentence in subsection (a); substituted “thirty dollars ($30.00)” for “ten dollars ($10.00)” in subsection (b); and added subsection (c).

§ 113-169.2. Shellfish license for North Carolina residents without a SCFL.

1. License or Endorsement Necessary to Take or Sell Shellfish Taken by Hand Methods. —  It is unlawful for an individual to take shellfish from the public or private grounds of the State as part of a commercial fishing operation by hand methods without holding either a shellfish license or a shellfish endorsement of a SCFL. A North Carolina resident who seeks only to take shellfish by hand methods and sell such shellfish shall be eligible to obtain a shellfish license without holding a SCFL. The shellfish license authorizes the licensee to sell shellfish.
2. License Necessary to Take or Sell Shellfish Taken by Mechanical Means. —  Except as provided in subsection (i) of this section, an individual who takes shellfish from the public or private grounds of the State by mechanical means must obtain an SCFL under the provisions of G.S. 113-168.2.
3. Repealed by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.17, effective July 1, 1999.
4. Fees. —  Shellfish licenses issued under this section shall be issued annually upon payment of a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) upon proof that the license applicant is a North Carolina resident.
5. License Available for Inspection. —  It is unlawful for any individual to take shellfish as part of a commercial fishing operation from the public or private grounds of the State without having ready at hand for inspection a current and valid shellfish license issued to the licensee personally and bearing the licensee’s correct name and address. It is unlawful for any individual taking or possessing freshly taken shellfish to refuse to exhibit the individual’s license upon the request of an officer authorized to enforce the fishing laws.
6. Repealed by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.17, effective July 1, 1999.
7. Name or Address Change. —  In the event of a change in name or address or upon receipt of an erroneous shellfish license, the licensee shall, within 30 days, apply for a replacement shellfish license bearing the correct name and address. Upon a showing by the individual that the name or address change occurred within the past 30 days, the trial court or prosecutor shall dismiss any charges brought pursuant to this subsection.
8. Transfer Prohibited. —  It is unlawful for an individual issued a shellfish license to transfer or offer to transfer the license, either temporarily or permanently, to another. It is unlawful for an individual to secure or attempt to secure a shellfish license from a source not authorized by the Commission.
9. Exemption. —  Persons under 16 years of age are exempt from the license requirements of this section if accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian who is in compliance with the requirements of this section or if in possession of a parent’s, grandparent’s or guardian’s shellfish license.
10. Taking Shellfish Without a License for Personal Use or as Employee of Certain License Holders. —  Shellfish may be taken without a license under the following circumstances:
    1. For personal use in quantities established by rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission.
    2. When the taking is from an area leased for the cultivation of shellfish under Article 16 of this Chapter by a person who is an employee of a leaseholder holding a valid SCFL issued under the provisions of G.S. 113-168.2, and the person provides an authorization letter with the leaseholder’s SCFL number and signature.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.17; 2001-213, s. 2; 2004-187, s. 3; 2005-455, s. 1.18; 2009-433, s. 2; 2013-360, s. 14.8(g); 2014-100, s. 14.9(d); 2015-241, s. 14.10B.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.8A(a), provides: “The General Assembly finds that additional funding is necessary to support the Division of Marine Fisheries’ At-Sea Observer Program and for the continued viability of the commercial fishing industry in North Carolina.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(j), made the amendment to subsection (c) by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(d), applicable to fees collected for the 2015-2016 license year and all succeeding license years.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.’ ”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2009-433, s. 2, effective August 7, 2009, in subsections (a) and (d), substituted “as part of a commercial fishing operation” for “in quantities greater than the personal use limits set forth in subsection (i) of this section”; in subsection (i), inserted “or as Employee of Certain License Holders” in the catchline, inserted “under the following circumstances: (1)” in the first sentence, and added subdivision (i)(2).

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(g), effective August 1, 2013, in subsection (a), added “Taken by Hand Methods” in the subsection heading, deleted “by mechanical means or” following “private grounds of the State,” substituted “hand methods” for “any means,” and added “shellfish by hand methods” and “such” preceding “shellfish shall be”; added subsection (a1); and, in subsection (c), added “issued under this section,” and substituted “thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents ($31.25)” for “twenty-five dollars ($25.00).”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(d), effective August 7, 2014, substituted “fifty dollars ($50.00)” for “thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents ($31.25)” in subsection (c). See Editor’s note for applicability.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.10B, effective July 1, 2015, substituted “Except as provided in” for “Subject to” in subdivision (a1); in subsection (i), inserted “or as Employee of Certain License Holders” in the catchline, inserted “under the following circumstances: (1)” in the first sentence, and added subdivision (i)(2).

§ 113-169.3. Licenses for fish dealers.

1. Eligibility. —  A fish dealer license shall be issued to a North Carolina resident upon receipt of a proper application at any office of the Division together with all license fees including the total number of dealer categories set forth in this section. The license shall be issued in the name of the applicant and shall include all dealer categories on the license.
2. Application for License. —  Applications shall not be accepted from persons ineligible to hold a license issued by the Division, including any applicant whose license is suspended or revoked on the date of the application. The applicant shall be provided with a copy of the application marked received. The copy shall serve as the fish dealer’s license until the license issued by the Division is received, or the Division determines that the applicant is ineligible to hold a license. Where an applicant does not have an established location for transacting the fisheries business within the State, the license application shall be denied unless the applicant satisfies the Secretary that his residence, or some other office or address within the State, is a suitable substitute for an established location and that records kept in connection with licensing, sale, and purchase requirements will be available for inspection when necessary. Fish dealers’ licenses are issued on a fiscal year basis upon payment of a fee as set forth herein upon proof, satisfactory to the Secretary, that the license applicant is a North Carolina resident.
3. License Requirement. —  Any person subject to the licensing requirements of this section is a fish dealer. Any person subject to the licensing requirements of this section shall obtain a separate license for each physical location conducting activities required to be licensed under this section. Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person not licensed pursuant to this Article:
   1. To buy fish for resale from any person involved in a commercial fishing operation that takes any species of fish from coastal fishing waters. For purposes of this subdivision, a retailer who purchases fish from a fish dealer shall not be liable if the fish dealer has not complied with the licensing requirements of this section;
   2. To sell fish to the public; or
   3. To sell to the public any species of fish under the authority of the Commission taken from coastal fishing waters.
4. Exceptions to License Requirements. —  The Commission may adopt rules to implement this subsection including rules to clarify the status of the listed classes of exempted persons, require submission of statistical data, and require that records be kept in order to establish compliance with this section. Any person not licensed pursuant to this section is exempt from the licensing requirements of this section if all fish handled within any particular licensing category meet one or more of the following requirements:
   1. The fish are sold by persons whose dealings in fish are primarily educational, scientific, or official, and who have been issued a permit by the Division that authorizes the educational, scientific, or official agency to sell fish taken or processed in connection with research or demonstration projects;
   2. The fish are sold by individual employees of fish dealers when transacting the business of their duly licensed employer;
   3. The fish are shipped to a person by a dealer from without the State;
   4. The fish are of a kind the sale of which is regulated exclusively by the Wildlife Resources Commission; or
   5. The fish are purchased from a licensed dealer.
5. Application Fee for New Fish Dealers. —  An applicant for a new fish dealer license shall pay a nonrefundable application fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) in addition to the license category fees set forth in this section.
6. License Category Fees. —  Every fish dealer subject to licensing requirements shall secure an annual license at each established location for each of the following activities transacted there, upon payment of the fee set out:
   1. Dealing in oysters: $100.00.
   2. Dealing in scallops: $100.00.
   3. Dealing in clams: $100.00.
   4. Dealing in hard or soft crabs: $100.00.
   5. Dealing in shrimp, including bait: $100.00.
   6. Dealing in finfish, including bait: $100.00.
   7. Operating menhaden or other fish-dehydrating or oil-extracting processing plants: $100.00.
   8. Consolidated license (all categories): $600.00.
7. Other License Categories. —  Any person subject to fish dealer licensing requirements who deals in fish not included in the categories listed in subsection (f) of this section shall secure a finfish dealer license. The Commission may adopt rules implementing and clarifying the dealer categories of this section. Bait operations shall be licensed under either the finfish or shrimp dealer license categories.
8. Repealed by Session Laws 1998-225, s. 4.18, effective July 1, 1999.
9. Replacement License. —  If the licensee fails to comply with the requirements of G.S. 113-168.1(h), the license is revoked.
10. Unlawful Purchase and Sale of Fish. —  It is unlawful for a fish dealer to purchase, possess, or sell fish taken from coastal fishing waters in violation of this Subchapter or the rules adopted by the Commission implementing this Subchapter. It is unlawful for a fish dealer to buy or accept fish unless, at the time of the transaction:
    1. The seller or donor presents a current and valid license to sell the type of fish being offered;
    2. The seller or donor presents the commercial fishing vessel registration of the vessel that was used to take the fish being offered; and
    3. The dealer records the transaction consistent with the record-keeping requirements of G.S. 113-168.2(i).
11. Transfer Prohibited. —  Any fish dealer license issued under this section is nontransferable. It is unlawful to use a fish dealer license issued to another person in the sale or attempted sale of fish or for a licensee to lend or transfer a fish dealer license for the purpose of circumventing the requirements of this section.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.18; 2001-213, s. 2; 2013-360, s. 14.8(h), (i); 2014-100, s. 14.9(e).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.8A(a), provides: “The General Assembly finds that additional funding is necessary to support the Division of Marine Fisheries’ At-Sea Observer Program and for the continued viability of the commercial fishing industry in North Carolina.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(j), made the amendments to subsections (e) and (f) by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(e), applicable to fees collected for the 2015-2016 license year and all succeeding license years.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.’ ”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, ss. 14.8(h) and (i), effective August 1, 2013, substituted “sixty-two dollars and fifty cents ($62.50)” for “fifty dollars ($50.00)” in subsection (e); in subdivisions (f)(1) through (f)(7), substituted “$62.50” for “$50.00,” and made minor punctuation and stylistic changes throughout; and substituted “$375.00” for “$300.00” in subdivision (f)(8).

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(e), effective August 7, 2014, substituted “one hundred dollars ($100.00)” for “sixty-two dollars and fifty cents ($62.50)” in subsection (e); and, in subsection (f), substituted “$100.00” for “$62.50” in subdivisions (f)(1) through (f)(7) and “$600.00” for “$375.00” in subdivision (f)(8). See Editor’s note for applicability.

§ 113-169.4. Licensing of ocean fishing piers; fees.

1. The owner or operator of an ocean fishing pier within the coastal fishing waters who charges the public a fee to fish in any manner from the pier shall secure a current and valid pier license from the Division. An application for a pier license shall disclose the names of all parties involved in the pier operations, including the owner of the property, owner of the pier if different, and all leasehold or other corporate arrangements, and all persons with a substantial financial interest in the pier.
2. Within 30 days following a change of ownership of a pier, or a change as to the manager, the manager or new manager shall secure a replacement pier license as provided in G.S. 113-168.1(h).
3. Pier licenses are issued upon payment of four dollars and fifty cents ($4.50) per linear foot, to the nearest foot, that the pier extends into coastal fishing waters beyond the mean high waterline. The length of the pier shall be measured to include all extensions of the pier.
4. The manager who secures the pier license shall be the individual with the duty of executive-level supervision of pier operations.
5. The pier license issued under this section authorizes any individual who does not hold a Coastal Recreational Fishing License under Article 14B or Article 25A of this Chapter to engage in recreational fishing while on the pier.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.19; 2001-213, s. 2; 2013-360, s. 14.8(j).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(j), effective August 1, 2013, substituted “four dollars and fifty cents ($4.50)” for “fifty cents (50¢)” in subsection (c); and added subsection (e).

§ 113-169.5. Land or sell license; vessels fishing beyond territorial waters.

1. Persons aboard vessels not having their primary situs in the State that are carrying a cargo of fish taken outside the waters of the State may land or sell their catch in the State by purchasing a land or sell license as set forth in this section with respect to the vessel in question. The Commission may by rule modify the land or sell licensing procedure in order to devise an efficient and convenient procedure for licensing out-of-state vessels to only land, or after landing to permit sale of cargo.
2. The fee for a land or sell license for a vessel not having its primary situs in North Carolina is four hundred dollars ($400.00), or an amount equal to the nonresident fee charged by the nonresident’s state, whichever is greater. Persons aboard vessels having a primary situs in a jurisdiction that would allow North Carolina vessels without restriction to land or sell their catch, taken outside the jurisdiction, may land or sell their catch in the State without complying with this section if the persons are in possession of a valid license from their state of residence.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 2001-213, s. 2; 2013-360, s. 14.8(k); 2014-100, s. 14.9(f).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.8A(a), provides: “The General Assembly finds that additional funding is necessary to support the Division of Marine Fisheries’ At-Sea Observer Program and for the continued viability of the commercial fishing industry in North Carolina.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(j), made the amendment to subsection (b) by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(f), applicable to fees collected for the 2015-2016 license year and all succeeding license years.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.’ ”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(k), effective August 1, 2013, substituted “two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)” for “two hundred dollars ($200.00)” in subsection (b).

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(f), effective August 7, 2014, substituted “four hundred dollars ($400.00)” for “two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)” in the first sentence of subsection (b). See Editor’s note for applicability.

§ 113-170. Exportation and importation of fish and equipment.

The Commission may adopt rules governing the importation and exportation of fish, and equipment that may be used in taking or processing fish, as necessary to enhance the conservation of marine and estuarine resources of the State. These rules may regulate, license, prohibit, or restrict importation into the State and exportation from the State of any and all species of fish that are native to coastal fishing waters or may thrive if introduced into these waters.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 2001-213, s. 2.

§ 113-170.1. Nonresidents reciprocal agreements.

Persons who are not North Carolina residents are not eligible to obtain licenses under the provisions of this Article except as provided in this section. Residents of jurisdictions that sell commercial fishing licenses to North Carolina residents are eligible to hold North Carolina commercial fishing licenses under the provisions of G.S. 113-168.2. Licenses may be restricted in terms of area, gear, and fishery by the Commission so that the nonresidents are licensed to engage in North Carolina fisheries on the same or similar terms that North Carolina residents can be licensed to engage in the fisheries of other jurisdictions. The Secretary may enter into reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions as necessary to allow nonresidents to obtain commercial fishing licenses in the State subject to the foregoing provisions.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1998-225, s. 4.20; 2001-213, s. 2.

§ 113-170.2. Fraud or deception as to licenses, permits, or records.

1. It is unlawful for any person to give any false information or willfully to omit giving required information to the Division or any license agent when the information is material to the securing of any license or permit under this Article. It is unlawful to falsify, fraudulently alter, or counterfeit any license, permit, identification, or record to which this Article applies or otherwise practice any fraud or deception designed to evade the provisions of this Article or reasonable administrative directives made under the authority of this Article.
2. A violation of this section is punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00).

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 2001-213, s. 2.

§ 113-170.3. Record-keeping requirements.

1. The Commission may require all licensees under this Article to keep and to exhibit upon the request of an authorized agent of the Department records and accounts as may be necessary to the equitable and efficient administration and enforcement of this Article. In addition, licensees may be required to keep additional information of a statistical nature or relating to location of catch as may be needed to determine conservation policy. Records and accounts required to be kept must be preserved for inspection for not less than three years.
2. It is unlawful for any licensee to refuse or to neglect without justifiable excuse to keep records and accounts as may be reasonably required. The Department may distribute forms to licensees to aid in securing compliance with its requirements, or it may inform licensees of requirements in other effective ways such as distributing memoranda and sending agents of the Department to consult with licensees who have been remiss. Detailed forms or descriptions of records, accounts, collection and inspection procedures, and the like that reasonably implement the objectives of this Article need not be embodied in rules of the Commission in order to be validly required.
3. The following records collected and compiled by the Department shall not be considered public records within the meaning of Chapter 132 of the General Statutes, but shall be confidential and shall be used only for the equitable and efficient administration and enforcement of this Article or for determining conservation policy, and shall not be disclosed except when required by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction: all records, accounts, and reports that licensees are required by the Commission to make, keep, and exhibit pursuant to the provisions of this section, and all records, accounts, and memoranda compiled by the Department from records, accounts, and reports of licensees and from investigations and inspections, containing data and information concerning the business and operations of licensees reflecting their assets, liabilities, inventories, revenues, and profits; the number, capacity, capability, and type of fishing vessels owned and operated; the type and quantity of fishing gear used; the catch of fish or other seafood by species in numbers, size, weight, quality, and value; the areas in which fishing was engaged in; the location of catch; the time of fishing, number of hauls, and the disposition of the fish and other seafood. The Department may compile statistical information in any aggregate or summary form that does not directly or indirectly disclose the identity of any licensee who is a source of the information, and any compilation of statistical information by the Department shall be a public record open to inspection and examination by any person, and may be disseminated to the public by the Department.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 2001-213, s. 2.

§ 113-170.4. Rules as to possession, transportation, and disposition of fisheries resources.

The Commission may adopt rules governing possession, transportation, and disposition of fisheries resources by all persons, including those not subject to fish dealer licensing requirements, in order that inspectors may adequately distinguish regulated coastal fisheries resources from those not so regulated and enforce the provisions of this Article equitably and efficiently. These rules may include requirements as to giving notice, filing declarations, securing permits, marking packages, and the like.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 2001-213, s. 2.

§ 113-170.5. Violations with respect to coastal fisheries resources.

It is unlawful to take, possess, transport, process, sell, buy, or in any way deal in coastal fisheries resources without conforming with the provisions of this Article or of rules adopted under the authority of this Article.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 2001-213, s. 2.

§ 113-171. Suspension, revocation, and reissuance of licenses.

1. Upon receipt of reliable notice that a person licensed under this Article, Article 14B, or Article 25A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes to take resources under the jurisdiction of the Marine Fisheries Commission has had imposed against the person a conviction of a criminal offense within the jurisdiction of the Department under the provisions of this Subchapter or of rules of the Commission adopted under the authority of this Subchapter, the Secretary must suspend, revoke, and reissue all licenses held by the person in accordance with the terms of this section and rules adopted by the Commission. Reliable notice includes information furnished the Secretary in prosecution or other reports from inspectors. As used in this section, a conviction includes a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, any other termination of a criminal prosecution unfavorably to the defendant after jeopardy has attached, or any substitute for criminal prosecution whereby the defendant expressly or impliedly confesses the defendant’s guilt. In particular, procedures whereby bond forfeitures are accepted in lieu of proceeding to trial and cases indefinitely continued upon arrest of judgment or prayer for judgment continued are deemed convictions. The Secretary may act to suspend or revoke licenses upon the basis of any conviction in which:
   1. No notice of appeal has been given;
   2. The time for appeal has expired without an appeal having been perfected; or
   3. The conviction is sustained on appeal. Where there is a new trial, finality of any subsequent conviction will be determined in the manner set out above.
2. The Secretary must initiate an administrative procedure designed to give the Secretary systematic notice of all convictions of criminal offenses by licensees covered by subsection (a) of this section above and keep a file of all convictions reported.
3. , (d) Repealed by Session Laws 2010-145, s. 2, effective October 1, 2012.
4. A licensee served with a notice of suspension or revocation may obtain an administrative review of the suspension or revocation by filing a petition for a contested case under G.S. 150B-23 within 20 days after receiving the notice. The only issue in the hearing shall be whether the licensee was convicted of a criminal offense for which a license must be suspended or revoked. A license remains suspended or revoked pending the final decision.
5. If the Secretary refuses to reissue the license of or issue an additional license to an applicant whose license was revoked, the applicant may contest the decision by filing a petition for a contested case under G.S. 150B-23 within 20 days after the Secretary makes the decision. The Commission shall make the final agency decision in a contested case under this subsection. An applicant whose license is denied under this subsection may not reapply for the same license for at least six months.
6. The Commission may adopt rules to provide for the disclosure of the identity of any individual or individuals in responsible positions of control respecting operations of any licensee that is not an individual. For the purposes of this section, individuals in responsible positions of control are deemed to be individual licensees and subject to suspension and revocation requirements in regard to any applications for license they may make — either as individuals or as persons in responsible positions of control in any corporation, partnership, or association. In the case of individual licensees, the individual applying for a license or licensed under this Article, Article 14B, or Article 25A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes to take resources under the jurisdiction of the Marine Fisheries Commission must be the real party in interest.
7. In determining whether a conviction is a second or subsequent offense under the provisions of this section, the Secretary may not consider convictions for:
   1. Offenses that occurred three years prior to the effective date of this Article; or
   2. Offenses that occurred more than three years prior to the time of the latest offense the conviction for which is in issue as a subsequent conviction.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 2001-213, s. 2; 2010-145, s. 2; 2011-398, s. 34.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2010-145, s. 1, provides: “The Marine Fisheries Commission shall adopt rules pursuant to and consistent with G.S. 113-171, as amended by Section 2 of this act, and G.S. 143B-289.52 for the suspension, revocation, and reissuance of marine resources licenses and permits issued under Articles 14A, 14B, and 25A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall not become effective prior to October 1, 2012. In adopting rules pursuant to this section, the Commission shall consider all of the following:

“(1) Whether the rules should differentiate between minor and major violations.

“(2) How to define minor and major violations.

“(3) How service of revocation could be made more efficient.

“(4) How the rules should treat violations related to recreational fishing licenses and permits.

“(5) Whether violations related to littering or assault on a marine patrol inspector should be treated as grounds for suspension or revocation.

“(6) Whether suspension and revocation provisions should be strengthened in cases of harvesting shellfish from polluted waters.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2010-145, s. 2, effective October 1, 2012, in the first sentence in the introductory paragraph in subsection (a) and in the last sentence in subsection (g), added “Article 14B, or Article 25A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes to take resources under the jurisdiction of the Marine Fisheries Commission”; in the first sentence in the introductory paragraph in subsection (a), substituted “suspend, revoke, and reissue” for “suspend or revoke,” and inserted “and rules adopted by the Commission”; deleted the last five sentences in subsection (5), which pertained to first, second, third, and fourth or subsequent convictions; and deleted subsections (c) and (d), which pertained to license suspension or revocation.

Session Laws 2011-398, s. 34, effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to contested cases commenced on or after that date, deleted “by the Secretary” from the end of subsection (e).

§ 113-171.1. Use of spotter planes in commercial fishing operations regulated.

1. Spotter Plane Defined. —  A “spotter plane” is an aircraft used for aerial identification of the location of fish in coastal fishing waters so that a vessel may be directed to the fish.
2. License. —  Before an aircraft is used as a spotter plane in a commercial fishing operation, the owner or operator of the aircraft must obtain a license for the aircraft from the Division. The fee for a license for a spotter plane is one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00). An applicant for a license for a spotter plane shall include in the application the identity, either by boat or by company, of the specific commercial fishing operations in which the spotter plane will be used during the license year. If, during the course of the license year, the aircraft is used as a spotter plane in a commercial fishing operation that is not identified in the original license application, the owner or operator of the aircraft shall amend the license application to add the identity of the additional commercial fishing operation.
3. Unlawful Activity. —  It shall be unlawful to:
   1. Use a spotter plane directed at food fish, except in connection with a purse seine operation authorized by a rule of the Commission.
   2. Use or permit the use of an unlicensed spotter plane or a licensed spotter plane whose license application does not identify the specific commercial fishing operation involved.
   3. Participate knowingly in a commercial fishing operation that uses an unlicensed spotter plane or a licensed spotter plane whose license application does not identify the specific commercial fishing operation involved.
4. Violation a Misdemeanor. —  A violation of subsection (c) of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 2001-213, s. 2; 2013-360, s. 14.8(l).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8( l ), effective August 1, 2013, substituted “one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00)” for “one hundred dollars ($100.00)” in subsection (b).

§ 113-172. License agents.

1. The Secretary shall designate license agents for the Department. The Division and license agents designated by the Secretary under this section shall issue licenses authorized under this Article in accordance with this Article and the rules of the Commission. The Secretary may require license agents to enter into a contract that provides for their duties and compensation, post a bond, and submit to reasonable inspections and audits. If a license agent violates any provision of this Article, the rules of the Commission, or the terms of the contract, the Secretary may initiate proceedings for the forfeiture of the license agent’s bond and may summarily suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a designation as a license agent and may impound or require the return of all licenses, moneys, record books, reports, license forms and other documents, ledgers, and materials pertinent or apparently pertinent to the license agency. The Secretary shall report evidence or misuse of State property, including license fees, by a license agent to the State Bureau of Investigation as provided by G.S. 143B-920.
2. License agents shall be compensated by adding a surcharge of one dollar ($1.00) to each license sold and retaining the surcharge. If more than one license is listed on a consolidated license form, the license agent shall be compensated as if a single license were sold. It is unlawful for a license agent to add more than the surcharge authorized by this section to the fee for each license sold.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1999-209, s. 3; 2001-213, s. 2; 2013-384, s. 1; 2014-100, s. 17.1(qq).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-384, s. 1, effective August 23, 2013, deleted the former second and third sentences of subsection (a), which read “At least one license agent shall be designated for each county that contains or borders on coastal fishing waters. The Secretary may designate additional license agents in any county if the Secretary determines that additional agents are needed to provide efficient service to the public.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 17.1(qq), effective July 1, 2014, substituted “G.S. 143B-920” for “G.S. 114-15.1” at the end of the last sentence of subsection (a).

§ 113-173. Recreational Commercial Gear License.

1. License Required. —  Except as provided in subsection (j) of this section, it is unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take fish for recreational purposes by means of commercial fishing equipment or gear in coastal fishing waters without holding a RCGL. As used in this section, fish are taken for recreational purposes if the fish are not taken for the purpose of sale. The RCGL entitles the licensee to use authorized commercial gear to take fish for personal use subject to recreational possession limits. It is unlawful for any person licensed under this section or fishing under a RCGL to possess fish in excess of recreational possession limits.
2. Sale of Fish Prohibited. —  It is unlawful for the holder of a RCGL or for a person who is exempt under subsection (j) of this section to sell fish taken under the RCGL or pursuant to the exemption.
3. Authorized Commercial Gear. —
   1. The Commission shall adopt rules authorizing the use of a limited amount of commercial fishing equipment or gear for recreational fishing under a RCGL. The Commission may authorize the limited use of commercial gear on a uniform basis in all coastal fishing waters or may vary the limited use of commercial gear within specified areas of the coastal fishing waters. The Commission shall periodically evaluate and revise the authorized use of commercial gear for recreational fishing. Authorized commercial gear shall be identified by visible colored tags or other means specified by the Commission in order to distinguish between commercial gear used in a commercial operation and commercial gear used for recreational purposes.
   2. A person who holds a RCGL may use up to 100 yards of gill net to take fish for recreational purposes. Two persons who each hold a RCGL and who are fishing from a single vessel may use up to a combined 200 yards of gill net to take fish for recreational purposes. No more than 200 yards of gill net may be used to take fish for recreational purposes from a single vessel regardless of the number of persons aboard the vessel who hold a RCGL.
4. Purchase; Renewal. —  A RCGL may be purchased at designated offices of the Division and from a license agent authorized under G.S. 113-172. A RCGL may be renewed by mail.
5. Replacement RCGL. —  The provisions of G.S. 113-168.1(h) apply to this section.
6. Duration; Fees. —  The RCGL shall be valid from the date of issue for a period of 12 months as defined by G.S. 113-270.1B(b) and G.S. 113-270.1B(c). The fee for a RCGL for a North Carolina resident shall be seventy dollars ($70.00). The fee for a RCGL for an individual who is not a North Carolina resident shall be five hundred dollars ($500.00).
7. RCGL Available for Inspection. —  It is unlawful for any person to engage in recreational fishing by means of restricted commercial gear in the State without having ready at hand for inspection a valid RCGL. A holder of a RCGL shall not refuse to exhibit the RCGL upon the request of an inspector or any other law enforcement officer authorized to enforce federal or State laws, regulations, or rules relating to marine fisheries.
8. Assignment and Transfer Prohibited. —  A RCGL is not transferable. Except as provided in subsection (j) of this section, it is unlawful to buy, sell, lend, borrow, assign, or otherwise transfer a RCGL, or to attempt to buy, sell, lend, borrow, assign, or otherwise transfer a RCGL.
9. Reporting Requirements. —  The holder of a RCGL shall comply with the biological data sampling and survey programs of the Commission and the Division.
10. Exemptions. —
    1. A person who is under 16 years of age may take fish for recreational purposes by means of authorized commercial gear without holding a RCGL if the person is accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian who holds a valid RCGL or if the person has in the person’s possession a valid RCGL issued to the person’s parent, grandparent, or guardian.
    2. A person may take crabs for recreational purposes by means of one or more crab pots attached to the shore along privately owned land or to a privately owned pier without holding a RCGL provided that the crab pots are attached with the permission of the owner of the land or pier.
    3. A person who is on a vessel may take fish for recreational purposes by means of authorized commercial gear without holding a RCGL if there is another person on the vessel who holds a valid RCGL. This exemption does not authorize the use of commercial gear in excess of that authorized for use by the person who holds the valid RCGL or, if more than one person on the vessel holds a RCGL, in excess of that authorized for use by those persons.
    4. A person using nonmechanical means may take shellfish for personal use within the limits specified in G.S. 113-169.2(i) without holding a RCGL.
    5. A person may take fish for recreational purposes by means of a gig without holding a RCGL.

History. 1997-400, s. 5.1; 1997-456, s. 55.7; 1998-225, s. 4.21; 1999-209, s. 9; 2000-139, s. 1; 2001-213, s. 2; 2003-340, s. 1.2; 2004-187, s. 4; 2005-455, s. 1.18; 2013-360, s. 14.8(m); 2014-100, ss. 14.9(g), 14.25(c).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.8A(a), provides: “The General Assembly finds that additional funding is necessary to support the Division of Marine Fisheries’ At-Sea Observer Program and for the continued viability of the commercial fishing industry in North Carolina.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(j), made the amendment to subsection (f) by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(g), applicable to fees collected for the 2015-2016 license year and all succeeding license years.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.’ ”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(m), effective August 1, 2013, in subsection (f), substituted “forty-three dollars and seventy-five cents ($43.75)” for “thirty-five dollars ($35.00)” and “three hundred twelve dollars and fifty cents ($312.50).”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.25(c), effective July 1, 2014, rewrote the first sentence in subdivision (f).

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(g), effective August 7, 2014, in subsection (f), substituted “seventy dollars ($70.00)” for “forty-three dollars and seventy-five cents ($43.75)” in the second sentence and “five hundred dollars ($500.00)” for “three hundred twelve dollars and fifty cents ($312.50)” in the third sentence. See Editor’s note for applicability.

§ 113-173.1. North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resource Fund.

1. Establishment. —  There is hereby established the North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resources Fund (Fund) as a nonreverting special revenue fund in the office of the State Treasurer. The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding for the development of sustainable commercial fishing in the State. The principal of the Fund shall consist of all of the following:
   1. Two hundred dollars ($200.00) from each Standard Commercial Fishing License issued pursuant to G.S. 113-168.2.
   2. One hundred dollars ($100.00) from each Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License issued pursuant to G.S. 113-168.3.
   3. Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) from each shellfish license issued pursuant to G.S. 113-169.2.
   4. Fifty dollars ($50.00) from each fish dealer license issued pursuant to G.S. 113-169.3.
   5. Two hundred dollars ($200.00) from each land or sell license issued pursuant to G.S. 113-169.5.
   6. Thirty-five dollars ($35.00) from each Recreational Commercial Gear License issued pursuant to G.S. 113-173.The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separate and apart from all other moneys, funds, and accounts. The State Treasurer shall invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 147-69.2, except that interest and other income received on the fund balance shall be treated as set forth in G.S. 147-69.1(d).
2. Use of Funds. —  The North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resource Fund created by this section shall be used only for the following purposes, in order of priority:
   1. First, the Fund shall fully fund the State’s incidental take permits for the commercial fishing industry under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-205) or the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-522).
   2. After the priority set forth in subdivision (1) of this section has been fully funded, the Fund may be used for other projects to develop and support sustainable commercial fishing in the State.
3. Procedure for Fund Disbursements. —  With respect to funds used pursuant to subdivision (b)(1) of this section, the State Treasurer shall disburse the principal of the Fund only upon the written direction of the Director of the Division. With respect to funds used pursuant to subdivision (b)(2) of this section, the State Treasurer shall disburse the principal of the Fund only upon the written direction of both the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Funding Committee established by subsection (d) of this section following the procedures set forth in the memorandum of understanding developed under subsection (f) of this section. In the event of a disagreement between the Commission and the Committee, the Secretary of Environmental Quality shall decide between the directions proposed by the Commission and by the Committee.
4. Funding Committee. —  The Funding Committee for the North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resource Fund (Committee) is established and shall consist of six members who shall serve staggered terms. Each of the following commercial fishing organizations shall appoint one member for an initial term as indicated and provide notice of that appointment in the manner set forth in G.S. 143-47.6:
   1. North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc., for a term of three years.
   2. North Carolina Watermen United, Inc., for a term of two years.
   3. Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association, for a term of one year.
   4. Brunswick County Fishermen’s Association, for a term of three years.
   5. Carteret County Fishermen’s Association, for a term of two years.
   6. Albemarle Fishermen’s Association, for a term of one year.Upon the expiration of the terms of the initial Committee members, each member shall be appointed by the appointing organizations designated in subdivisions (1) through (6) of this subsection for a three-year term and shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. Members may be reappointed, but no member may serve more than two consecutive full terms. The Committee shall elect annually a chair and other officers as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, who shall serve a term of one year corresponding to the calendar year.
5. Vacancies, Meetings, Quorum. —  Vacancies in the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The Committee may meet at any time upon the call of the chair. A quorum of the group shall consist of four members.
6. Memorandum of Understanding. —  The Marine Fisheries Commission and the Committee shall develop and implement a memorandum of understanding setting forth the procedures for agreeing to and authorizing the disbursements from the Fund created in this section for the purposes described by subdivision (b)(2) of this section.
7. Ethics. —  Members of the Committee are public servants as defined in sub-subdivision i. of subdivision (70) of G.S. 138A-3.

History. 2014-100, s. 14.9(i); 2015-241, s. 14.30(y); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b), 6.1.

Re-recodification; Technical and Conforming Changes.

Session Laws 2017-6, s. 3, provides, in part: “The Revisor of Statutes shall recodify Chapter 138A of the General Statutes, Chapter 120C of the General Statutes, as well as Chapter 163 of the General Statutes, as amended by this act, into a new Chapter 163A of the General Statutes to be entitled ‘Elections and Ethics Enforcement Act,’ as enacted by Section 4 of this act. The Revisor may also recodify into the new Chapter 163A of the General Statutes other existing statutory laws relating to elections and ethics enforcement that are located elsewhere in the General Statutes as the Revisor deems appropriate.” The Revisor was further authorized to make additional technical and conforming changes to catchlines, internal citations, and other references throughout the General Statutes to effectuate this recodification. Pursuant to this authority, the Revisor of Statutes substituted “sub-subdivision i. of subdivision (70) of G.S. 163A-152” for “sub-subdivision i. of subdivision (30) of G.S. 138A-3” in subsection (g).

Session Laws 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b) and 6.1, repealed Session Laws 2017-6, s. 3, and authorized the Revisor of Statutes to re-recodify Chapter 163A into Chapters 163, 138A, and 120C and to revert the changes made by the Revisor pursuant to Session Laws 2017-6, s. 3. Pursuant to this authority, the Revisor of Statutes reverted the change to the reference in subsection (g).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.8A(a), provides: “The General Assembly finds that additional funding is necessary to support the Division of Marine Fisheries’ At-Sea Observer Program and for the continued viability of the commercial fishing industry in North Carolina.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.’ ”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(y), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “Secretary of Environmental Quality” for “Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources” in subsection (c).

§ 113-174. Definitions.

As used in this Article:

1. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.2, effective January 1, 2007.
2. “CRFL” means Coastal Recreational Fishing License.
3. “Division” means the Division of Marine Fisheries in the Department of Environmental Quality.
4. “For Hire Vessel” means a charter boat, head boat, dive boat, or other vessel hired to allow individuals to engage in recreational fishing.
5. “North Carolina resident” means an individual who is a resident within the meaning of G.S. 113-130(4).
6. “Recreational fishing” means any activity preparatory to, during, or subsequent to the taking of any finfish, the taking of which is subject to regulation by the Marine Fisheries Commission, by any means if the purpose of the taking is to obtain finfish that are not to be sold. “Recreational fishing” does not include the taking of finfish:
   1. By a commercial fishing operation as defined in G.S. 113-168.
   2. For scientific purposes pursuant to G.S. 113-261.
   3. Under a RCGL issued pursuant to G.S. 113-173.
7. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.2, effective January 1, 2007.

History. 2004-187, s. 2; 2005-455, ss. 1.2, 1.19; 2013-360, s. 14.8(n); 2015-241, s. 14.30(u).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2004-187, provides in its preamble: “Whereas, the State of North Carolina has one of the most diverse fisheries in the United States; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes that for many citizens fishing is an important recreational activity and that saltwater fishing is a source of great personal enjoyment and satisfaction; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the importance of providing plentiful fishery resources to maintain and enhance tourism as a major contributor to the economy of the State; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes that commercial fishermen perform an essential function by providing wholesome food for the citizens of the State, nation, and world, and thereby properly earn a livelihood; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the economic contribution and important heritage of traditional full-time and part-time commercial fishing; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the need to protect our coastal fishery resources and to balance the commercial and recreational interests through better management of these resources; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly is Committed to the Continued viability of both recreational and commercial fishing industries in the state; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly finds that it is essential to the success of efforts to better manage fishery resources that both the recreational and commercial fishing sectors are involved in and support these efforts; Now, therefore,

“The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:”

Session Laws 2004-187, ss. 12(a)-(e), provide: “(a) The Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Fund shall develop a plan for the implementation of Section 2 of this act [which enacted this Article]. The plan shall provide that:

“(1) Licenses may be purchased or renewed via mail, electronic mail, the Internet, or telephone.

“(2) The licensing and renewal system shall be fully automated and shall allow for the purchase or

“(3) The licensing system shall not require individuals to hold a physical license.

“(4) Verification of licensure shall be accomplished by an individual providing only the individual’s name and residence address.

“(b) The Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Fund shall determine a date by which the plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section would be fully implemented.

“(c) The Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Fund shall study issues related to the establishment of a unified recreational fishing license for recreational fishing in both the inland and coastal fishing waters of the State. The Board shall make specific findings as to whether a unified licensing system should be adopted for recreational fishing in the State and, if so, what the system should be and how it should be implemented.

“(d) A report on the implementation plan, the determination of the date of full implementation, and the unified fishing license study required by subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture no later than April 15, 2005.

“(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 113-175.2 as enacted by Section 1 of this act, the requirement that members of the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Fund must have purchased a current Saltwater Fishing License at the time of appointment and the requirement that members of the Board of Trustees must continue to have a current Saltwater Fishing License in order to remain eligible to serve on the Board of Trustees shall not apply until such time as the Saltwater Fishing License becomes available.”

Session Laws 2004-187, s. 14, contains a severability clause.

Session Laws 2010-145, s. 1, provides: “The Marine Fisheries Commission shall adopt rules pursuant to and consistent with G.S. 113-171, as amended by Section 2 of this act [which amended subsection (b) and repealed subsections (c) and (d) relating to loss or suspension of a license for criminal convictions], and G.S. 143B-289.52 for the suspension, revocation, and reissuance of marine resources licenses and permits issued under Articles 14A, 14B, and 25A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall not become effective prior to October 1, 2012. In adopting rules pursuant to this section, the Commission shall consider all of the following:

“(1) Whether the rules should differentiate between minor and major violations.

“(2) How to define minor and major violations.

“(3) How service of revocation could be made more efficient.

“(4) How the rules should treat violations related to recreational fishing licenses and permits.

“(5) Whether violations related to littering or assault on a marine patrol inspector should be treated as grounds for suspension or revocation.

“(6) Whether suspension and revocation provisions should be strengthened in cases of harvesting shellfish from polluted waters.”

Session Laws 2012-190, s. 1, provides: “(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide funding for the dredging and maintenance of the State’s coastal inlets from fees charged to those who make use of the inlets.

“(b) In order to identify possible sources of funds for the purposes set out in subsection (a) of this section, the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission, and the Deputy Secretary for Transit of the Department of Transportation shall jointly study the fees associated with the issuance of coastal fishing licenses pursuant to Chapter 113 of the General Statutes and the numbering and titling of vessels pursuant to Chapter 75A of the General Statutes.

“(1) For coastal fishing licenses, the Director and Executive Director shall specifically:

“a. Identify all types of fishing licenses issued for the purpose of taking fish in coastal fishing waters, both recreational and commercial.

“b. Identify the fees associated with these licenses.

“c. Identify the analogous licenses issued and fees charged by states with fisheries profiles similar to those of North Carolina, including at least South Carolina and Virginia.

“d. Recommend several levels of increases in the license fees and calculate the amount of revenue that would be generated by the different levels of increase.

“e. Identify any limitations under State or federal law on the use of license fees for purposes not related to the management of marine fisheries.

“(2) For the numbering and titling of vessels, the Executive Director shall specifically:

“a. Identify all requirements for the numbering and titling of vessels.

“b. Determine whether there is a method for differentiating between vessels that are used predominantly in coastal fishing waters versus those that are used predominantly in inland fishing waters.

“c. Identify the fees associated with the numbering and titling of vessels.

“d. Identify the analogous vessel numbering and titling requirements and fees charged by states with coastal boating profiles similar to those of North Carolina, including at least South Carolina and Virginia.

“e. Recommend several levels of increases in the fees associated with the numbering and titling of vessels and calculate the amount of revenue that would be generated by the different levels of increase.

“f. Identify any limitations under State or federal law on the use of fees associated with the numbering and titling of vessels.

“(3) The Director and the Executive Director shall examine all other sources of funding, including the gas tax.

“(c) The Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission, and the Deputy Secretary for Transit of the Department of Transportation shall jointly submit a report on the study required by subsection (b) of this section to the Legislative Research Commission’s Committee on Marine Fisheries no later than September 1, 2012.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.2, effective January 1, 2007, rewrote this section.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(n), effective August 1, 2013, substituted “vessel” for “boat” twice in subdivision (2a).

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(u), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “Department of Environmental Quality” for “Department of Environment and Natural Resources” in subdivision (2).

§ 113-174.1. License required; general provisions governing licenses.

1. License Required to Engage in Recreational Fishing. —  It is unlawful for any individual to engage in recreational fishing in:
   1. Coastal fishing waters that are not joint fishing waters without holding a current license issued under this Article or under Article 25A of this Chapter that authorizes the individual to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters.
   2. Joint fishing waters without holding a current license issued under this Article or under Article 21 or Article 25A of this Chapter that authorizes the individual to engage in recreational fishing in joint fishing waters.
2. Compliance With Applicable Laws. —  It is unlawful for any individual to engage in recreational fishing without complying with applicable requirements of this Article and Articles 21 and 25A of this Chapter and with applicable rules adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission.
3. Fourth of July Free Fishing Day. —  The fourth day of July of each year is declared a free fishing day to promote the sport of fishing, and no license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter is required to fish in any of the public waters of the State on that day. All other laws and rules pertaining to recreational fishing apply.
4. Sale of Fish Prohibited. —  A license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter does not authorize an individual who takes or lands any species of fish under the authority of the Marine Fisheries Commission to sell, offer for sale, barter, or exchange the fish for anything of value. Except as provided in G.S. 113-168.4, it is unlawful for any individual who takes or lands any species of fish under the authority of the Marine Fisheries Commission by any means to sell, offer for sale, barter, or exchange these fish for anything of value.
5. Assignment and Transfer Prohibited. —  It is unlawful to buy, sell, lend, borrow, assign, or otherwise transfer a license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter or to attempt to buy, sell, lend, borrow, assign, or otherwise transfer a license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter.
6. , (e) Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.3, effective January 1, 2007.
7. Cancellation of Fraudulent License; Penalties. —  The Wildlife Resources Commission may cancel a license issued by the Commission under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter if the license was issued on the basis of false information supplied by the license applicant. The Division may cancel a For Hire Blanket License issued under G.S. 113-174.3 if the license was issued on the basis of false information supplied by the license applicant. A cancelled license is void from the date of issuance. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for an individual to knowingly do any of the following:
   1. Engage in any activity regulated under this Article with an improper, false, or altered license.
   2. Make any false, fraudulent, or misleading statement in applying for a license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter.
   3. Counterfeit, alter, or falsify any application or license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter.
8. Reporting Requirements. —  A person licensed under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter shall comply with the biological data sampling and survey programs of the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Division.
9. Replacement Licenses. —  Upon receipt of a proper application together with a fee of five dollars ($5.00), the Wildlife Resources Commission or the Division may issue a new license to replace one issued by the respective agency that has been lost or destroyed before its expiration. The application must be on a form of the Wildlife Resources Commission or the Division setting forth information in sufficient detail to allow ready identification of the lost or destroyed license and ascertainment of the applicant’s continued entitlement to it.

History. 2004-187, s. 2; 2005-455, ss. 1.3, 1.19; 2016-94, s. 14.8.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.3, effective January 1, 2007, rewrote the section.

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.8, effective July 1, 2016, in the second sentence of subsection (f), substituted “For Hire Blanket License” for “For Hire Blanket CRFL” near the beginning, and deleted “or an Ocean Fishing Pier Blanket CRFL issued under G.S. 113-174.4” near the middle.

§ 113-174.2. Coastal Recreational Fishing License.

1. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.
2. Authorization to Fish in Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters. —  A CRFL issued under this section authorizes the licensee to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters, including joint fishing waters. A CRFL issued under this section does not authorize the licensee to fish in inland fishing waters.
3. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.
4. Types of CRFLs; Fees; Duration. —  The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue the following CRFLs:
   1. Annual Resident CRFL. —  $15.00. This license is valid from the date of issue for a period of 12 months as defined by G.S. 113-270.1B(b) and G.S. 113-270.1B(c). This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State.
   2. Annual Nonresident CRFL. —  $30.00. This license is valid from the date of issue for a period of 12 months as defined by G.S. 113-270.1B(b) and G.S. 113-270.1B(c). This license shall be issued only to an individual who is not a resident of the State.
   3. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.
   4. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.
   5. Ten-Day Resident CRFL. —  $5.00. This license is valid for a period of 10 consecutive days, as indicated on the license. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State.
   6. Ten-Day Nonresident CRFL. —  $10.00. This license is valid for a period of 10 consecutive days, as indicated on the license. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is not a resident of the State.
   7. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.
   8. Lifetime CRFLs. —  Except as provided in sub-subdivision j. of this subdivision, CRFLs issued under this subdivision are valid for the lifetime of the licensee.
      1. -d. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.
5. Exemptions. —  An individual is exempt from the license requirements of G.S. 113-174.1(a) if the individual either:
   1. Is under 16 years of age.
   2. Holds any of the following licenses that were purchased prior to January 1, 2006:
      1. Infant Lifetime Sportsman License issued under G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(1).
      2. Youth Lifetime Sportsman License issued under G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(2).
      3. Adult Resident Lifetime Sportsman License issued under G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(3).
      4. Nonresident Lifetime Sportsman License issued under G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(4).
      5. Age 70 Resident Lifetime Sportsman License issued under G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(5).
      6. Lifetime Resident Comprehensive Fishing License issued under G.S. 113-271(d)(3).
      7. Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License for Disabled Residents issued under G.S. 113-270.1C(b)(4).
      8. Disabled Resident Sportsman License issued under G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(6).
   3. Holds any of the following licenses:
      1. Lifetime Fishing License for the Legally Blind issued under G.S. 113-271(d)(7).
      2. Adult Care Home Resident Fishing License issued under G.S. 113-271(d)(8).

e. Infant Lifetime CRFL. — $100.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual younger than one year of age.

f. Youth Lifetime CRFL. — $150.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is one year of age or older but younger than 12 years of age.

g. Resident Adult Lifetime CRFL. — $250.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 12 years of age or older but younger than 70 years of age and who is a resident of the State.

h. Nonresident Adult Lifetime CRFL. — $500.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 12 years of age or older and who is not a resident of the State.

i. Resident Age 70 Lifetime CRFL. — $15.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 70 years of age or older and who is a resident of the State.

j. Resident Disabled Veteran CRFL. — $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or as established by G.S. 113-351(c)(3)(f). This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled.

k. Resident Totally Disabled CRFL. — $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or as established by G.S. 113-351(c)(3)(g).

History. 2004-187, s. 2; 2005-455, ss. 1.4, 1.19; 2006-79, s. 1; 2013-283, s. 11; 2014-100, s. 14.25(b).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 21, effective August 1, 2014, provides: “All discounted licenses for persons at least 65 years of age provided for in G.S. 113-270.1D(b), 113-271(d), 113-351(c), and 113-174.2(c) for which the age requirement is increased from 65 to 70 by Sections 2, 7, 10, and 11 of this act shall remain available at age 65 for all persons who were born on or before August 1, 1953.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007, rewrote the section.

Session Laws 2006-79, s. 1, effective July 10, 2006, substituted “Resident Age 65” for “Resident Elderly” in subdivision (c)(6)i.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 11, effective August 1, 2014, substituted “70” for “65” in sub-subdivisions (c)(6)g. once, and (c)(6)i. twice.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.25(b), effective July 1, 2014, in subsection (c), rewrote the first sentence in subdivisions (c)(1) and (c)(1a), added “or as established by G.S. 113-351(c)(3)(f)” at the end of the first sentence in subdivision (c)(6)j., and added “or as established by G.S. 113-351(c)(3)(g)” at the end of the first sentence in subdivision (c)(6)k.

§ 113-174.3. For-Hire Licenses.

1. , (b) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(o), effective August 1, 2013.
2. License. —  It is unlawful for a person to engage in a for-hire operation without having obtained one of the following licenses issued by the Division:
   1. Blanket For-Hire Captain’s CRFL. —  This license allows individuals properly licensed by the United States Coast Guard to carry passengers on any vessel with a commercial vessel registration with a for-hire endorsement. A Blanket For-Hire Captain’s CRFL authorizes all individuals on the for-hire vessel who do not hold a license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters that are not joint fishing waters. The resident fees for a Blanket For-Hire Captain’s CRFL are two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for a vessel carrying six or fewer passengers and three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) for a vessel carrying more than six passengers. The nonresident fees for a Blanket For-Hire Captain’s CRFL are three hundred twelve dollars and fifty cents ($312.50) for a vessel carrying six or fewer passengers and four hundred thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($437.50) for a vessel carrying more than six passengers. Any vessel whose operator is licensed under this subdivision and that is engaged in for-hire fishing must obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration with a for-hire endorsement.
   2. Blanket For-Hire Vessel CRFL. —  This license allows any United States Coast Guard licensed operator to carry passengers aboard the licensed vessel. A Blanket For-Hire Vessel CRFL authorizes all individuals on the for-hire vessel who do not hold a license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters that are not joint fishing waters. The resident fees for a Blanket For-Hire Vessel CRFL are two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for a vessel carrying six or fewer passengers and three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) for a vessel carrying more than six passengers. The nonresident fees for a Blanket For-Hire Vessel CRFL are three hundred twelve dollars and fifty cents ($312.50) for a vessel carrying six or fewer passengers and four hundred thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($437.50) for a vessel carrying more than six passengers. Any vessel whose operator is licensed under this subdivision and that is engaged in for-hire fishing is not required to obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration with a for-hire endorsement.
   3. Non-Blanket For-Hire Vessel License. —  This license allows any United States Coast Guard licensed operator to carry passengers aboard the licensed vessel. This license does not authorize individuals aboard the vessel to engage in recreational fishing unless they hold an individual CRFL issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter. The fee for the Non-Blanket For-Hire Vessel License is twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for a vessel operated by a resident operator and thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($37.50) for a vessel operated by a nonresident operator. Any vessel whose operator is licensed under this subdivision and that is engaged in for-hire fishing is not required to obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration with a for-hire endorsement.
3. A license issued under this section does not authorize individuals to engage in recreational fishing in joint fishing waters or inland fishing waters. All for-hire licenses expire on the last day of the license year.
4. Repealed by Session Laws 2015-201, s. 1, effective August 5, 2015.

History. 2005-455, s. 1.5; 2006-255, s. 7; 2006-259, s. 20.5; 2013-360, s. 14.8(o); 2015-201, s. 1.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2006-255, s. 7, effective August 23, 2006, in the introductory language of subsection (a), substituted “Division for the for hire boat” for “Division” at the end of the first sentence, and substituted “A For Hire Blanket CRFL” for “This license” at the beginning of the next to the last sentence.

Session Laws 2006-259, s. 20.5, effective August 23, 2006, rewrote subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2).

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(o), effective August 1, 2013, rewrote the section heading, which formerly read “For Hire Blanket CRFL”; deleted subsections (a) and (b); and added subsections (c), (d), and (e).

Session Laws 2015-201, s. 1, effective August 5, 2015, repealed subsection (e), which read: “Each individual who obtains a for-hire license shall submit to the Division logbooks summarizing catch and effort statistical data to the Division. The Commission may adopt rules that determine the means and methods to satisfy the requirements of this subsection.”

§ 113-174.4. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(p), effective August 1, 2013.

History. 2005-455, s. 1.5; repealed by 2013-360, s. 14.8(p), effective August 1, 2013.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-174.4 pertained to Ocean Fishing Pier Blanket CRFL.

§ 113-174.5. Blocks of 10 Ten-Day Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses.

1. The owner of a vessel that is 23 feet or more in length and that is either documented with the United States Coast Guard or registered with the Wildlife Resources Commission pursuant to G.S. 75A-4 may purchase a block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs issued by the Division. A vessel owner who wishes to obtain a block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs shall provide the Division with all information required by the Division, including information identifying the vessel on which the Ten-Day CRFLs will be used. Each individual Ten-Day CRFL shall identify the vessel for which the block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs is issued. An individual Ten-Day CRFL issued as part of a block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs may only be used on the vessel for which it was issued. An individual Ten-Day CRFL issued as part of a block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs may not be used on a for hire vessel. A block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs shall expire two years from the date of purchase.
2. The fee for a block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs is one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). An individual Ten-Day CRFL issued as part of a block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs is valid for a period of 10 consecutive days beginning on the date that the license information is recorded as provided by subsection (c) of this section.
3. Prior to any recreational fishing occurring under the authority of an individual Ten-Day CRFL issued as part of a block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs, the vessel owner who purchased the block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs shall record the date fishing activity will begin and the name, address, telephone number, and date of birth of the individual who will be fishing under the authority of the individual Ten-Day CRFL.
4. A vessel owner who purchases a block of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs shall comply with all data and information reporting requirements of the Division.
5. A vessel owner who fails to comply with any of the requirements governing the issuance, use, recording, or reporting of blocks of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs will be ineligible to purchase any additional blocks of 10 Ten-Day CRFLs for a period of two years from the date of noncompliance.

History. 2008-141, s. 1; 2013-360, s. 14.8(q).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(q), effective August 1, 2013, substituted “vessel” for “boat” in the fifth sentence of subsection (a).

§ 113-175. Definitions.

As used in this Article:

1. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 2.2, effective January 1, 2006.
2. “Endowment Fund” means the North Carolina Marine Resources Endowment Fund.
3. “Endowment investment income” means interest and other income earned from the investment of the principal of the Endowment Fund.
4. “Endowment license revenues” means the net proceeds from the sale of licenses issued under G.S. 113-174.2(c)(6) and a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of licenses issued under G.S. 113-351(c)(3) and (4). The apportionment of the net proceeds from the sale of licenses issued under G.S. 113-351(c)(3) and (4) shall be jointly determined by the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources Commission. In the event that the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources Commission cannot agree on the apportionment, the Governor is authorized to determine the apportionment.
5. “Marine Resources Fund” means the North Carolina Marine Resources Fund.
6. “Marine resources investment income” means interest earned from the investment of the principal of the Marine Resources Fund.
7. “Marine resources license revenues” means the net proceeds from the sale of licenses issued under Article 14B of this Chapter and a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of licenses issued under Article 25A of this Chapter, excluding endowment license revenues. The apportionment of the net proceeds from the sale of licenses issued under Article 25A of this Chapter shall be jointly determined by the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources Commission. In the event that the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources Commission cannot agree on the apportionment, the Governor is authorized to determine the apportionment.

History. 2004-187, s. 1; 2005-455, s. 2.2.

Editor’s Note.

The preamble to Session Laws 2004-187 provides: “Whereas, the State of North Carolina has one of the most diverse fisheries in the United States; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes that for many citizens fishing is an important recreational activity and that saltwater fishing is a source of great personal enjoyment and satisfaction; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the importance of providing plentiful fishery resources to maintain and enhance tourism as a major contributor to the economy of the State; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes that commercial fishermen perform an essential function by providing wholesome food for the citizens of the State, nation, and world, and thereby properly earn a livelihood; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the economic contribution and important heritage of traditional full-time and part-time commercial fishing; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the need to protect our coastal fishery resources and to balance the commercial and recreational interests through better management of these resources; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly is committed to the continued viability of both recreational and commercial fishing industries in the State; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly intends that the commercial fishing industry be allowed to continue to take fish by means of all methods traditionally employed in commercial fishing operations, including the use of nets and trawls, subject to federal and State law and rules adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission pursuant to G.S. 143B-289.52; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly finds that in order to protect coastal fishery resources, it is essential that the recreational as well as the commercial fishing sectors provide data on use of fishery resources for the development of scientifically valid plans to manage fishery resources; and

“Whereas, the General Assembly finds that it is essential to the success of efforts to better manage fishery resources that both the recreational and commercial fishing sectors are involved in and support these efforts; Now, therefore,”

Session Laws 2004-187, s. 14, contains a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 2.2, effective January 1, 2006, rewrote the Article heading, which formerly read: “North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Fund” and rewrote the section.

§ 113-175.1. North Carolina Marine Resources Fund.

1. There is hereby established the North Carolina Marine Resources Fund as a nonreverting special revenue fund in the office of the State Treasurer. The purpose of the Marine Resources Fund is to enhance the marine resources of the State. The principal of the Marine Resources Fund shall consist of:
   1. Marine resources license revenues.
   2. Proceeds of any gifts, grants, and contributions to the State that are specifically designated for inclusion in the Marine Resources Fund.
   3. Funds realized from the sale, lease, rental, or other grant of rights to real or personal property acquired or produced from funds disbursed from the Marine Resources Fund.
   4. Federal aid project reimbursements to the extent that funds disbursed from the Marine Resources Fund originally funded the project for which the reimbursement is made.
2. The State Treasurer shall hold the Marine Resources Fund separate and apart from all other moneys, funds, and accounts. The State Treasurer shall invest the assets of the Marine Resources Fund in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 147-69.2 and G.S. 147-69.3, and all marine resources investment income shall be deposited to the credit of the Marine Resources Fund. The State Treasurer shall disburse the principal of the Marine Resources Fund and marine resources investment income only upon the written direction of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality.
3. The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality may authorize the disbursement of the principal of the Marine Resources Fund and marine resources investment income only to manage, protect, restore, develop, cultivate, conserve, and enhance the marine resources of the State. The Division of Marine Fisheries may not authorize the disbursement of the principal of the Marine Resources Fund and marine resources investment income to establish positions without specific authorization from the General Assembly. Prior to authorizing disbursements from the Marine Resources Fund, the Division of Marine Fisheries shall consult with the Wildlife Resources Commission about these proposals. Expenditure of the assets of the Marine Resources Fund shall be made through the State budget accounts of the Division of Marine Fisheries in accordance with the provisions of the Executive Budget Act. The Marine Resources Fund is subject to the oversight of the State Auditor pursuant to Article 5A of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes.
4. To enhance fishing opportunities, the Marine Resources Fund may be used to construct artificial reefs in the estuarine and ocean waters of the State and federal waters up to 20 nautical miles from land.

History. 2004-187, s. 1; 2005-455, s. 2.3; 2011-145, s. 13.18; 2013-360, s. 14.9(a), (b); 2017-57, ss. 13.15(c), 13.16.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 2.3, effective January 1, 2006, rewrote the section.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.18, effective July 1, 2011, added the second sentence in subsection (c).

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.9(a), (b), effective July 1, 2013, in subsection (b), deleted “both” preceding “the Marine Fisheries” and “and the Wildlife Resources Commission” from the end; and in subsection (c), deleted “and the Wildlife Resources Commission” following “Fisheries Commission” throughout, added the fifth sentence, and made a stylistic change.

Session Laws 2017-57, ss. 13.15(c) and 13.16, effective July 1, 2017, substituted “the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality” for “both the Marine Fisheries Commission” in subsection (b); rewrote subsection (c); and added subsection (d).

§§ 113-175.2 through 113-175.4. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, ss. 2.4 through 2.6, effective January 1, 2006.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2004-124, s. 12.16(b), provides: “(b) If House Bill 831, 2003 Regular Session [S.L. 2004-187], becomes law, then of the funds appropriated to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, the Division of Marine Fisheries may use up to four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) to implement the provisions of House Bill 831, and notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 113-175.3, as enacted by Section 1 of House Bill 831, the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Fund may use up to three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) to implement the provisions of House Bill 831. It is the intent of the General Assembly that all of the funds appropriated under this subsection are onetime funds. Notwithstanding G.S. 113-175.3, as enacted by Section 1 of House Bill 831, the Board of Trustees shall repay all of the funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection to the General Fund by 1 July 2008.”

§ 113-175.5. North Carolina Marine Resources Endowment Fund.

1. There is hereby established the North Carolina Marine Resources Endowment Fund as a nonreverting special revenue fund in the office of the State Treasurer. The purpose of the Endowment Fund is to provide the citizens and residents of the State with the opportunity to invest in the future of the marine resources of the State. The principal of the Endowment Fund shall consist of:
   1. Endowment license revenues.
   2. Proceeds of any gifts, grants, or contributions to the State that are specifically designated for inclusion in the Endowment Fund.
   3. Proceeds of any gifts, grants, or contributions to the Marine Fisheries Commission or the Division of Marine Fisheries that are not specifically designated for another purpose.
   4. Funds realized from the sale, lease, rental, or other grant of rights to real or personal property acquired or produced from endowment investment income.
   5. Federal aid project reimbursements to the extent that endowment investment income originally funded the project for which the reimbursement is made.
   6. Transfers to the Endowment Fund.
   7. Any endowment investment income or marine resources license revenue that is credited to the Endowment Fund for the purpose of increasing the principal of the Endowment Fund.
2. The State Treasurer shall hold the Endowment Fund separate and apart from all other moneys, funds, and accounts. The State Treasurer shall invest the assets of the Endowment Fund in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 147-69.2 and G.S. 147-69.3. The State Treasurer shall disburse the endowment investment income only upon the written direction of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality.
3. Subject to the limitations set out in subsection (d) of this section, the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality may authorize the disbursement of endowment investment income only to manage, protect, restore, develop, cultivate, conserve, and enhance the marine resources of the State. The Division of Marine Fisheries may not authorize the disbursement of endowment investment income to establish positions without specific authorization from the General Assembly. Prior to authorizing disbursements from the Marine Resources Endowment Fund, the Division of Marine Fisheries shall consult with the Wildlife Resources Commission about funding requests.
4. The Endowment Fund is declared to constitute a special trust derived from a contractual relationship between the State and the members of the public whose investments contribute to the Endowment Fund. In recognition of this special trust, all of the following limitations are placed on disbursement of funds held in the Endowment Fund:
   1. Any restrictions specified by the donors on the uses of income derived from gifts, grants, and voluntary contributions shall be respected but shall not be binding.
   2. No disbursements of the endowment investment income derived from the endowment license revenues generated by the sale of Infant Lifetime CRFLs under G.S. 113-174.2(c)(6)e., Youth Lifetime CRFLs under G.S. 113-174.2(c)(6)f., Infant Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses under G.S. 113-351(c)(3)a., or Youth Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses under G.S. 113-351(c)(3)b. shall be made for any purpose until the respective licensees attain the age of 16 years. The State Treasurer shall periodically make an actuarial determination as to the amount of endowment investment income within the Endowment Fund that remains encumbered by the restriction of this subdivision and the amount that is free of the restriction. The Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission shall provide the State Treasurer with the information necessary to make this determination.
   3. No disbursement shall be made from the principal of the Endowment Fund except as otherwise provided by law.
5. Expenditure of the endowment investment income shall be made through the State budget accounts of the Division of Marine Fisheries in accordance with the provisions of the Executive Budget Act. The Endowment Fund is subject to the oversight of the State Auditor pursuant to Article 5A of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes.

History. 2005-455, s. 2.7; 2013-360, s. 14.9(c), (d); 2017-57, s. 13.15(d).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.9(c), (d), effective July 1, 2013, deleted “and the Wildlife Resources Commission” from the end of subsection (b), ; and, in subsection (c), deleted “and the Wildlife Resources Commission” following “Fisheries Commission” throughout, and added the last sentence.

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13.15(d), effective July 1, 2017, substituted “the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality” for “ both the Marine Fisheries Commission” in subsection (b); and rewrote subsection (c).

§ 113-175.6. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2015-286, s. 4.12.(a), effective October 22, 2015.

History. 2005-455, s. 2.7; 2011-291, s. 2.26; repealed by 2015-286, s. 4.12(a), effective October 22, 2015.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-175.6 pertained to report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2011-291, s. 2.26, effective June 24, 2011, substituted “Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations” for “Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture.”

§§ 113-176 through 113-180.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 113-181. Duties and powers of Department.

1. It is the duty of the Department to administer and enforce the provisions of this Subchapter pertaining to the conservation of marine and estuarine resources. In execution of this duty, the Department may collect such statistics, market information, and research data as is necessary or useful to the promotion of sports and commercial fisheries in North Carolina and the conservation of marine and estuarine resources generally; conduct or contract for research programs or research and development programs applicable to resources generally and to methods of cultivating, harvesting, marketing, or processing fish as may be beneficial in achieving the objectives of this Subchapter; enter into reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions with regard to the conservation of marine and estuarine resources; and regulate placement of nets and other sports or commercial fishing apparatus in coastal fishing waters with regard to navigational and recreational safety as well as from a conservation standpoint.
2. The Department is directed to make every reasonable effort to carry out the duties imposed in this Subchapter.

History. 1915, c. 84, s. 5; 1917, c. 290, s. 10; C.S., s. 1883; 1953, c. 1086; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1987, c. 827, s. 101.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.11(a), (b), provides: “(a) The Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission shall develop and implement an agreement that includes at least all of the following provisions:

“(1) Provisions to authorize the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol to perform any needed boating safety inspection.

“(2) To avoid the duplication of enforcement activities by the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol and the Wildlife Resources Commission law enforcement officers, a schedule for high-volume areas that is developed to take into account that the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol must confine their enforcement activities to the coastal waters.

“(3) To further encourage more efficient management of the State’s resources, a protocol that sets forth appropriate circumstances when the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol is authorized or required to investigate boating accidents in coastal waters and within the joint jurisdiction of the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources Commission.

“(4) A provision to prohibit, except in the instances of investigations of boating accidents, the Division of Marine Fisheries from receiving any federal boating safety funds.

“(5) A provision to provide mutual aid that authorizes the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol to enter into inland waters in winter to conduct a normal investigation of suspected illegal netting activity.

“(b) No later than April 1, 2014, the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Wildlife Resources Commission shall submit a joint report to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division. The report shall include any findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals. The report shall include findings regarding at least the following issues:

“(1) Whether the agreement developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section has been successful from the perspective of the Division of Marine Fisheries, the Wildlife Resources Commission and the public in clarifying enforcement activities and reducing the duplication of enforcement activities by the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol and the Wildlife Resources Commission law enforcement officers.

“(2) As an alternative to the agreement developed under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, whether it would be preferable to confer law enforcement powers upon the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol to authorize the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol to engage in enforcement activity related to only fisheries under the jurisdiction of the Division of Marine Fisheries or subject to the management of the Division of Marine Fisheries.

“(3) Any other issue the Division of Marine Fisheries or the Wildlife Resources Commission deems pertinent to include in the report.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.’ ”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 1.2, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2016.’ ”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2016-2017 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.7, is a severability clause.

§ 113-182. Regulation of fishing and fisheries.

1. The Marine Fisheries Commission is authorized to authorize, license, regulate, prohibit, prescribe, or restrict all forms of marine and estuarine resources in coastal fishing waters with respect to:
   1. Time, place, character, or dimensions of any methods or equipment that may be employed in taking fish;
   2. Seasons for taking fish;
   3. Size limits on and maximum quantities of fish that may be taken, possessed, bailed to another, transported, bought, sold, or given away.
2. The Marine Fisheries Commission is authorized to authorize, regulate, prohibit, prescribe, or restrict and the Department is authorized to license:
   1. The opening and closing of coastal fishing waters, except as to inland game fish, whether entirely or only as to the taking of particular classes of fish, use of particular equipment, or as to other activities within the jurisdiction of the Department; and
   2. The possession, cultivation, transportation, importation, exportation, sale, purchase, acquisition, and disposition of all marine and estuarine resources and all related equipment, implements, vessels, and conveyances as necessary to implement the work of the Department in carrying out its duties.
   3. The possession, transportation, importation, exportation, sale, purchase, acquisition, and disposition of all fish taken in the Atlantic Ocean out to a distance of 200 miles from the State’s mean low watermark, consistent with the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq., as amended.

History. 1915, c. 84, s. 21; 1917, c. 290, s. 7; C.S., s. 1878; 1925, c. 168, s. 2; 1935, c. 35; 1945, c. 776; 1953, cc. 774, 1251; 1961, c. 1189, s. 1; 1963, c. 1097, s. 1; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1995, c. 507, s. 26.5(c); 1997-400, s. 6.6.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.10A(a)-(e), provides: “(a) The Division of Marine Fisheries and Division of Coastal Management of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [Department of Environmental Quality] shall, in consultation with representatives of nongovernmental conservation organizations working on oyster restoration, create a new permitting process specifically designed for oyster restoration projects that apply to oyster restoration projects instead of a major development permit under G.S. 113A-118. The Department shall submit its report, including recommended legislation, to the Environmental Review Commission no later than May 1, 2016.

“(b) Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Coastal Resources Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall implement 15A NCAC 03O .0503(g) (Scientific or Educational Activity Permit) as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Notwithstanding 15A NCAC 03O .0503(g) (Scientific or Educational Activity Permit), the Division of Marine Fisheries may issue a scientific or educational activity permit for approved activities conducted by or under the direction of a nongovernmental conservation organization in addition to a scientific or educational institution. For purposes of this section, a nongovernmental conservation organization is defined as an organization whose primary mission is the conservation of natural resources.

“(d) The Environmental Management Commission shall adopt rules to amend 15A NCAC 03O .0503(g) and any other cross-referenced rules consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this subsection shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1) as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided by G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) This section is effective when this act becomes law [September 18, 2015]. Subsection (c) of this section expires on the date that rules adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2015.’ ”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.6, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2017-190, s. 3.1(a)-(e), provides: “(a) Definitions. — “Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule” means 15A NCAC 03I.0104 (Introduce, Transfer or Hold Imported Marine and Estuarine Organisms) for purposes of this section and its implementation.

“(b) Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule. — Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission and the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality shall implement the Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule, as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. — Use of American eels imported from Virginia or South Carolina in an aquaculture operation is exempt from the permitting requirements of the Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule.

“(d) Additional Rule-Making Authority. — The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission, pursuant to this section, shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1) as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided by G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Sunset. — This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

OPINIONS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Marine Fisheries Commission has the power to regulate North Carolina vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the Marine Patrol has the power to cite those vessels in the EEZ; the Marine Patrol has both subject matter jurisdiction and territorial jurisdiction over State registered vessels in the EEZ, subject to certain restrictions. See opinion of Attorney General to Colonel B. M. Rivenbark, N.C. Marine Patrol Division of Marine Fisheries, 1998 N.C. Op. Att'y Gen. 16 (3/9/98).

§ 113-182.1. Fishery Management Plans.

1. The Department shall prepare proposed Fishery Management Plans for adoption by the Marine Fisheries Commission for all commercially or recreationally significant species or fisheries that comprise State marine or estuarine resources. Proposed Fishery Management Plans shall be developed in accordance with the Priority List, Schedule, and guidance criteria established by the Marine Fisheries Commission under G.S. 143B-289.52.
2. The goal of the plans shall be to ensure the long-term viability of the State’s commercially and recreationally significant species or fisheries. Each plan shall be designed to reflect fishing practices so that one plan may apply to a specific fishery, while other plans may be based on gear or geographic areas. Each plan shall:
   1. Contain necessary information pertaining to the fishery or fisheries, including management goals and objectives, status of relevant fish stocks, stock assessments for multiyear species, fishery habitat and water quality considerations consistent with Coastal Habitat Protection Plans adopted pursuant to G.S. 143B-279.8, social and economic impact of the fishery to the State, and user conflicts.
   2. Recommend management actions pertaining to the fishery or fisheries.
   3. Include conservation and management measures that will provide the greatest overall benefit to the State, particularly with respect to food production, recreational opportunities, and the protection of marine ecosystems, and that will produce a sustainable harvest.
   4. Repealed by Session Laws 2010-13, s. 1, effective June 23, 2010.
   5. Specify a time period, not to exceed two years from the date of the adoption of the plan, to end overfishing. This subdivision shall not apply if the Fisheries Director determines that the biology of the fish, environmental conditions, or lack of sufficient data make implementing the requirements of this subdivision incompatible with professional standards for fisheries management.
   6. Specify a time period, not to exceed 10 years from the date of the adoption of the plan, for achieving a sustainable harvest. This subdivision shall not apply if the Fisheries Director determines that the biology of the fish, environmental conditions, or lack of sufficient data make implementing the requirements of this subdivision incompatible with professional standards for fisheries management.
   7. Include a standard of at least fifty percent (50%) probability of achieving sustainable harvest for the fishery or fisheries. This subdivision shall not apply if the Fisheries Director determines that the biology of the fish, environmental conditions, or lack of sufficient data make implementing the requirements of this subdivision incompatible with professional standards for fisheries management.
3. To assist in the development of each Fishery Management Plan, the Chair of the Marine Fisheries Commission shall appoint a fishery management plan advisory committee. Each fishery management plan advisory committee shall be composed of commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, and scientists, all with expertise in the fishery for which the Fishery Management Plan is being developed.
4. The Department shall consult with the regional advisory committees established pursuant to G.S. 143B-289.57(e) regarding the preparation of each Fishery Management Plan. Before submission of a plan for review by the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the Department shall review any comment or recommendation regarding the plan that a regional advisory committee submits to the Department within the time limits established in the Schedule for the development and adoption of Fishery Management Plans established by G.S. 143B-289.52. Before the Commission adopts a management measure to implement a plan, the Commission shall review any comment or recommendation regarding the management measure that a regional advisory committee submits to the Commission.
5. Each Fishery Management Plan shall be reviewed at least once every five years. The Marine Fisheries Commission may revise the Priority List and guidance criteria whenever it determines that a revision of the Priority List or guidance criteria will facilitate or improve the development of Fishery Management Plans or is necessary to restore, conserve, or protect the marine and estuarine resources of the State. The Marine Fisheries Commission may not revise the Schedule for the development of a Fishery Management Plan, once adopted, without the approval of the Secretary of Environmental Quality.
6. The Secretary of Environmental Quality shall monitor progress in the development and adoption of Fishery Management Plans in relation to the Schedule for development and adoption of the plans established by the Marine Fisheries Commission. The Secretary of Environmental Quality shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the Fiscal Research Division within 30 days of the completion or substantial revision of each proposed Fishery Management Plan. The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources shall review each proposed Fishery Management Plan within 30 days of the date the proposed Plan is submitted by the Secretary. The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources may submit comments and recommendations on the proposed Plan to the Secretary within 30 days of the date the proposed Plan is submitted by the Secretary.
7. If the Secretary determines that it is in the interest of the long-term viability of a fishery, the Secretary may authorize the Commission to develop temporary management measures to supplement an existing Fishery Management Plan pursuant to this subsection. Development of temporary management measures pursuant to this subsection is exempt from subsections (c), (c1), and (e) of this section and the Priority List, Schedule, and guidance criteria established by the Marine Fisheries Commission under G.S. 143B-289.52. During the next review period for a Fishery Management Plan supplemented pursuant to this subsection, the Commission shall either incorporate the temporary management measures into the revised Fishery Management Plan or the temporary management measures shall expire on the date the revised Fishery Management Plan is adopted.
8. The Marine Fisheries Commission shall adopt rules to implement Fishery Management Plans in accordance with Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.
9. To achieve sustainable harvest under a Fishery Management Plan, the Marine Fisheries Commission may include in the Plan a recommendation that the General Assembly limit the number of fishermen authorized to participate in the fishery. The Commission may recommend that the General Assembly limit participation in a fishery only if the Commission determines that sustainable harvest cannot otherwise be achieved. In determining whether to recommend that the General Assembly limit participation in a fishery, the Commission shall consider all of the following factors:
   1. Current participation in and dependence on the fishery.
   2. Past fishing practices in the fishery.
   3. Economics of the fishery.
   4. Capability of fishing vessels used in the fishery to engage in other fisheries.
   5. Cultural and social factors relevant to the fishery and any affected fishing communities.
   6. Capacity of the fishery to support biological parameters.
   7. Equitable resolution of competing social and economic interests.
   8. Any other relevant considerations.

History. 1997-400, s. 3.4; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(b); 1998-212, s. 14.3; 1998-225, s. 2.1; 2001-213, s. 1; 2001-452, s. 2.1; 2004-160, ss. 3, 4; 2007-495, ss. 6, 7; 2010-13, s. 1; 2010-15, s. 1; 2011-291, ss. 2.27, 2.28; 2012-201, s. 1; 2013-360, s. 14.8(r); 2015-241, s. 14.30(v); 2015-286, s. 4.12(b); 2017-57, s. 14.1(d).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 5.5, provides that the Marine Fisheries Commission shall adopt a Fishery Management Plan for the blue crab fishery in accordance with G.S. 143B-289.22, as enacted by that act, and G.S. 113-182.1, as enacted by that act, no later than January 1, 1999.

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 6.9, as amended by Session Laws 2003-111, s. 1, effective July 1, 1998, provides that all of the Coastal Habitat Protection Plans required by G.S. 143B-279.8 shall be adopted no later than December 31, 2004; that the Coastal Resources Commission, the Environmental Management Commission, and the Marine Fisheries Commission shall make the first report on progress on or before September 1, 1999; and that the Secretary of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources [Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources] shall make the first report on Fishery Management Plans on or before September 1, 1999.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2004-160, ss. 3 and 4, effective August 2, 2004, rewrote subdivision (b)(3), added subdivision (b)(4), and substituted “sustainable harvest” for “optimal yield” two times in subsection (g).

Session Laws 2007-495, ss. 6 and 7, effective August 30, 2007, deleted “or the Environmental Review Commission” following “Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture” in the first sentence of subsection (c1); deleted “concurrently” preceding “review each proposed” in the fourth sentence of subsection (e).

Session Laws 2010-13, s. 1, effective June 23, 2010, deleted subdivision (b)(4), specifying a time period within which to achieve a sustainable harvest; and added subdivisions (b)(5) through (7).

Session Laws 2010-15 s. 1, effective June 23, 2010, in subsection (c1), deleted the former third sentence, which read: “The Commission shall consult with the regional advisory committees regarding the development of any temporary management measure that the Commission determines to be necessary to ensure the viability of the species or fishery while the plan is being developed and regarding the development of any management measure to implement the plan,” and in the last sentence, deleted “a temporary management measure or” following “Before the Commission adopts”; and added subsection (e1).

Session Laws 2011-291, ss. 2.27 and 2.28, effective June 24, 2011, in the second sentence of subsection (c1) and throughout subsection (e), substituted “Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations” for “Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture.”

Session Laws 2012-201, s. 1, effective August 1, 2012, substituted “Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations” for “Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture” in subsection (e).

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(r), effective August 1, 2013, in subdivision (b)(5), substituted “to end” for “for ending” in the first sentence, and rewrote the second sentence, which formerly read “This subdivision shall only apply to a plan for a fishery that is not producing a sustainable harvest.”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(v), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “Secretary of Environmental Quality” for “Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources” in subsections (d) and (e).

Session Laws 2015-286, s. 4.12(b), effective October 22, 2015, deleted the former second sentence of subsection (e), which read: “The Secretary of Environmental Quality shall report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations on progress in developing and implementing the Fishery Management Plans on or before 1 September of each year.”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 14.1(d), effective July 1, 2017, in subsection (e), substituted “Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the Fiscal Research Division” for “Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations” in the second sentence, and substituted “Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources” for “The Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations” in the third and fourth sentences.

Legal Periodicals.

For 1997 legislative survey, see 20 Campbell L. Rev. 443 (1998).

§ 113-183. Unlawful possession, transportation and sale of fish.

1. It is unlawful to possess, transport, offer to transport, sell, offer to sell, receive, buy, or attempt to buy any fish regulated by the Department with knowledge or reason to believe that such fish are illicit.
2. Fish are illicit when taken, possessed, or dealt with unlawfully, or when there has occurred at any time with respect to such fish a substantial failure of compliance with the applicable provisions of this Subchapter or of rules made under the authority of this Subchapter.

History. 1961, c. 1189, s. 2; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1987, c. 827, s. 98.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2017-190, s. 3.1(a)-(e), as amended by Session Laws 2018-114, s. 17, provides: “(a) Definitions. — ‘Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule’ means 15A NCAC 03I.0104 (Introduce, Transfer or Hold Imported Marine and Estuarine Organisms) for purposes of this section and its implementation.

“(b) Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule. — Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission and the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality shall implement the Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule, as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. — Use of American eels imported from Maryland, Virginia, or South Carolina in an aquaculture operation is exempt from the permitting requirements of the Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule.

“(d) Additional Rule-Making Authority. — The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Importation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission, pursuant to this section, shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1) as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided by G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Sunset. — This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

§ 113-184. Possession and transportation of prohibited oyster equipment.

1. It is unlawful to carry aboard any vessel subject to licensing requirements under Article 14A under way or at anchor in coastal fishing waters during the regular closed oyster season any scoops, scrapes, dredges, or winders such as are usually or can be used for taking oysters. Provided that when such vessels are engaged in lawfully permitted oyster harvesting operations on any privately held shellfish bottom lease under G.S. 113-202 or G.S. 113-205, the vessel shall be exempt from this requirement.
2. If any vessel has recently been under way or at anchor in coastal fishing waters engaged in activity similar in manner to that in which oysters are taken with scoops, scrapes, or dredges and at a time or place in which the taking of oysters is prohibited, the presence on board of the vessel of wet oysters or scoops, scrapes, dredges, lines, or deck wet, indicating the taking of oysters, constitutes prima facie evidence that the vessel was engaged in taking oysters unlawfully with scoops, scrapes, or dredges at the time or place prohibited.
3. Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c. 86, s. 1.

History. 1903, c. 516, ss. 13-15, 28; Rev., ss. 2385, 2397; C.S., s. 1926; 1963, c. 452; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1991, c. 86, s. 1; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 788, s. 1; 1998-225, s. 3.3.

§ 113-185. Fishing near ocean piers; trash or scrap fishing.

1. It is unlawful to fish in the ocean from vessels or with a net within 750 feet of an ocean pier licensed in accordance with G.S. 113-169.4. The prohibition shall be effective when:
   1. Buoys or beach markers, placed at the owner’s expense in accordance with the rules adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission, indicate clearly to fishermen in vessels and on the beach the requisite distance of 750 feet from the pier, and
   2. The public is allowed to fish from the pier for a reasonable fee.
2. It is unlawful to engage in any fishing operations known as trash fishing or scrap fishing. “Trash fishing” or “scrap fishing” consists of taking the young of edible fish before they are of sufficient size to be of value as individual food fish:
   1. For commercial disposition as bait; or
   2. For sale to any dehydrating or nonfood processing plant; or
   3. For sale or commercial disposition in any manner.The Marine Fisheries Commission may by rule authorize the disposition of the young of edible fish taken in connection with the legitimate commercial fishing operations, provided that the quantity of such fish that may be disposed of is sufficiently limited, or the taking and disposition is otherwise so regulated, as to discourage any practice of trash or scrap fishing for its own sake.

The prohibition shall not apply to littoral proprietors whose property is within 750 feet of a duly licensed ocean pier.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1985, c. 452, ss. 1-4; 1987, c. 641, s. 5; c. 827, s. 98; 1991, c. 86, s. 2; 1998-225, s. 3.4.

§ 113-186. Measures for fish scrap and oil.

All persons buying or selling menhaden for the purpose of manufacturing fish scrap and oil within the State must buy or sell according to the measure prescribed in this section: 22,000 cubic inches for every 1,000 fish. Each day of failure to use the prescribed measure constitutes a separate offense.

History. 1911, c. 101; C.S., s. 1963; 1965, c. 957, s. 2.

§ 113-187. Penalties for violations of Subchapter and rules.

1. Any person who participates in a commercial fishing operation conducted in violation of any provision of this Subchapter and its implementing rules or in an operation in connection with which any vessel is used in violation of any provision of this Subchapter and its implementing rules is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.
2. Any owner of a vessel who knowingly permits it to be used in violation of any provision of this Subchapter and its implementing rules is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.
3. Any person in charge of a commercial fishing operation conducted in violation of any provision of this Subchapter and its implementing rules or in charge of any vessel used in violation of any provision of this Subchapter and its implementing rules is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.
4. Any person in charge of a commercial fishing operation conducted in violation of the following provisions of this Subchapter or the following rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission; and any person in charge of any vessel used in violation of the following provisions of the Subchapter or the following rules, shall be guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor. The violations of the statute or the rules for which the penalty is mandatory are:
   1. Taking or attempting to take, possess, sell, or offer for sale any oysters, mussels, or clams taken from areas closed by statute, rule, or proclamation because of suspected pollution.
   2. Taking or attempting to take or have in possession aboard a vessel, shrimp taken by the use of a trawl net, in areas not opened to shrimping, pulled by a vessel not showing lights required by G.S. 75A-6 after sunset and before sunrise.
   3. Using a trawl net in any coastal fishing waters closed by proclamation or rule to trawl nets.
   4. Violating the provisions of a special permit or gear license issued by the Department.
   5. Using or attempting to use any trawl net, long haul seine, swipe net, mechanical methods for oyster or clam harvest or dredge in designated primary nursery areas.
5. Any person who takes menhaden or Atlantic thread herring by the use of a purse seine net deployed by a mother ship and one or more runner boats in coastal fishing waters is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1102; c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 388, s. 5; 1987, c. 641, s. 6; c. 827, s. 98; 1989, c. 275, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 839; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1997-400, s. 4.1; 2012-190, s. 3(a).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2012-190, s. 6, provides that subsection (e), as added by s. 3(a), is applicable to offenses committed on or after January 1, 2013.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2012-190, s. 3(a), effective January 1, 2013, added subsection (e). For applicability, see editor’s note.

Legal Periodicals.

For 1997 legislative survey, see 20 Campbell L. Rev. 443 (1998).

§ 113-188. Additional restrictions authorized.

The setting out of particular offenses or requirements with regard to specific species of fish or with regard to certain types of equipment does not affect the authority of the Marine Fisheries Commission to make similar additional restrictions not in conflict with the provisions of this Article under authority granted in this Chapter.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1987, c. 827, s. 102.

§ 113-189. Protection of sea turtles, marine mammals, migratory birds, and finfish.

1. It is unlawful to willfully take, harm, disturb or destroy any sea turtles protected under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-205), as it may be subsequently amended, including green, hawksbill, loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, and leatherback turtles, or their nests or eggs.
2. It shall be unlawful willfully to take,  harm, disturb, or destroy marine mammals protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-522), as it may be subsequently amended.
3. It shall be unlawful willfully to take, harm, disturb, or destroy migratory birds protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. §§ 703 through 712), as it may be subsequently amended, unless such action is permitted by regulations.
4. It shall be unlawful willfully to take, harm, disturb, or destroy finfish protected under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-205), as it may be subsequently amended.

History. 1967, cc. 198, 1225; 1981, c. 873; 1991, c. 86, s. 3; 2013-413, s. 37(b).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-413, s. 37(b), rewrote the section heading, which formerly read “Protection of sea turtles and porpoises”; in subsection (a), added “harm” and “protected under the . . . subsequently amended”; in subsection (b), substituted “take, harm, disturb, . . . subsequently amended” for “harm or destroy porpoises”; and added subsections (c) and (d). For effective date, see editor’s note.

§ 113-190.

Recodified as G.S. 113-200 by Session Laws 1997-400, s. 6.7.

Editor’s Note.

Section 113-200 has now been repealed by Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.7(a), effective July 1, 2013.

§ 113-191. Unlawful sale or purchase of fish; criminal and civil penalties.

1. Any person who sells fish in violation of G.S. 113-168.4 or a rule of the Marine Fisheries Commission to implement that section is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.
2. Any person who purchases fish in violation of G.S. 113-169.3 or a rule of the Marine Fisheries Commission to implement that section is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.
3. A civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) may be assessed by the Secretary against any person who sells fish in violation of G.S. 113-168.4 or purchases fish in violation of G.S. 113-169.3.
4. In determining the amount of the penalty, the Secretary shall consider the factors set out in G.S. 143B-289.53(b). The procedures set out in G.S. 143B-289.53 shall apply to civil penalty assessments that are presented to the Commission for final agency decision.
5. The Secretary shall notify any person assessed a civil penalty of the assessment and the specific reasons therefor by registered or certified mail or by any means authorized by G.S. 1A-1, Rule 4. Contested case petitions shall be filed pursuant to G.S. 150B-23 within 30 days of receipt of the notice of assessment.
6. Requests for remission of civil penalties shall be filed with the Secretary. Remission requests shall not be considered unless filed within 30 days of receipt of the notice of assessment. Remission requests must be accompanied by a waiver of the right to a contested case hearing pursuant to Chapter 150B of the General Statutes and a stipulation of the facts on which the assessment was based. Consistent with the limitations in G.S. 143B-289.53(c), remission requests may be resolved by the Secretary and the violator. If the Secretary and the violator are unable to resolve the request, the Secretary shall deliver remission requests and his recommended action to the Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions of the Marine Fisheries Commission appointed pursuant to G.S. 143B-289.53(c).
7. If any civil penalty has not been paid within 30 days after notice of assessment has been served on the violator, the Secretary shall request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in the superior court of any county in which the violator resides or has his or its principal place of business to recover the amount of the assessment, unless the violator contests the assessment as provided in subsection (e) of this section, or requests remission of the assessment in whole or in part as provided in subsection (f) of this section. If any civil penalty has not been paid within 30 days after the final agency decision or court order has been served on the violator, the Secretary shall request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in the superior court of any county in which the violator resides or has his or its principal place of business to recover the amount of the assessment. Civil actions must be filed within three years of the date the final agency decision or court order was served on the violator.

History. 1997-400, ss. 4.2, 4.5; 1998-225, ss. 3.5, 3.6.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 4.2, enacted as G.S. 113-190, was codified as this section at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes.

Session Laws 1997-400, s. 4.4 instructs the Marine Fisheries Commission to develop a Violation Points System applicable to the fishing licenses of all persons who violate marine fisheries statutes or rules.

Session Laws 1998-225, s. 5.3 contained a similar provision.

Session Laws 1998-225, s. 5.5, is a severability clause.

§§ 113-192 through 113-199.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 113-200. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.7(a), effective July 1, 2013.

History. 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 633, s. 2; 1997-400, s. 6.7; 1999-162, s. 1; 2011-291, s. 2.29; 2012-190, s. 4(b); 2012-200, s. 16(b); repealed by 2013-360, s. 14.7(a), effective July 1, 2013.

Editor’s Note.

Former G.S. 113-200 pertained to the Fishery Resource Grant Program.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.’ ”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5 is a severability clause.

§ 113-201. Legislative findings and declaration of policy; authority of Marine Fisheries Commission.

1. The General Assembly finds that shellfish cultivation provides increased seafood production and long-term economic and employment opportunities. The General Assembly also finds that shellfish cultivation provides increased ecological benefits to the estuarine environment by promoting natural water filtration and increased fishery habitats. The General Assembly declares that it is the policy of the State to encourage the development of private, commercial shellfish cultivation in ways that are compatible with other public uses of marine and estuarine resources such as navigation, fishing, and recreation.
2. The Marine Fisheries Commission is empowered to make rules and take all steps necessary to develop and improve the cultivation, harvesting, and marketing of shellfish in North Carolina both from public grounds and private beds. In order to assure the public that some waters will remain open and free from shellfish cultivation activities, the Marine Fisheries Commission may limit the number of acres in any area that may be granted as shellfish cultivation leases.
3. The Marine Fisheries Commission shall adopt rules to establish training requirements for persons applying for new shellfish cultivation leases and for persons acquiring shellfish cultivation leases by lawful transfer. These training requirements shall be designed to encourage the productive use of shellfish cultivation leases. Training requirements established pursuant to this subsection shall not apply to either:
   1. An applicant who applies for a new shellfish cultivation lease if, at the time of the application, the applicant holds one or more shellfish cultivation leases and all of the leases meet the shellfish production requirements established by the Marine Fisheries Commission.
   2. A person who receives a shellfish cultivation lease by lawful transfer if, at the time of the transfer, the person holds one or more shellfish cultivation leases and all of the leases meet the shellfish production requirements established by the Marine Fisheries Commission.

History. 1921, c. 132, s. 1; C.S., s. 1959(a); 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1983, c. 621, s. 2; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 2004-150, s. 1; 2009-433, s. 3.

Pamlico Sound Shellfish Aquaculture Pilot Project.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 2, provides: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Environmental Quality may grant up to three shellfish cultivation leases or water column leases in Pamlico Sound as provided in the pilot project established by this section. Under the pilot project, each lease may be up to 50 acres in size; each lease must be separated from any other lease and from the shoreline by at least 250 yards; and no person, including a corporate entity, or single family unit, may hold more than 100 acres of leases. The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality shall, to the extent practicable, grant leases in different geographic areas of Pamlico Sound. The Division shall study the advantages and disadvantages associated with leasing such areas within Pamlico Sound. In conducting this study, the Division shall consult with shellfish growers, nearby riparian owners, and other users of the public bottoms and waters. The Division shall submit an interim report of its findings, including any recommendations, to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2025, and a final report of its findings, including any recommendations, to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2030. In its final report, the Division shall include a recommendation on whether the pilot project should be terminated, be made permanent, or be expanded. This section shall terminate July 1, 2030, and any leases granted pursuant to this section shall terminate no later than July 1, 2031.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 3(a)-(e), provides: “(a) Definitions. — For purposes of this section and its implementation:

“(1) ‘Extensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom without the use of cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(2) ‘Intensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom or in the water column using cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(3) ‘Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule’ means 15A NCAC 03O.0201 (Standards and Requirements for Shellfish Bottom Leases and Franchises and Water Column Leases) for purposes of this section and its implementation.

“(b) Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule. — Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall implement the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. — Shellfish leases shall be terminated unless they comply with the following requirements:

“(1) Franchises recognized pursuant to G.S. 113-206 and shellfish bottom leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 20 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. For intensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually and for extensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease plants a minimum of 15,000 shellfish seed per acre per year.

“(2) Water column leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 50 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. The holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually.

“(d) Additional Rule-Making Authority. — The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1), as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Applicability and Sunset. — This section and rules adopted pursuant to this section apply to all new and renewal shellfish leases granted after July 1, 2019. This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 9, provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries and the Marine Fisheries Commission shall study how to reduce user conflict related to shellfish cultivation leases. The Division and Commission shall complete this study no later than January 1, 2020, and shall adopt rules and reform internal operating procedures consistent with the findings of the study no later than March 1, 2021.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 11, provides: “The North Carolina Coastal Federation (Federation) shall study a low-interest loan program to provide start-up and expansion capital to shellfish growers in waters of the State. As part of its study, the Federation shall investigate and recommend optimal loan terms, a recommended administrative structure for the program, and limitations on loan amounts and on uses of loaned funds necessary to maximize public economic benefits and target funding support where need is greatest. The Federation may use administrative funds provided to it under S.L. 2018-5 for the study. The Federation shall submit its report, including funding needs and any legislative proposals, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the Fiscal Research Division no later than March 15, 2020.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 12, provides: “The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall study crop insurance and other risk of loss mitigation and protection programs available to persons engaging in shellfish aquaculture in North Carolina. The Department shall include all of the following in its study:

“(1) An overview and assessment of currently available State or federal programs, including programs offered in other states, and identification of gaps or shortfalls in the coverage provided by those programs.

“(2) The identification of options for insurance or other risk protection programs subsidized or underwritten by the State, including an analysis of feasibility, cost, and whether the option would provide sufficient spread of risk to be an actuarially sound investment of public funds.

“(3) If the Department finds that no program limited to this State is actuarially sound, an assessment of legal, practical, or political barriers to a federal or multistate crop insurance or other risk mitigation program for shellfish aquaculture.”

The Department shall submit its report, including recommendations for required funding and any legislative changes needed, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the Fiscal Research Division no later than November 1, 2020.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2014-120, s. 44(a)-(c), as amended by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.9, provides: “(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to enhance shellfish habitats within the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds and their tributaries to benefit fisheries, water quality, and the economy. This will be achieved through the establishment of a network of oyster sanctuaries, harvestable enhancement sites, and coordinated support for the development of shellfish aquaculture. The network of oyster sanctuaries is to be named in honor of Senator Jean Preston and shall be called the ‘Senator Jean Preston Oyster Sanctuary Network’.

“(b) The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [now Department of Environmental Quality] shall develop a plan to construct and manage additional oyster habitats. The new sanctuaries, along with selected existing oyster sanctuaries, shall be included in the Senator Jean Preston Oyster Sanctuary Network. The plan shall include the following components:

“(1) Location and delineation of oyster sanctuaries. — The plan should include locations for sanctuary network components that minimize the impact on commercial trawling. The location of sanctuaries shall take into account connectivity to existing oyster sanctuaries and proposed oyster enhancement sites. New oyster sanctuaries shall be designed to provide hook-and-line fishing while allowing the development of complex fish habitats and brood-stock oysters that will enhance recruitment in the surrounding reefs. The plan should outline a 10-year development project to accomplish the expansion.

“(2) Repealed by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.9, effective July 1, 2015.

“(3) Enhancement of oyster habitat restoration. — The General Assembly finds that the lack of a reliable State-based supply of oyster seed and inadequate funding for cultch planting are limitations to the expansion of oyster harvesting and the restoration of wild oyster habitat in North Carolina. Therefore, the plan should include the following:

“a. Provisions and recommendations to facilitate the availability of oyster seed produced in North Carolina for wild oyster habitat restoration projects as well as oyster aquaculture and to reduce potential negative impacts from importation of non-native oyster seed.

“b. Plans, where feasible, for public-private partnerships for State-based production of viable oyster seed through the creation of one or more production hatcheries and recommendations for increased support of the existing research hatchery at UNC-Wilmington.

“c. Plans and cost estimates for an expansion of cultch planting in suitable areas of the State’s coastal waters in order to expand areas suitable for development of wild oyster habitat.

“(4) Economic relief. — The plan should consider a waiver of application fees and yearly rental fees for new shellfish leases for an established period of time to further promote and support shellfish aquaculture in North Carolina. The new leasing fee waiver program should include measures to discourage speculation and target persons with a genuine interest in starting a shellfish aquaculture business, such as a requirement that the lease be nontransferable for a five-year period.

“(5) Outreach. — The plan should include outreach and education that promotes, whenever possible, public-private partnerships utilizing the Sea Grant College Program, local colleges, and other nongovernmental organizations to (i) encourage shellfish aquaculture and provide technical assistance to broaden cost-effective technologies available to leaseholders; (ii) encourage best management practices to leaseholders; and (iii) inform fishermen and the public on the benefits provided by the Senator Jean Preston Oyster Sanctuary Network.

“(6) Monitoring. — The plan should include a monitoring plan designed to (i) determine the success of oyster reef construction and (ii) evaluate the cost benefit of the oyster sanctuary network and harvestable enhancement sites.

“(7) Funding. — The plan should include a request for appropriations sufficient for Division staff to expand oyster restoration and monitoring activities for 10 years. The plan should provide that, whenever possible, public-private partnerships are employed to meet the construction, seeding, and outreach requirements of the plan.

“(8) Recommendations. — The plan shall include recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes needed to expedite the expansion of shellfish restoration and harvesting in order to improve water quality, restore ecological habitats, provide enhanced recreational and commercial fishing opportunities, and expand the coastal economy.

“(9) No funding for sanctuaries in closed areas. — The plan shall provide that no funding or other resources shall be available in water bodies where a moratorium or other legal prohibition on shellfish leasing under Article 16 of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes is currently in effect. This subdivision does not apply to leasing moratoria imposed because the area is closed to shellfish harvesting or recommended for closure by the State Health Director due to pollution.

“(c) No later than March 1, 2016, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall report to the Chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division regarding its implementation of this section and its recommended plan.”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2015.’ ”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.6, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13.12, provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington shall annually report no later than March 1 to the chairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives appropriations committees with jurisdiction over natural and economic resources and the Fiscal Research Division regarding the funding for oyster research and restoration activities provided by this act. The report shall include details regarding the use of the funds, including activities completed and additional personnel supported by the funds.” For prior similar provisions, see Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.29A.

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2017.’ ”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.6, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2020-63, s. 6(a)-(d), provides: “(a) Notwithstanding Section 2 of Chapter 876 of the 1967 Session Laws or any other provision of law to the contrary, the Secretary of Environmental Quality may grant shellfish cultivation leases or water column leases in Brunswick County as provided in the pilot program established by this section. In granting leases under the pilot program, the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality shall comply with the requirements in Article 16 of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes and regulations adopted thereunder.

“(b) The Secretary of Environmental Quality shall grant shellfish cultivation leases or water column leases authorized by subsection (a) of this section only in the waters enclosed by a line beginning at a 1" PVC pipe located just south of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway channel and with NC Grid coordinates (NAD 83) of North=59,477.97´ and East=2,190,370.42´ and also located South 2°12´36" East, a distance of 765.76 feet from a flag pole across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway channel and being near the edge of the parking area of the Inlet View restaurant; this flag pole being located South 56°01´46" East, a distance of 524.45 feet from United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Monument M161, having NC Grid Coordinates North 60,536.21´ and East 2,189,905.94´. Thence leaving the beginning corner and running South 62°48´39" East, 745.22 feet to a 1" PVC pipe; thence running South 57°14´01" West, 766.57 feet to a 1" PVC pipe; thence running North 23°07´28" West, 420.73 feet to a 1" PVC pipe; thence running South 70°24´32" West, 742.96 feet to a 1" PVC pipe; thence running North 26°51´08" West, 241.36 feet to a 1" PVC pipe; thence running North 67°10´44" East, 1037.11 feet to the point of beginning.

“(c) The Division of Marine Fisheries shall study the advantages and disadvantages associated with leases authorized by this section. In conducting this study, the Division shall consult with shellfish growers, nearby riparian owners, and other users of the public bottoms and waters. The Division shall submit an interim report of its findings, including any recommendations, to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2027, and a final report of its findings, including any recommendations, to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2032. In its final report, the Division shall include a recommendation on whether the pilot program should be terminated, be made permanent, or be expanded.

“(d) This section becomes effective July 1, 2020, and shall expire July 1, 2032. Any leases granted pursuant to this section shall terminate no later than July 1, 2033.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2004-150, s. 1, effective August 2, 2004, added “Legislative findings and declaration of policy;” at the beginning of the section heading; inserted the subsection (b) designation; and added subsections (a) and (c).

Session Laws 2009-433, s. 3, effective August 7, 2009, in subsection (b), added the last sentence; in subsection (c), inserted “and for persons acquiring shellfish cultivation leases by lawful transfer,” and added the subdivision (c)(1) designator; added subdivision (c)(2); and made a related change.

Legal Periodicals.

For article, “The Evolution of Modern North Carolina Environmental and Conservation Policy Legislation,” see 29 Campbell L. Rev. 535 (2007).

§ 113-201.1. Definitions.

As used in this Article:

1. “Natural shellfish bed” means an area of public bottom where oysters, clams, scallops, mussels or other shellfish are found to be growing in sufficient quantities to be valuable to the public.
2. “Riparian owner” means the holder(s) of the fee title to land that is bordered by waters of an arm of the sea or any other navigable body of water.
3. “Shellfish” means oysters, clams, scallops, mussels or any other species of mollusks that the Marine Fisheries Commission determines suitable for cultivation, harvesting, and marketing from public grounds and private beds.
4. “Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Area” means an area established pursuant to G.S. 113-202(s) or G.S. 113-202.1(j).
5. “Single family unit” means the husband and wife and any unemancipated children in the household.
6. “Water column” means the vertical extent of water, including the surface, above a designated area of submerged bottom land.

History. 1983, c. 621, s. 3; 1987, c. 641, s. 15; 2015-241, s. 14.10C(a); 2019-37, s. 1(a).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 1(d), provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality shall identify areas in waters that are under a moratorium for shellfish leasing that could potentially be established as Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas. The Division shall report its findings to the General Assembly no later than April 1, 2020.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.10C(a), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “surface, above” for “surface thereof, above” in subdivision (5).

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 1(a), effective July 1, 2019, added subdivision (3a).

§ 113-202. New and renewal leases for shellfish cultivation; termination of leases issued prior to January 1, 1966.

1. To increase the use of suitable areas underlying coastal fishing waters for the production of shellfish, the Secretary may grant shellfish cultivation leases to persons who reside in North Carolina under the terms of this section when the Secretary determines, in accordance with his duty to conserve the marine and estuarine resources of the State, that the public interest will benefit from issuance of the lease. Suitable areas for the production of shellfish shall meet the following minimum standards:
   1. The area leased must be suitable for the cultivation and harvesting of shellfish in commercial quantities.
   2. Except as provided under subsection (n) of this section, the area leased must not contain a natural shellfish bed.
   3. Cultivation of shellfish in the leased area will be compatible with lawful utilization by the public of other marine and estuarine resources. Other public uses which may be considered include, but are not limited to, navigation, fishing and recreation.
   4. Cultivation of shellfish in the leased area will not impinge upon the rights of riparian owners.
   5. The area leased must not include an area designated for inclusion in the Department’s Shellfish Management Program.
   6. The area leased must not include an area which the State Health Director has recommended be closed to shellfish harvest by reason of pollution.
2. The Secretary may delete any part of an area proposed for lease or may condition a lease to protect the public interest with respect to the factors enumerated in subsection (a) of this section. The Secretary may not grant a new lease in an area heavily used for recreational purposes. Except as prohibited by federal law, the Secretary shall not exclude any area from leasing solely on the basis that the area contains submerged aquatic vegetation and shall make specific findings based on the standards set forth in subsection (a) of this section prior to reaching a decision not to grant or renew a lease for shellfish cultivation for any area containing submerged aquatic vegetation.
3. No person, including a corporate entity, or single family unit may acquire and hold by lease, lease renewal, or purchase more than 50 acres of public bottoms under shellfish cultivation leases. For purposes of this subsection, the number of acres of leases held by a person includes acres held by a corporation in which the person holds an interest. The Marine Fisheries Commission may adopt rules to require the submission of information necessary to ensure compliance with this subsection.
4. Any person desiring to apply for a lease must make written application to the Secretary on forms prepared by the Department containing such information as deemed necessary to determine the desirability of granting or not granting the lease requested. Except in the case of renewal leases, the application must be accompanied by a map or diagram made at the expense of the applicant, showing the area proposed to be leased.
5. The map or diagram must conform to standards prescribed by the Secretary concerning accuracy of map or diagram and the amount of detail that must be shown. If on the basis of the application information and map or diagram the Secretary deems that granting the lease would benefit the shellfish culture of North Carolina, the Secretary, in the case of initial lease applications, must order an investigation of the bottom proposed to be leased. The investigation is to be made by the Secretary or his authorized agent to determine whether the area proposed to be leased is consistent with the standards in subsection (a) of this section and any other applicable standards under this Article and the rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission. In the event the Secretary finds the application inconsistent with the applicable standards, the Secretary shall deny the application or propose that a conditional lease be issued that is consistent with the applicable standards. In the event the Secretary authorizes amendment of the application, the applicant must furnish a new map or diagram meeting requisite standards showing the area proposed to be leased under the amended application. At the time of making application for an initial lease, the applicant must pay a filing fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
6. The area of bottom applied for in the case of an initial lease or amended initial lease must be as compact as possible, taking into consideration the shape of the body of water, the consistency of the bottom, and the desirability of separating the boundaries of a leasehold by a sufficient distance from any known natural shellfish bed to prevent the likelihood of disputes arising between the leaseholder and members of the public taking shellfish from the natural bed.
7. Within a reasonable time after receipt of an application that complies with subsection (d), the Secretary shall notify the applicant of the intended action on the lease application. If the intended action is approval of the application as submitted or approval with a modification to which the applicant agrees, the Secretary shall conduct a public hearing in the county where the proposed leasehold lies. The Secretary must publish at least two notices of the intention to lease in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the proposed leasehold lies. The first publication must precede the public hearing by more than 20 days; the second publication must follow the first by seven to 11 days. The notice of intention to lease must contain a sufficient description of the area of the proposed leasehold that its boundaries may be established with reasonable ease and certainty and must also contain the date, hour and place of the hearing.
8. After consideration of the public comment received and any additional investigations the Secretary orders to evaluate the comments, the Secretary shall notify the applicant in person or by certified or registered mail of the decision on the lease application. The Secretary shall also notify persons who submitted comments at the public hearing and requested notice of the lease decision. An applicant who is dissatisfied with the Secretary’s decision may commence a contested case by filing a petition under G.S. 150B-23 within 30 days after receiving notice of the Secretary’s decision. In the event the Secretary’s decision is a modification to which the applicant agrees, the lease applicant must furnish an amended map or diagram before the lease can be issued by the Secretary. A person other than the applicant who is aggrieved by the Secretary’s decision may file a petition for a contested case hearing only if the Shellfish Cultivation Lease Review Committee established pursuant to G.S. 143B-289.57(f) determines that a hearing is appropriate. A request for a determination of the appropriateness of a contested case hearing shall be made in writing and received by the Review Committee within 30 days after the disputed decision is made. A determination of the appropriateness of a contested case shall be made by the Review Committee within 90 days after a request for a determination is received and shall be based on whether the person seeking to commence a contested case:
   1. Has alleged that the decision is contrary to a statute or rule.
   2. Is directly affected by the decision.
   3. Has alleged facts or made legal arguments that demonstrate that the request for the hearing is not frivolous.
9. Repealed by Session Laws 1993, c. 466, s. 1.
10. After a lease application is approved by the Secretary, the applicant shall submit to the Secretary information sufficient to define the bounds of the area approved for leasing with markers in accordance with the rules of the Commission. The information shall conform to standards prescribed by the Secretary concerning accuracy and the amount of detail to be shown. When information is submitted, the boundaries are marked and all fees and rents due in advance are paid, the Secretary shall execute the lease on forms approved by the Attorney General. The Secretary is authorized, with the approval of the lessee, to amend an existing lease by reducing the area under lease or by combining contiguous leases without increasing the total area leased. The information required by this subsection may be based on coordinate information produced using a device equipped to receive global positioning system data.
11. Initial leases begin upon the issuance of the lease by the Secretary and expire at noon on the first day of July following the tenth anniversary of the granting of the lease. Renewal leases are issued for a period of 10 years from the time of expiration of the previous lease. At the time of making application for renewal of a lease, the applicant must pay a filing fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00). The rental for initial leases is one dollar ($1.00) per acre until noon on the first day of July following the first anniversary of the lease. Thereafter, for initial leases and from the beginning for renewals of leases entered into after that date, the rental is ten dollars ($10.00) per acre per year. Rental must be paid annually in advance prior to the first day of July each year. Upon initial granting of a lease, the pro rata amount for the portion of the year left until the first day of July must be paid in advance at the rate of one dollar ($1.00) per acre per year; then, on or before the first day of July next, the lessee must pay the rental for the next full year.
12. Except as restricted by this Subchapter, leaseholds granted under this section are to be treated as if they were real property and are subject to all laws relating to taxation, sale, devise, inheritance, gift, seizure and sale under execution or other legal process, and the like. Leases properly acknowledged and probated are eligible for recordation in the same manner as instruments conveying an estate in real property. Within 30 days after transfer of beneficial ownership of all or any portion of or interest in a leasehold to another, the new owner must notify the Secretary of such fact. Such transfer is not valid until notice is furnished the Secretary. In the event such transferee is a nonresident, the Secretary must initiate proceedings to terminate the lease.
13. Upon receipt of notice by the Secretary of any of the following occurrences, he must commence action to terminate the leasehold:
    1. Failure to pay the annual rent in advance.
    2. Failure to file information required by the Secretary upon annual remittance of rental or filing false information on the form required to accompany the annual remittance of rental.
    3. Failure by new owner to report a transfer of beneficial ownership of all or any portion of or interest in the leasehold.
    4. Failure to mark the boundaries in the leasehold and to keep them marked as required in the rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission.
    5. Failure to utilize the leasehold on a continuing basis for the commercial production of shellfish.
    6. Transfer of all or part of the beneficial ownership of a leasehold to a nonresident.
    7. Substantial breach of compliance with the provisions of this Article or of rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission governing use of the leasehold.
    8. Failure to comply with the training requirements established by the Marine Fisheries Commission pursuant to G.S. 113-201(c).
14. The Marine Fisheries Commission is authorized to make rules defining commercial production of shellfish, based upon the productive potential of particular areas climatic or biological conditions at particular areas or particular times, availability of seed shellfish, availability for purchase by lessees of shells or other material to which oyster spat may attach, and the like. Commercial production may be defined in terms of planting effort made as well as in terms of quantities of shellfish harvested. Provided, however, that if a lessee has made a diligent effort to effectively and efficiently manage his lease according to accepted standards and practices in such management, and because of reasons beyond his control, such as acts of God, such lessee has not and cannot meet the requirements set out by the Marine Fisheries Commission under the provisions of this subsection, his leasehold shall not be terminated under subdivision (5) of subsection (l) of this section.
15. In the event the leaseholder takes steps within 30 days to remedy the situation upon which the notice of intention to terminate was based and the Secretary is satisfied that continuation of the lease is in the best interests of the shellfish culture of the State, the Secretary may discontinue termination procedures. Where there is no discontinuance of termination procedures, the leaseholder may initiate a contested case by filing a petition under G.S. 150B-23 within 30 days of receipt of notice of intention to terminate. Where the leaseholder does not initiate a contested case, or the final decision upholds termination, the Secretary must send a final letter of termination to the leaseholder. The final letter of termination may not be mailed sooner than 30 days after receipt by the leaseholder of the Secretary’s notice of intention to terminate, or of the final agency decision, as appropriate. The lease is terminated effective at midnight on the day the final notice of termination is served on the leaseholder. The final notice of termination may not be issued pending hearing of a contested case initiated by the leaseholder.Service of any notice required in this subsection may be accomplished by certified mail, return receipt requested; personal service by any law-enforcement officer; or upon the failure of these two methods, publication. Service by publication shall be accomplished by publishing such notices in a newspaper of general circulation within the county where the lease is located for at least once a week for three successive weeks. The format for notice by publication shall be approved by the Attorney General.
16. Upon final termination of any leasehold, the Secretary may do any of the following:
    1. Make the bottom available for a new lease application for a period of 18 months.
    2. Designate the bottom as a Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Area.
    3. Make the bottom open to the public for use in accordance with laws and rules governing use of public grounds generally.
17. Every year between January 1 and February 15 the Secretary must mail to all leaseholders a notice of the annual rental due and include forms designed by him for determining the amount of shellfish or shells planted on the leasehold during the preceding calendar year, and the amount of harvest gathered. Such forms may contain other pertinent questions relating to the utilization of the leasehold in the best interests of the shellfish culture of the State, and must be executed and returned by the leaseholder with the payment of his rental. Any leaseholder or his agent executing such forms for him who knowingly makes a false statement on such forms is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
18. All leases and renewal leases granted after the effective date of this Article are made subject to this Article and to reasonable amendment of governing statutes, rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission, and requirements imposed by the Secretary or his agents in regulating the use of the leasehold or in processing applications of rentals. This includes such statutory increase in rentals as may be necessitated by changing conditions and refusal to renew lease after expiration, in the discretion of the Secretary. No increase in rentals, however, may be given retroactive effect.The General Assembly declares it to be contrary to public policy to the oyster and clam bottoms which were leased prior to January 1, 1966, and which are not being used to produce oysters and clams in commercial quantities to continue to be held by private individuals, thus depriving the public of a resource which belongs to all the people of the State. Therefore, when the Secretary determines, after due notice to the lessee, and after opportunity for the lessee to be heard, that oysters or clams are not being produced in commercial quantities, due to the lessee’s failure to make diligent effort to produce oysters and clams in commercial quantities, the Secretary may decline to renew, at the end of the current term, any oyster or clam bottom lease which was executed prior to January 1, 1966. The lessee may appeal the denial of the Secretary to renew the lease by initiating a contested case pursuant to G.S. 150B-23. In such contested cases, the burden of proof, by the greater weight of the evidence, shall be on the lessee.
19. Repealed by Session Laws 1983, c. 621, s. 16.
20. A lease under this section shall include the right to place devices or equipment related to the cultivation or harvesting of marine resources on or within 18 inches of the leased bottom. Devices or equipment not resting on the bottom or extending more than 18 inches above the bottom will require a water column lease under G.S. 113-202.1.
21. The Secretary may establish Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas for bottom leasing pursuant to this subsection. The Secretary may establish one or more Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas that comply with the requirements of this section, including the notice, public hearing, and public comment requirements; any other State requirements for shellfish leasing; and any applicable federal requirements. Leases issued in a Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Area shall be nontransferable and shall revert to the State upon relinquishment or termination. The Marine Fisheries Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement this subsection.

If the Review Committee determines that a contested case is appropriate, the petition for a contested case shall be filed within 30 days after the Review Committee makes its determination. A determination that a person may not commence a contested case is a final agency decision and is subject to judicial review under Article 4 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. If, on judicial review, the court determines that the Review Committee erred in determining that a contested case would not be appropriate, the court shall remand the matter for a contested case hearing under G.S. 150B-23 and final decision on the permit pursuant to G.S. 113A-122. Decisions in such cases shall be rendered pursuant to those rules, regulations, and other applicable laws in effect at the time of the commencement of the contested case.

The applicant or another person aggrieved by a final decision under this section may appeal the decision to the superior court of the county where the proposed lease or any part thereof is located, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.

Within 30 days of final termination of the leasehold, the former leaseholder shall remove all abandoned gear and markers denominating the area of the leasehold as a private bottom. The State may, after 10 days’ notice to the owner of the abandoned gear and markers thereof, remove the abandoned structure and have the area cleaned up. The cost of such removal and cleanup shall be payable by the owner of the abandoned gear and markers and the State may bring suit to recover the costs thereof.

History. 1893, c. 287, s. 1; Rev., s. 2371; 1909, c. 871, ss. 1-9; 1919, c. 333, s. 6; C.S., ss. 1902-1911; Ex. Sess. 1921, c. 46, s. 1; 1933, c. 346; 1953, cc. 842, 1139; 1963, c. 1260, ss. 1-3; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1967, c. 24, s. 16; c. 88; c. 876, s. 1; 1971, c. 447; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1983, c. 601, ss. 1-3; c. 621, ss. 4-16; 1985, c. 275, ss. 1-3; 1987, c. 641, s. 16; c. 773, s. 11; c. 827, s. 98; 1989, c. 423, s. 2; c. 727, s. 99; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 788, s. 2; 1993, c. 466, s. 1; c. 539, s. 840; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2004-150, ss. 2, 3, 4; 2009-433, ss. 4, 5; 2011-398, s. 35; 2015-241, ss. 14.10(a), (b), 14.10C(b); 2015-263, s. 11(a); 2016-94, s. 14.11(a); 2019-37, ss. 1(b), 4(a), (b), 6(b).

Local Modification.

Brunswick: 1967, c. 876, s. 2; Carteret (Moratorium as to Portsmouth Island, Core Banks): 1995, c. 547, s. 1; Carteret (Moratorium as to Core Sound): 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 547, s. 3; c. 633, s. 1(b); 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 27.33; 1997-256, s. 12; 1997-347, s. 8; 1997-400, s. 6.14; 1997-401, s. 8; 1998-23, s. 15; 1998-56; 1999-209, s. 1; 2001-213, s. 4; 2002-15, s. 1; 2003-64, s. 1(a)-(d).

Moratorium on Shellfish Leasing in the New Hanover County Area

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 7, as amended by Session Laws 2021-180, s. 12.3(a), provides: “Notwithstanding G.S. 113-202 and G.S. 113-202.1, a moratorium on new shellfish cultivation leases and new water column leases for aquaculture shall be imposed for all those waters enclosed by a line beginning at 34° 13.10221' N -77° 48.79544' W on the mainland side near Wrightsville Beach Bridge; running southeasterly to a point at 34° 12.51584' N -77° 47.81847' W on Wrightsville Beach; following the shoreline southwesterly to a point at 34° 11.121' N -77° 48.848' W at Masonboro Inlet; running southwesterly to a point at 34° 10.927' N -77° 48.771' W at Masonboro Inlet; continuing southwesterly to a point at 34° 05.04108' N -77° 52.08324' W near IWW marker #159 continuing running southwesterly to a point at 34° 03.64140' N -77° 53.41338' W on the mainland adjacent to the eastern mouth of Snow’s Cut; running northeasterly along the shoreline to the point of beginning. The moratorium shall expire July 1, 2026. For purposes of this section, a new shellfish cultivation lease or water column lease shall include applications for either type of lease received by the Secretary, but not granted as of July 1, 2019.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 8, as amended by Session Laws 2021-180, s. 12.3(b), provides: “Notwithstanding G.S. 113-202 and G.S. 113-202.1, a moratorium on new shellfish cultivation leases and new water column leases for aquaculture shall be imposed for all those waters enclosed by a line beginning at 34° 43.24641' N -76° 41.68436' W; running easterly following the Highway 70 High Rise Bridge to a point at 34° 43.27819' N -76° 41.22259' W; running southerly to a point 34° 42.375275' N -76° 40.80078' W on the southern tip of Radio Island; running southerly to a point 34° 41.98273' N -76° 40.81929' W; following the shoreline westerly to the Emerald Isle Bridge at a point 34° 40.05410' N -77° 03.80531' W; running northwesterly following the bridge to a point 34° 40.77658' N -77° 04.02674' W on the mainland near the Emerald Isle High Rise Bridge; running easterly following the shoreline to the point of beginning. The moratorium shall expire July 1, 2026. For purposes of this section, a new shellfish cultivation lease or water column lease shall include applications for either type of lease received by the Secretary, but not granted as of July 1, 2019.”

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 1983, c. 601, which amended this section, in s. 4, provides that the act shall be reconsidered on or before July 1, 1989, and every six years thereafter, by the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.11(d)-(g), as amended by Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13.13(a), provides: “(d) The North Carolina Policy Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall convene a stakeholder working group to study and advance efforts to ecologically restore and achieve economic stability of the shellfish industry, including (i) how best to spend financial resources to counter declining native oyster populations and shellfish habitats; (ii) the use of appropriate oyster species to accomplish oyster restoration; (iii) means of combating oyster disease and managing harvesting practices to balance the needs of the industry and promote long-term viability and health of oyster habitat and substrate; (iv) economically and scientifically sound mariculture methods to improve oyster stock and populations; (v) long-term, dedicated options for funding sources and water quality improvements; (vi) means to increase oyster production for both population growth and harvest, including the use of triploid oyster species; (vii) options that expand private shellfish hatchery capacity in the State; (viii) options for promoting the use of cultch planting to enhance and increase oyster habitat and population; (ix) other resources that might be leveraged to enhance reform efforts; and (x) any other issue the Collaboratory deems relevant.

“(e) In the conduct of the study required by subsection (d) of this section, the Collaboratory shall convene and consult with a stakeholders group that may consist of representatives from appropriate State and federal agencies; academic institutions; nongovernmental organizations; representatives of any industry working in, or benefitting from, shellfish mariculture; and any other individuals or groups deemed by the Collaboratory as being relevant to the overall success of the study. Nothing in this subsection is intended to require a particular process or level of procedural formality for the stakeholders group.”

“(f) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall report the results of its study, including any recommendations and suggested legislation needed to implement the recommendations, to the Fiscal Research Division, the Environmental Review Commission, and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources no later than December 31, 2018.

“(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds provided to the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality for contracting with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to develop oyster brood stock to provide seed for aquaculture shall be transferred to, and not through a contractual arrangement with, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for that purpose. No indirect facilities and administrative costs shall be charged by the University against the funds transferred by this subsection.”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 1.2, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2016.’ ”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2016-2017 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.7, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13.13(b)-(d), as amended by Session Laws 2017-197, s. 4.1, provides: “(b) In addition to the study required by Section 14.11(d) of S.L. 2016-94, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory shall also prepare and deliver a Shellfish Mariculture Plan by December 31, 2018. Except as otherwise prohibited by State or federal law, all State entities shall provide all information, resources, and support deemed relevant by the Collaboratory for the creation of the Shellfish Mariculture Plan. The plan shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division and shall consider the following:

“(1) A summary of available and relevant information on shellfish mariculture.

“(2) An analysis of existing programs, policies, rules, and laws that govern or affect shellfish mariculture operations within the State, including an examination of workforce training and marketing programs that could facilitate the growth of shellfish mariculture within the State.

“(3) A summary of shellfish mariculture plans from other states and countries, including a comparison of how these entities (i) promote and manage shellfish mariculture, (ii) reduce barriers to entry for potential participants in shellfish mariculture, and (iii) offer incentives to encourage entry into shellfish mariculture.

“(4) Analysis of siting strategies that reduce potential user conflicts impeding the siting of shellfish mariculture operations and that protect riparian property owners and the public trust uses of estuarine waters for navigation, fishing, and recreation.

“(5) Evaluation and consideration of enforcement mechanisms necessary to protect shellfish mariculture operations from theft and degradation and to ensure that shellfish mariculture operations make productive and fair use of public trust coastal waters dedicated to these operations.

“(6) Opportunities for local traditional fishermen to effectively compete for shellfish mariculture sites in public waters and participate in enterprises in or near their own communities.

“(7) Examination of environmental policies that protect or enhance shellfish mariculture operations.

“(8) Consideration of the most appropriate substrate for cultch planting, with consideration of regional differences in bottom conditions within the State that may require different substrates to maximize shellfish sustainability.

“(9) Strategies to mitigate or eliminate shellfish pests such as DMX, Dermo, and boring sponges.

“(10) Any other issues deemed relevant by the Collaboratory to grow and support shellfish mariculture within the State.

“(c) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall not charge indirect facilities and administrative costs against the funding for the studies required by this section.

“(d) The North Carolina Policy Collaboratory, in consultation with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and any other stakeholders the Partnership deems relevant, including the North Carolina Tourism Advisory Board, the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, the North Carolina Shellfish Growers Association, and the North Carolina Fisheries Association, shall develop conceptual plans and recommendations for economic development related to promotion of the State’s shellfish harvesting heritage. The plans and recommendations shall include the creation of a North Carolina Oyster Trail and a North Carolina Oyster Festival. Plan development shall be congruent with the ongoing work of the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory and its stakeholder group as described in this section and shall include recommendations of locations, oversight, governmental support, cost, and timing of when such initiatives should be launched in the future, including, but not limited to, achieving production and acreage benchmarks, in addition to any other information deemed relevant for inclusion. The Collaboratory’s recommendations shall be provided no later than December 31, 2018, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division. This study, as it may be subsequently amended after submission, shall be included as an appendix to the Shellfish Mariculture Plan required by subsection (b) of this section.”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2017.’ ”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.6, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 1(d), provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality shall identify areas in waters that are under a moratorium for shellfish leasing that could potentially be established as Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas. The Division shall report its findings to the General Assembly no later than April 1, 2020.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 3(a)-(e), provides: “(a) Definitions. — For purposes of this section and its implementation:

“(1) ‘Extensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom without the use of cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(2) ‘Intensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom or in the water column using cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(3) ‘Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule’ means 15A NCAC 03O.0201 (Standards and Requirements for Shellfish Bottom Leases and Franchises and Water Column Leases) for purposes of this section and its implementation.

“(b) Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule. — Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall implement the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. — Shellfish leases shall be terminated unless they comply with the following requirements:

“(1) Franchises recognized pursuant to G.S. 113-206 and shellfish bottom leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 20 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. For intensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually and for extensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease plants a minimum of 15,000 shellfish seed per acre per year.

“(2) Water column leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 50 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. The holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually.

“(d) Additional Rule-Making Authority. — The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1), as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Applicability and Sunset. — This section and rules adopted pursuant to this section apply to all new and renewal shellfish leases granted after July 1, 2019. This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 4(c), made the amendment to subsections (a) and (n) of this section by Session Laws 2019-37, ss. 4(a) and (b), effective July 1, 2019, and applicable to leases terminated on or after that date.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 6(c), made the amendment to subsection (g) of this section by Session Laws 2019-37, s. 6(b), effective July 1, 2019, and applicable to decisions of the Secretary made on or after that date.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2021’.”

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 43.5, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 43.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2004-150, ss. 2, 3 and 4, inserted the subsection (d1) designation; in subsection (d1), inserted “of this section” after “subsection (a)” and substituted “two hundred dollars ($200.00)” for “one hundred dollars ($100.00)” in the last sentence; and in subsection (j), substituted “July” for “April” in the first, fourth and last sentences, deleted “effective” following “ten years” in the second sentence, substituted “one hundred dollars ($100.00)” for “fifty dollars ($50.00)” in the third sentence, and substituted “said” for “that” and “ten dollars ($10.00)” for “five dollars ($5.00)” in the fifth sentence, added subdivision ( l )(8); inserted the subsection ( l 1) designation; and in the last sentence of subsection ( l 1), deleted “of this paragraph” preceding “of this subsection” and substituted “subsection ( l ) of this section” for “this subsection” at the end of the sentence.

For effective dates, see Editor’s note.

Session Laws 2009-433, ss. 4 and 5, effective August 7, 2009, in subsection (c), added the last two sentences; and, in subsection (j), substituted “fifth anniversary” for “tenth anniversary” in the first sentence, and substituted “five years” for “10 years” in the second sentence.

Session Laws 2011-398, s. 35, effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to contested cases commenced on or after that date, deleted the former last sentence in subsection (g), which read: “The Secretary shall make the final agency decision in a contested case”; and in the first paragraph of subsection (m), deleted the former third sentence, which read: “The Secretary shall make the final agency decision of all lease terminations,” and in the third and fourth sentences, deleted “Secretary’s” preceding “final decision” and “final agency decision,” respectively.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.10(a), (b), effective July 1, 2015, in subsection (i), substituted “information sufficient to” for “a survey of the area approved for leasing and” in the first sentence, substituted “information” for “survey” and deleted “of survey” following “accuracy” in the second sentence, substituted “information” for “an acceptable survey” in the third sentence; and added the last sentence; in subsection (j), substituted “tenth” for “fifth” in the first sentence, substituted “10” for “five” in the second sentence, deleted “for all leases entered into before July 1, 1965, and for all other leases” following “per acre” in the fourth sentence, and substituted “leases” for “leases entered into after July 1, 1965” in the fifth sentence. For applicability, see editor’s note.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.10C(b), effective July 1, 2015, added subsection (r).

Session Laws 2015-263, s. 11(a), effective October 1, 2015, added the last sentence of subsection (b). For applicability, see editor’s note.

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.11(a), effective July 1, 2016, substituted “July” for “April” in the next-to-last and last sentences in subsection (j).

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 1(b), effective July 1, 2019, added subsection (s).

Session Laws 2019-37, ss. 4(a) and (b), substituted “Except as provided under subsection (n) of this section, the” for “The” at the beginning of subdivision (a)(2); rewrote subsection (n), which formerly read: “Upon final termination of any leasehold, the bottom in question is thrown open to the public for use in accordance with laws and rules governing use of public grounds generally”; added subdivisions (n)(1) through (n)(3); three times in the ending paragraph of subsection (n), added “gear and”; substituted “Except as provided under subsection (n) of this section, the” for “The” at the beginning of subdivision (a)(2). For effective date and applicability, see editor’s note.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 6(b) in subsection (g), deleted “or another person aggrieved by the decision” preceding “may commence” in the third sentence, substituted “30 days” for “20 days”, and added the last three sentences in subsection (g); added subdivisions (g)(1) through (g)(3); and added the last two undesignated paragraphs of subsection (g). For effective date and applicability, see editor’s note.

Legal Periodicals.

For a note on estuarine pollution, see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 921 (1971).

For article, “The Pearl in the Oyster: The Public Trust Doctrine in North Carolina,” see 12 Campbell L. Rev. 23 (1989).

For article, “North Carolina Oceanfront Property and Public Waters and Beaches: The Rights of Littoral Owners in the Twenty-First Century,” see 83 N.C. L. Rev. 1427 (2005).

§ 113-202.1. Water column leases for aquaculture.

1. To increase the productivity of leases for shellfish culture issued under G.S. 113-202, the Secretary may amend shellfish cultivation leases to authorize use of the water column superjacent to the leased bottom under the terms of this section when he determines the public interest will benefit from amendment of the leases. Leases with water column amendments must produce shellfish in commercial quantities at four times the minimum production rate of leases issued under G.S. 113-202, or any higher quantity required by the Marine Fisheries Commission through duly adopted rules.
2. Suitable areas for the authorization of water column use shall meet the following minimum standards:
   1. Aquaculture use of the leased area must not significantly impair navigation;
   2. The leased area must not be within a navigation channel marked or maintained by a state or federal agency;
   3. The leased area must not be within an area traditionally used and available for fishing or hunting activities incompatible with the activities proposed by the leaseholder, such as trawling or seining;
   4. Aquaculture use of the leased area must not significantly interfere with the exercise of riparian rights by adjacent property owners including access to navigation channels from piers or other means of access; and
   5. Any additional standards, established by the Commission in duly adopted rules, to protect the public interest in coastal fishing waters.
3. The Secretary shall not amend shellfish cultivation leases to authorize uses of the water column involving devices or equipment not resting on the bottom or that extend more than 18 inches above the bottom unless:
   1. The leaseholder submits an application, accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), which conforms to the standards for lease applications in G.S. 113-202(d) and the duly adopted rules of the Commission;
   2. The proposed amendment has been noticed consistent with G.S. 113-202(f);
   3. Public hearings have been conducted consistent with G.S. 113-202(g);
   4. The aspects of the proposals which require use and dedication of the water column have been documented and are recognized by the Secretary as commercially feasible forms of aquaculture which will enhance shellfish production on the leased area;
   5. It is not feasible to undertake the aquaculture activity outside of coastal fishing waters; and
   6. The authorized water column use has the least disruptive effect on other public trust uses of the waters of any available technology to produce the shellfish identified in the proposal.
4. Amendments of shellfish cultivation leases to authorize use of the water column are issued for a period of 10 years or the remainder of the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. The annual rental for a new or renewal water column amendment is one hundred dollars ($100.00) an acre. If a water column amendment is issued for less than a 12-month period, the rental shall be prorated based on the number of months remaining in the year. The annual rental for an amendment is payable at the beginning of the year. The rental is in addition to that required in G.S. 113-202.
5. Amendments of shellfish cultivation leases to authorize use of the water column are subject to termination in accordance with the procedures established in G.S. 113-202 for the termination of shellfish cultivation leases. Additionally, such amendments may be terminated for unauthorized or unlawful interference with the exercise of public trust rights by the leaseholder, agents and employees of the leaseholder.
6. Amendments of shellfish cultivation leases to authorize use of the water column may be transferred only with the superincumbent bottom lease for the remainder of the term of the amendment at the same rental rate and term as set forth in subsection (d) of this section and so long as notice of the transfer is provided to the Secretary as required by G.S. 113-202(k).
7. After public notice and hearing consistent with subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary may renew an amendment, in whole or in part, when the leaseholder has produced commercial quantities of shellfish and has otherwise complied with the rules of the Commission. Renewals may be denied or reduced in scope when the public interest so requires. Appeal of renewal decisions shall be conducted in accordance with G.S. 113-202(p). Renewals are subject to the lease terms and rates established in subsection (d) of this section.
8. The procedures and requirements of G.S. 113-202 shall apply to proposed amendments or amendments of shellfish cultivation leases considered under this section except more specific provisions of this section control conflicts between the two sections.
9. To the extent required by demonstration or research aquaculture development projects, the Secretary may amend existing leases and issue leases that authorize use of the bottom and the water column. Demonstration or research aquaculture development projects may be authorized for five years with no more than one renewal and when the project is proposed or formally sponsored by an educational institution which conducts research or demonstration of aquaculture. Production of shellfish with a sales value in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per acre per year shall constitute commercial production. Demonstration or research aquaculture development projects shall be exempt for the rental rate in subsection (d) of this section unless commercial production occurs as a result of the project.
10. The Secretary may establish Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas for water column leasing pursuant to this subsection. The Secretary may establish one or more Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas that comply with the requirements of this section, including the notice, public hearing, and public comment requirements; any other State requirements for shellfish leasing; and any applicable federal requirements. Requirements under this section include the notice, public hearing, and public comment requirements of this section. Leases issued in a Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Area shall be nontransferable and shall revert to the State upon relinquishment or termination. The Marine Fisheries Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement this subsection.

History. 1989, c. 423, s. 1; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1004, s. 4; c. 1024, s. 22; 1993, c. 322, s. 1; c. 466, s. 2; 2004-150, s. 5; 2015-241, s. 14.10C(c); 2015-268, s. 5.6; 2016-94, s. 14.11(b); 2016-123, s. 6.1(a); 2017-102, s. 33.4(a); 2019-37, s. 1(c).

Moratorium on Shellfish Leasing in the New Hanover County Area

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 7, as amended by Session Laws 2021-180, s. 12.3(a), provides: “Notwithstanding G.S. 113-202 and G.S. 113-202.1, a moratorium on new shellfish cultivation leases and new water column leases for aquaculture shall be imposed for all those waters enclosed by a line beginning at 34° 13.10221' N -77° 48.79544' W on the mainland side near Wrightsville Beach Bridge; running southeasterly to a point at 34° 12.51584' N -77° 47.81847' W on Wrightsville Beach; following the shoreline southwesterly to a point at 34° 11.121' N -77° 48.848' W at Masonboro Inlet; running southwesterly to a point at 34° 10.927' N -77° 48.771' W at Masonboro Inlet; continuing southwesterly to a point at 34° 05.04108' N -77° 52.08324' W near IWW marker #159 continuing running southwesterly to a point at 34° 03.64140' N -77° 53.41338' W on the mainland adjacent to the eastern mouth of Snow’s Cut; running northeasterly along the shoreline to the point of beginning. The moratorium shall expire July 1, 2026. For purposes of this section, a new shellfish cultivation lease or water column lease shall include applications for either type of lease received by the Secretary, but not granted as of July 1, 2019.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 8, as amended by Session Laws 2021-180, s. 12.3(b), provides: “Notwithstanding G.S. 113-202 and G.S. 113-202.1, a moratorium on new shellfish cultivation leases and new water column leases for aquaculture shall be imposed for all those waters enclosed by a line beginning at 34° 43.24641' N -76° 41.68436' W; running easterly following the Highway 70 High Rise Bridge to a point at 34° 43.27819' N -76° 41.22259' W; running southerly to a point 34° 42.375275' N -76° 40.80078' W on the southern tip of Radio Island; running southerly to a point 34° 41.98273' N -76° 40.81929' W; following the shoreline westerly to the Emerald Isle Bridge at a point 34° 40.05410' N -77° 03.80531' W; running northwesterly following the bridge to a point 34° 40.77658' N -77° 04.02674' W on the mainland near the Emerald Isle High Rise Bridge; running easterly following the shoreline to the point of beginning. The moratorium shall expire July 1, 2026. For purposes of this section, a new shellfish cultivation lease or water column lease shall include applications for either type of lease received by the Secretary, but not granted as of July 1, 2019.”

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.11(d)-(g), as amended by Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13.13(a), provides: “(d) The North Carolina Policy Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall convene a stakeholder working group to study and advance efforts to ecologically restore and achieve economic stability of the shellfish industry, including (i) how best to spend financial resources to counter declining native oyster populations and shellfish habitats; (ii) the use of appropriate oyster species to accomplish oyster restoration; (iii) means of combating oyster disease and managing harvesting practices to balance the needs of the industry and promote long-term viability and health of oyster habitat and substrate; (iv) economically and scientifically sound mariculture methods to improve oyster stock and populations; (v) long-term, dedicated options for funding sources and water quality improvements; (vi) means to increase oyster production for both population growth and harvest, including the use of triploid oyster species; (vii) options that expand private shellfish hatchery capacity in the State; (viii) options for promoting the use of cultch planting to enhance and increase oyster habitat and population; (ix) other resources that might be leveraged to enhance reform efforts; and (x) any other issue the Collaboratory deems relevant.

“(e) In the conduct of the study required by subsection (d) of this section, the Collaboratory shall convene and consult with a stakeholders group that may consist of representatives from appropriate State and federal agencies; academic institutions; nongovernmental organizations; representatives of any industry working in, or benefitting from, shellfish mariculture; and any other individuals or groups deemed by the Collaboratory as being relevant to the overall success of the study. Nothing in this subsection is intended to require a particular process or level of procedural formality for the stakeholders group.”

“(f) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall report the results of its study, including any recommendations and suggested legislation needed to implement the recommendations, to the Fiscal Research Division, the Environmental Review Commission, and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources no later than December 31, 2018.

“(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds provided to the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality for contracting with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to develop oyster brood stock to provide seed for aquaculture shall be transferred to, and not through a contractual arrangement with, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for that purpose. No indirect facilities and administrative costs shall be charged by the University against the funds transferred by this subsection.”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 1.2, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2016.’ ”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2016-2017 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.7, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2016-123, s. 6.1(a), as amended by Session Laws 2017-102, s. 33.4(a), provides, in part: “If House Bill 1030, 2015 Regular Session, becomes law, then G.S. 113-202.1(f), as enacted by Section 14.11(b) of that act, reads as rewritten.” House Bill 1030 is Session Laws 2016-94, which, in s. 14.11(b) of that act, rewrote G.S. 113-202.1(f).

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13.13(b)-(d), as amended by Session Laws 2017-197, s. 4.1, provides: “(b) In addition to the study required by Section 14.11(d) of S.L. 2016-94, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory shall also prepare and deliver a Shellfish Mariculture Plan by December 31, 2018. Except as otherwise prohibited by State or federal law, all State entities shall provide all information, resources, and support deemed relevant by the Collaboratory for the creation of the Shellfish Mariculture Plan. The plan shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division and shall consider the following:

“(1) A summary of available and relevant information on shellfish mariculture.

“(2) An analysis of existing programs, policies, rules, and laws that govern or affect shellfish mariculture operations within the State, including an examination of workforce training and marketing programs that could facilitate the growth of shellfish mariculture within the State.

“(3) A summary of shellfish mariculture plans from other states and countries, including a comparison of how these entities (i) promote and manage shellfish mariculture, (ii) reduce barriers to entry for potential participants in shellfish mariculture, and (iii) offer incentives to encourage entry into shellfish mariculture.

“(4) Analysis of siting strategies that reduce potential user conflicts impeding the siting of shellfish mariculture operations and that protect riparian property owners and the public trust uses of estuarine waters for navigation, fishing, and recreation.

“(5) Evaluation and consideration of enforcement mechanisms necessary to protect shellfish mariculture operations from theft and degradation and to ensure that shellfish mariculture operations make productive and fair use of public trust coastal waters dedicated to these operations.

“(6) Opportunities for local traditional fishermen to effectively compete for shellfish mariculture sites in public waters and participate in enterprises in or near their own communities.

“(7) Examination of environmental policies that protect or enhance shellfish mariculture operations.

“(8) Consideration of the most appropriate substrate for cultch planting, with consideration of regional differences in bottom conditions within the State that may require different substrates to maximize shellfish sustainability.

“(9) Strategies to mitigate or eliminate shellfish pests such as DMX, Dermo, and boring sponges.

“(10) Any other issues deemed relevant by the Collaboratory to grow and support shellfish mariculture within the State.

“(c) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall not charge indirect facilities and administrative costs against the funding for the studies required by this section.

“(d) The North Carolina Policy Collaboratory, in consultation with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and any other stakeholders the Partnership deems relevant, including the North Carolina Tourism Advisory Board, the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, the North Carolina Shellfish Growers Association, and the North Carolina Fisheries Association, shall develop conceptual plans and recommendations for economic development related to promotion of the State’s shellfish harvesting heritage. The plans and recommendations shall include the creation of a North Carolina Oyster Trail and a North Carolina Oyster Festival. Plan development shall be congruent with the ongoing work of the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory and its stakeholder group as described in this section and shall include recommendations of locations, oversight, governmental support, cost, and timing of when such initiatives should be launched in the future, including, but not limited to, achieving production and acreage benchmarks, in addition to any other information deemed relevant for inclusion. The Collaboratory’s recommendations shall be provided no later than December 31,, 2018, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division. This study, as it may be subsequently amended after submission, shall be included as an appendix to the Shellfish Mariculture Plan required by subsection (b) of this section.”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2017.’ ”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.6, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 1(d), provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality shall identify areas in waters that are under a moratorium for shellfish leasing that could potentially be established as Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas. The Division shall report its findings to the General Assembly no later than April 1, 2020.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 3(a)-(e), provides: “(a) Definitions. — For purposes of this section and its implementation:

“(1) ‘Extensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom without the use of cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(2) ‘Intensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom or in the water column using cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(3) ‘Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule’ means 15A NCAC 03O.0201 (Standards and Requirements for Shellfish Bottom Leases and Franchises and Water Column Leases) for purposes of this section and its implementation.

“(b) Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule. — Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall implement the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. — Shellfish leases shall be terminated unless they comply with the following requirements:

“(1) Franchises recognized pursuant to G.S. 113-206 and shellfish bottom leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 20 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. For intensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually and for extensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease plants a minimum of 15,000 shellfish seed per acre per year.

“(2) Water column leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 50 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. The holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually.

“(d) Additional Rule-Making Authority. — The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1), as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Applicability and Sunset. — This section and rules adopted pursuant to this section apply to all new and renewal shellfish leases granted after July 1, 2019. This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2021’.”

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 43.5, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 43.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2004-150, s. 5, effective July 1, 2005, rewrites subsection (d).

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.10C(c), effective July 1, 2015, in subsection (c), substituted “uses of the water column involving devices or equipment not resting on the bottom or that extend more than 18 inches above the bottom” for “use of the water column.”

Session Laws 2015-268, s. 5.6, effective July 1, 2015, substituted “10 years” for “five years” in the first sentence of subsection (d).

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.11(b), effective July 1, 2016, rewrote subsection (f), which formerly read “Amendments of shellfish cultivation leases to authorize use of the water column are not transferrable except when the Secretary approves the transfer after public notice and hearing consistent with subsection (c) of this section”; and, in subsection (i), substituted “five years” for “two years” preceding “with no more than one renewal” in the second sentence, and substituted “five thousand dollars ($5,000)” for “one thousand dollars ($1,000)” preceding “per acre per year” in the next-to-last sentence.

Session Laws 2016-123, s. 6.1(a), as amended by Session Law 2017-102, s. 33.4(a), effective August 1, 2016, substituted “only with the superincumbent bottom lease” for “with a bottom lease” in subsection (f).

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 1(c), effective July 1, 2019, added subsection (j).

OPINIONS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Division of Marine Fisheries and the Marine Fisheries Commission do not have authority to grant leases or similar exclusive proprietary rights to the water column beneath docks and piers to individuals for the cultivation of shellfish for personal consumption or use. See opinion of Attorney General to Mr. Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, and Mr. James A. Johnson, Jr., Chairman, North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission, 2003 N.C. Op. Att'y Gen. 13 (9/22/03).

§ 113-202.2. Water column leases for aquaculture for perpetual franchises.

1. To increase the productivity of shellfish grants and perpetual franchises for shellfish culture recognized under G.S. 113-206, the Secretary may lease the water column superjacent to such grants or perpetual franchises (hereinafter “perpetual franchises”) under the terms of this section when it determines the public interest will benefit from the lease. Perpetual franchises with water column leases must produce shellfish in commercial quantities at four times the minimum production rate of leases issued under G.S. 113-202, or any higher quantity required by the Marine Fisheries Commission by rule.
2. Suitable areas for the authorization of water column use shall meet the following minimum standards:
   1. Aquaculture use of the leased water column area must not significantly impair navigation;
   2. The leased water column area must not be within a navigation channel marked or maintained by a State or federal agency;
   3. The leased water column area must not be within an area traditionally used and available for fishing or hunting activities incompatible with the activities proposed by the perpetual franchise holder, such as trawling or seining;
   4. Aquaculture use of the leased water column area must not significantly interfere with the exercise of riparian rights by adjacent property owners including access to navigation channels from piers or other means of access;
   5. The leased water column area may not exceed 10 acres for grants or perpetual franchises recognized pursuant to G.S. 113-206;
   6. The leased water column area must not extend more than one-third of the distance across any body of water or into the channel third of any body of water for grants or perpetual franchises recognized pursuant to G.S. 113-206; and
   7. Any additional rules to protect the public interest in coastal fishing waters adopted by the Commission.
3. The Secretary shall not lease the water column superjacent to oyster or other shellfish grants or perpetual franchises unless:
   1. The perpetual franchise holder submits an application, accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), which conforms to the standards for lease applications in G.S. 113-202(d) and rules adopted by the Commission;
   2. Notice of the proposed lease has been given consistent with G.S. 113-202(f);
   3. Public hearings have been conducted consistent with G.S. 113-202(g);
   4. The aspects of the proposals which require use and dedication of the water column have been documented and are recognized by the Secretary as commercially feasible forms of aquaculture which will enhance shellfish production;
   5. It is not feasible to undertake the aquaculture activity outside of coastal fishing waters; and
   6. The authorized water column use has the least disruptive effect on other public trust uses of the waters of any available technology to produce the shellfish identified in the proposal.
4. Water column leases to perpetual franchises shall be issued for a period of 10 years and may be renewed pursuant to subsection (g) of this section. The rental for an initial water column lease issued under this section is the same as the rental set in G.S. 113-202.1 for an initial water column amendment issued under that section, and the rental for a renewed water column lease issued under this section is the same as the rental set in G.S. 113-202.1 for a renewed water column amendment issued under that section.
5. Water column leases to perpetual franchises may be terminated for unauthorized or unlawful interference with the exercise of public trust rights by the leaseholder or his agents or employees.
6. Water column leases to perpetual franchises may be transferred only with the superincumbent perpetual franchise for the remainder of the term of the lease at the same rental rate and term as set forth in subsection (d) of this section and so long as notice of the transfer is provided to the Secretary as required by G.S. 113-202(k).
7. After public notice and hearing consistent with G.S. 113-202(f) and (g), the Secretary may renew a water column lease, in whole or in part, if the leaseholder has produced commercial quantities of shellfish and has otherwise complied with this section and the rules of the Commission. Renewals may be denied or reduced in scope when the public interest so requires. Appeal of renewal decisions shall be conducted in accordance with G.S. 113-202(p). Renewals are subject to the lease terms and rates set out in subsection (d) of this section.
8. The procedures and requirements of G.S. 113-202 shall apply to proposed water column leases or water column leases to perpetual franchises considered under this section except that more specific provisions of this section control conflicts between the two sections.
9. Demonstration or research aquaculture development projects may be authorized for five years with no more than one renewal and when the project is proposed or formally sponsored by an educational institution which conducts aquaculture research or demonstration projects. Production of shellfish with a sales value in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per acre per year shall constitute commercial production. Demonstration or research aquaculture development projects shall be exempt from the rental rate in subsection (d) of this section unless commercial production occurs as a result of the project.

History. 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 958, s. 1; 1993, c. 322, s. 2; c. 466, s. 3; 2016-94, s. 14.11(c); 2016-123, s. 6.1(b); 2017-102, s. 33.4(b).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.11(d)-(g), as amended by Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13.13(a), provides: “(d) The North Carolina Policy Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall convene a stakeholder working group to study and advance efforts to ecologically restore and achieve economic stability of the shellfish industry, including (i) how best to spend financial resources to counter declining native oyster populations and shellfish habitats; (ii) the use of appropriate oyster species to accomplish oyster restoration; (iii) means of combating oyster disease and managing harvesting practices to balance the needs of the industry and promote long-term viability and health of oyster habitat and substrate; (iv) economically and scientifically sound mariculture methods to improve oyster stock and populations; (v) long-term, dedicated options for funding sources and water quality improvements; (vi) means to increase oyster production for both population growth and harvest, including the use of triploid oyster species; (vii) options that expand private shellfish hatchery capacity in the State; (viii) options for promoting the use of cultch planting to enhance and increase oyster habitat and population; (ix) other resources that might be leveraged to enhance reform efforts; and (x) any other issue the Collaboratory deems relevant.

“(e) In the conduct of the study required by subsection (d) of this section, the Collaboratory shall convene and consult with a stakeholders group that may consist of representatives from appropriate State and federal agencies; academic institutions; nongovernmental organizations; representatives of any industry working in, or benefitting from, shellfish mariculture; and any other individuals or groups deemed by the Collaboratory as being relevant to the overall success of the study. Nothing in this subsection is intended to require a particular process or level of procedural formality for the stakeholders group.”

“(f) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall report the results of its study, including any recommendations and suggested legislation needed to implement the recommendations, to the Fiscal Research Division, the Environmental Review Commission, and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources no later than December 31, 2018.

“(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds provided to the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality for contracting with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to develop oyster brood stock to provide seed for aquaculture shall be transferred to, and not through a contractual arrangement with, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for that purpose. No indirect facilities and administrative costs shall be charged by the University against the funds transferred by this subsection.”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 1.2, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2016.’ ”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2016-2017 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.7, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2016-123, s. 6.1(b), as amended by Session Laws 2017-102, s. 33.4(b), provides, in part: “If House Bill 1030, 2015 Regular Session, becomes law, then G.S. 113-202.2(f), as enacted by Section 14.11(c) of that act, reads as rewritten.” House Bill 1030 is Session Laws 2016-94, which, in s. 14.11(c) of that act, rewrote G.S. 113-202.1(f).

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13.13(b)-(d), as amended by Session Laws 2017-197, s. 4.1, provides: “(b) In addition to the study required by Section 14.11(d) of S.L. 2016-94, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory shall also prepare and deliver a Shellfish Mariculture Plan by December 31, 2018. Except as otherwise prohibited by State or federal law, all State entities shall provide all information, resources, and support deemed relevant by the Collaboratory for the creation of the Shellfish Mariculture Plan. The plan shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division and shall consider the following:

“(1) A summary of available and relevant information on shellfish mariculture.

“(2) An analysis of existing programs, policies, rules, and laws that govern or affect shellfish mariculture operations within the State, including an examination of workforce training and marketing programs that could facilitate the growth of shellfish mariculture within the State.

“(3) A summary of shellfish mariculture plans from other states and countries, including a comparison of how these entities (i) promote and manage shellfish mariculture, (ii) reduce barriers to entry for potential participants in shellfish mariculture, and (iii) offer incentives to encourage entry into shellfish mariculture.

“(4) Analysis of siting strategies that reduce potential user conflicts impeding the siting of shellfish mariculture operations and that protect riparian property owners and the public trust uses of estuarine waters for navigation, fishing, and recreation.

“(5) Evaluation and consideration of enforcement mechanisms necessary to protect shellfish mariculture operations from theft and degradation and to ensure that shellfish mariculture operations make productive and fair use of public trust coastal waters dedicated to these operations.

“(6) Opportunities for local traditional fishermen to effectively compete for shellfish mariculture sites in public waters and participate in enterprises in or near their own communities.

“(7) Examination of environmental policies that protect or enhance shellfish mariculture operations.

“(8) Consideration of the most appropriate substrate for cultch planting, with consideration of regional differences in bottom conditions within the State that may require different substrates to maximize shellfish sustainability.

“(9) Strategies to mitigate or eliminate shellfish pests such as DMX, Dermo, and boring sponges.

“(10) Any other issues deemed relevant by the Collaboratory to grow and support shellfish mariculture within the State.

“(c) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall not charge indirect facilities and administrative costs against the funding for the studies required by this section.

“(d) The North Carolina Policy Collaboratory, in consultation with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and any other stakeholders the Partnership deems relevant, including the North Carolina Tourism Advisory Board, the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, the North Carolina Shellfish Growers Association, and the North Carolina Fisheries Association, shall develop conceptual plans and recommendations for economic development related to promotion of the State’s shellfish harvesting heritage. The plans and recommendations shall include the creation of a North Carolina Oyster Trail and a North Carolina Oyster Festival. Plan development shall be congruent with the ongoing work of the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory and its stakeholder group as described in this section and shall include recommendations of locations, oversight, governmental support, cost, and timing of when such initiatives should be launched in the future, including, but not limited to, achieving production and acreage benchmarks, in addition to any other information deemed relevant for inclusion. The Collaboratory’s recommendations shall be provided no later than December 31, 2018, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division. This study, as it may be subsequently amended after submission, shall be included as an appendix to the Shellfish Mariculture Plan required by subsection (b) of this section.”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2017.’ ”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.6, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 3(a)-(e), provides: “(a) Definitions. — For purposes of this section and its implementation:

“(1) ‘Extensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom without the use of cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(2) ‘Intensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom or in the water column using cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(3) ‘Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule’ means 15A NCAC 03O.0201 (Standards and Requirements for Shellfish Bottom Leases and Franchises and Water Column Leases) for purposes of this section and its implementation.

“(b) Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule. — Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall implement the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. — Shellfish leases shall be terminated unless they comply with the following requirements:

“(1) Franchises recognized pursuant to G.S. 113-206 and shellfish bottom leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 20 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. For intensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually and for extensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease plants a minimum of 15,000 shellfish seed per acre per year.

“(2) Water column leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 50 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. The holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually.

“(d) Additional Rule-Making Authority. — The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1), as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Applicability and Sunset. — This section and rules adopted pursuant to this section apply to all new and renewal shellfish leases granted after July 1, 2019. This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.11(c), effective July 1, 2016, Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.11(c), effective July 1, 2016, substituted “10 years” for “five years” following “for a period of ” in the first sentence of subsection (d); rewrote subsection (f), which formerly read “Water column leases to perpetual franchises are not transferrable except when the Secretary approves the transfer after public notice and hearing consistent with G.S. 113-202(f) and (g)”; and, in subsection (i), substituted “five years” for “two years” in the first sentence, and substituted “five thousand dollars ($5,000)” for “one thousand dollars ($1,000)” in the second sentence.

Session Laws 2016-123, s. 6.1(b), as amended by Session Laws 2017-102, s. 33.4(b), effective July 1, 2016, substituted “only with the superincumbent perpetual franchise” for “with a perpetual franchise” in subsection (f).

§ 113-203. Transplanting of oysters and clams.

1. Repealed by Session Laws 2009-433, s. 6, effective August 7, 2009 (subdivision (a)(2)), and by Session Laws 2014-120, s. 26, effective September 18, 2014 (remainder of subsection (a)).
2. Repealed by Session Laws 2014-120, s. 26, effective September 18, 2014.
3. It is unlawful to do any of the following:
   1. Transplant oysters or clams taken from public grounds to private beds except when lawfully taken during open season and transported directly to a private bed in accordance with rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission.
   2. Transplant oysters or clams taken from permitted aquaculture operations to private beds except from waters in the approved classification.
   3. Transplant oysters or clams from public grounds or permitted aquaculture operations utilizing waters in the restricted or conditionally approved classification to private beds except when the transplanting is done in accordance with the provisions of this section and implementing rules.
4. Unless the Secretary determines that the nursery of shellfish in an area will present a risk to public health, it is lawful to transplant seed oysters or seed clams taken from permitted aquaculture operations that use waters in the prohibited, restricted, or conditionally approved classification to private beds pursuant to an Aquaculture Seed Transplant Permit issued by the Secretary that sets times during which transplant is permissible and other reasonable restrictions imposed by the Secretary under either of the following circumstances:
   1. When transplanting seed clams less than 12 millimeters in their largest dimension.
   2. When transplanting seed oysters less than 25 millimeters in their largest dimension.
5. It is unlawful to conduct a seed transplanting operation pursuant to subsection (a3) of this section if the seed transplanting operation is not conducted in compliance with its Aquaculture Seed Transplant Permit.
6. It is lawful to transplant from public bottoms to private beds oysters or clams taken from waters in the restricted or conditionally approved classifications with a permit from the Secretary setting out the waters from which the oysters or clams may be taken, the quantities which may be taken, the times during which the taking is permissible, and other reasonable restrictions imposed by the Secretary for the regulation of transplanting operations. Any transplanting operation which does not substantially comply with the restrictions of the permit issued is unlawful.
7. Repealed by Session Laws 2009-433, s. 6, effective August 7, 2009.
8. It is lawful to transplant to private beds in North Carolina oysters taken from natural or managed public beds designated by the Marine Fisheries Commission as seed oyster management areas. The Secretary shall issue permits to all qualified individuals who are residents of North Carolina without regard to county of residence to transplant seed oysters from said designated seed oyster management areas, setting out the quantity which may be taken, the times which the taking is permissible and other reasonable restrictions imposed to aid the Secretary in the Secretary’s duty of regulating such transplanting operations. Persons taking such seed oysters may, in the discretion of the Marine Fisheries Commission, be required to pay to the Department for oysters taken an amount to reimburse the Department in full or in part for the costs of seed oyster management operations. Any transplanting operation which does not substantially comply with the restrictions of the permit issued is unlawful.
9. The Marine Fisheries Commission may implement the provisions of this section by rules governing sale, possession, transportation, storage, handling, planting, and harvesting of oysters and clams and setting out any system of marking oysters and clams or of permits or receipts relating to them generally, from both public and private beds, as necessary to regulate the lawful transplanting of seed oysters and oysters or clams taken from or placed on public or private beds.
10. The Commission may establish a fee for each permit established pursuant to this subsection in an amount that compensates the Division for the administrative costs associated with the permit but that does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) per permit.
11. Advance Sale of Permits; Permit Revenue. —  To ensure an orderly transition from one permit year to the next, the Division may issue a permit prior to July 1 of the permit year for which the permit is valid. Revenue that the Division receives for the issuance of a permit prior to the beginning of a permit year shall not revert at the end of the fiscal year in which the revenue is received and shall be credited and available to the Division for the permit year in which the permit is valid.

History. 1921, c. 132, s. 2; C.S., s. 1959(b); 1961, c. 1189, s. 1; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1967, c. 878; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1987, c. 641, s. 6; c. 827, s. 98; 1989, c. 727, s. 100; 1997-400, s. 5.7; 2007-495, s. 3; 2009-433, s. 6; 2013-360, s. 14.8(s); 2014-120, s. 26; 2019-37, s. 5.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2007-495, s. 3, effective August 30, 2007, added subsection (a1).

Session Laws 2009-433, s. 6, effective August 7, 2009, deleted subdivision (a)(2), which read: “When the transplanting is done by a dealer in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 113-169.1(2) and implementing rules; or” and made a related change; in subsection (b), substituted “for the regulation of transplanting operations” for “to aid him in his duty of regulating such transplanting operations”; deleted subsection (c), which read: “It is lawful to transplant to private beds oysters taken from public beds managed by the State for the production of seed oysters in accordance with the implementing rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission. Persons taking such seed oysters may, in the discretion of the Marine Fisheries Commission, be required to pay to the Department for oysters taken an amount to reimburse the Department in full or in part for the costs of seed oyster management operations”; and rewrote subsection (d).

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(s), effective August 1, 2013, added subsections (f) and (g).

Session Laws 2014-120, s. 26, effective September 18, 2014, deleted subsections (a) and (a1); added subsections (a2) through (a4); in subsection (b), inserted “from public bottoms” near the beginning, and substituted “waters in in the restricted or conditionally approved classifications” for “polluted waters.”

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 5, effective July 1, 2019, in subsection (a3), substituted “Unless the Secretary determines that the nursery of shellfish in an area will present a risk to public health, it” for “It”, and “prohibited, restricted” for “restricted.”

Legal Periodicals.

For a note on estuarine pollution, see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 921 (1971).

§ 113-204. Propagation of shellfish.

The Department is authorized to close areas of public bottoms under coastal fishing waters for such time as may be necessary in any program of propagation of shellfish. The Department is authorized to expend State funds planting such areas and to manage them in ways beneficial to the overall productivity of the shellfish industry in North Carolina. The Department in its discretion in accordance with desirable conservation objectives may make shellfish produced by it available to commercial fishermen generally, to those in possession of private shellfish beds, or to selected individuals cooperating with the Department in demonstration projects concerned with the cultivation, harvesting, or processing of shellfish.

History. 1921, c. 132, s. 1; C.S., s. 1959(a); 1961, c. 1189, s. 1; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 101.

§ 113-205. Registration of grants in navigable waters; exercise of private fishery rights.

1. Every person claiming to any part of the bed lying under navigable waters of any coastal county of North Carolina or any right of fishery in navigable waters of any coastal county superior to that of the general public must register the grant, charter, or other authorization under which he claims with the Secretary. Such registration must be accompanied by a survey of the claimed area, meeting criteria established by the Secretary for surveys of oyster and clam leases. All rights and titles not registered in accordance with this section on or before January 1, 1970, are hereby declared null and void. The Secretary must give notice of this section at least once each calendar year for three years by publication in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation throughout all coastal counties of the State. For the purpose of this subsection, “coastal county” shall mean all the following counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the land lying under any private fish pond or irrigation pond.
2. The Marine Fisheries Commission may make reasonable rules governing utilization of private fisheries and may require grantees or others with private rights to mark their fishery areas or private beds in navigable waters as a precondition to the right of excluding the public from exercising the private rights claimed to be secured to them. Nothing in this section is to be deemed to confer upon any grantee or other person with private rights the power to impede navigation upon or hinder any other appropriate use of the surface of navigable waters of North Carolina.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1971, c. 346, s. 1; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1987, c. 827, s. 98.

Legal Periodicals.

For note on defining navigable waters and the application of the public trust doctrine in North Carolina, see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 888 (1971).

For note on estuarine pollution, see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 921 (1971).

For article, “Public Rights and Coastal Zone Management,” see 51 N.C.L. Rev. 1 (1972).

For article, “The Battle to Preserve North Carolina’s Estuarine Marshes: The 1985 Legislation, Private Claims to Estuarine Marshes, Denial of Permits to Fill, and the Public Trust,” see 64 N.C.L. Rev. 565 (1986).

For article, “The Pearl in the Oyster: The Public Trust Doctrine in North Carolina,” see 12 Campbell L. Rev. 23 (1989).

§ 113-206. Chart of grants, leases and fishery rights; overlapping leases and rights; contest or condemnation of claims; damages for taking of property.

1. The Secretary must commence to prepare as expeditiously as possible charts of the waters of North Carolina containing the locations of all oyster and clam leaseholds made by the Department under the provisions of this Article and of all existing leaseholds as they are renewed under the provisions of this Article, the locations of all claims of grant of title to portions of the bed under navigable waters registered with him, and the locations of all areas in navigable waters to which a right of private fishery is claimed and registered with him. Charting or registering any claim by the Secretary in no way implies recognition by the State of the validity of the claim.
2. If a claim is based on an oyster or other shellfish grantor a perpetual franchise for shellfish cultivation, the Secretary may, to resolve the claim, grant a shellfish lease to the claimant for part or all of the area claimed. If a claim of exclusive shellfishing rights was registered based upon a conveyance by the Literary Fund, the North Carolina Literary Board or the State Board of Education, and the claimant shows that the area had been cultivated by the claimant or his predecessor in title for the seven-year period prior to registration of the claim, the Secretary may, to resolve the claim, grant a shellfish lease to the claimant for all or part of the area claimed, not to exceed ten acres. A shellfish lease granted under this subsection is subject to the restrictions imposed on shellfish leases in G.S. 113-202, except the prohibition against leasing an area that contains a natural shellfish bed in G.S. 113-202(a)(2). This restriction is waived because, due to the cultivation efforts of the claimant, the area is likely to contain a natural shellfish bed.
3. In the event of any overlapping of areas leased by the Department, the Secretary shall recommend modification of the areas leased as he deems equitable to all parties. Appeal from the recommendation of the Secretary lies for either party in the same manner as for a lease applicant as to which there is a recommendation of denial or modification of lease. If there is no appeal, or upon settlement of the issue upon appeal, the modified leases must be approved by the Marine Fisheries Commission and reissued by the Secretary in the same manner as initial or renewal leases. Leaseholders must furnish the Secretary surveys of the modified leasehold areas, meeting the requisite criteria for surveys established by the Secretary.
4. In the event of any overlapping of areas leased by the Department and of areas in which title or conflicting private right of fishery is claimed and registered under the provisions of this Article, the Secretary must give preference to the leaseholder engaged in the production of oysters or clams in commercial quantities who received the lease with no notice of the existence of any claimed grant or right of fishery. To this end, the Secretary shall cause a modification of the claim registered with him and its accompanying survey to exclude the leasehold area. Such modification effected by the Secretary has the effect of voiding the grant of title or right of fishing to the extent indicated.
5. In the interest of conservation of the marine and estuarine resources of North Carolina, the Department may institute an action in the superior court to contest the claim of title or claimed right of fishery in any navigable waters of North Carolina registered with the Secretary. In such proceeding, the burden of showing title or right of fishery, by the preponderance of the evidence, shall be upon the claiming title or right holder. In the event the claiming title or right holder prevails, the trier of fact shall fix the monetary worth of the claim. The Department may elect to condemn the claim upon payment of the established owners or right holders their pro rata shares of the amount so fixed. The Department may make such payments from such funds as may be available to it. An appeal lies to the appellate division by either party both as to the validity of the claim and as to the fairness of the amount fixed. The Department in such actions may be represented by the Attorney General. In determining the availability of funds to the Department to underwrite the costs of litigation or make condemnation payments, the use which the Department proposes to make of the area in question may be considered; such payments are to be deemed necessary expenses in the course of operations attending such use or of developing or attempting to develop the area in the proposed manner.
6. A person who claims that the application of G.S. 113-205 or this section has deprived him of his private property rights in land under navigable waters or his right of fishery in navigable waters without just compensation may file a complaint in the superior court of the county in which the property is located to contest the application of G.S. 113-205 or this section. If the plaintiff prevails, the trier of fact shall fix the monetary worth of the claim, and the Department may condemn the claim upon payment of this amount to him if the Secretary considers condemnation appropriate and necessary to conserve the marine and estuarine resources of the State. The Department may pay for a condemned claim from available funds. An action under this subsection is considered a condemnation action and is therefore subject to G.S. 7A-248.The limitation period for an action brought under this subsection is three years. This period is tolled during the disability of the plaintiff. No action, however, may be instituted under this subsection after December 31, 2006.
7. In evaluating claims registered pursuant to G.S. 113-205, the Secretary shall favor public ownership of submerged lands and public trust rights. The Secretary’s action does not alter or affect in any way the rights of a claimant or the State.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1969, c. 44, s. 69; c. 541, s. 11; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1985, c. 279; c. 762; 1989, c. 423, s. 3; c. 727, s. 102; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 869, ss. 1, 2; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 717, ss. 1-3; 1998-179, s. 1; 2006-79, s. 11.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 3(a)-(e), provides: “(a) Definitions. — For purposes of this section and its implementation:

“(1) ‘Extensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom without the use of cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(2) ‘Intensive shellfish culture’ means shellfish grown on the bottom or in the water column using cages, racks, bags, or floats.

“(3) ‘Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule’ means 15A NCAC 03O.0201 (Standards and Requirements for Shellfish Bottom Leases and Franchises and Water Column Leases) for purposes of this section and its implementation.

“(b) Shellfish Production and Planting Requirements Rule. — Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall implement the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Implementation. — Shellfish leases shall be terminated unless they comply with the following requirements:

“(1) Franchises recognized pursuant to G.S. 113-206 and shellfish bottom leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 20 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. For intensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually and for extensive culture bottom operations, the holder of the lease plants a minimum of 15,000 shellfish seed per acre per year.

“(2) Water column leases shall be terminated unless:

“a. They produce a minimum of 50 bushels of shellfish per acre averaged over the previous three-year period beginning in year five of the lease; or

“b. The holder of the lease provides evidence of purchasing a minimum of 23,000 shellfish seed per acre annually.

“(d) Additional Rule-Making Authority. — The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Shellfish Production Requirements Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1), as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) Applicability and Sunset. — This section and rules adopted pursuant to this section apply to all new and renewal shellfish leases granted after July 1, 2019. This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2006-79, s. 11, effective July 10, 2006, deleted the second paragraph of subsection (f), including subdivisions (f)(1) through (4).

Legal Periodicals.

For article, “The Battle to Preserve North Carolina’s Estuarine Marshes: The 1985 Legislation, Private Claims to Estuarine Marshes, Denial of Permits to Fill, and the Public Trust,” see 64 N.C.L. Rev. 565 (1986).

For article, “The Pearl in the Oyster: The Public Trust Doctrine in North Carolina,” see 12 Campbell L. Rev. 23 (1989).

§ 113-207. Taking shellfish from certain areas forbidden; penalty.

1. , (b) Repealed by Session Laws 2009-433, s. 7, effective August 7, 2009.
2. It is unlawful for any person to take shellfish within 150 feet of any part of a publicly owned pier beneath which the Division of Marine Fisheries has deposited cultch material.
3. A person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

History. 1977, c. 515, s. 1; c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 103; 1993, c. 539, s. 841; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1999-143, s. 1; 2009-433, s. 7.

Study Penalties Associated with Violations of Laws Regarding Taking Shellfish and Shellfish Aquaculture Operations.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 10, provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality, in consultation with the North Carolina Department of Justice and the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, shall study the penalties associated with violations of laws regarding taking shellfish and shellfish aquaculture operations. The agencies shall specifically review G.S. 113-207 (Taking shellfish from certain areas forbidden; penalty), G.S. 113-208 (Protection of private shellfish rights), G.S. 113-218 (Protection of private marine aquaculture rights), and G.S. 113-269 (Robbing or injuring hatcheries and other aquaculture operations), and may review other statutes with penalties associated with violations of laws regarding taking shellfish and shellfish aquaculture operations. In their review of the statutes, the agencies shall consider the levels of criminal penalties, fines, and restitution; the consistency and proportionality of the statutes; and whether any of the statutes or their provisions are duplicative. The agencies shall develop recommendations for amendment of the statutes that would make the penalties more consistent and proportional and less duplicative and that would serve to better protect the wild and cultured shellfish resources in the State. The agencies shall report the results of their study, including their recommendations, to the General Assembly no later than March 1, 2020.”

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2009-433, s. 7, effective August 7, 2009, deleted subsection (a), which read: “To the extent that funds are available, the Department shall post oyster rocks or appropriate landing sites to forbid the taking of clams upon such rocks by use of rakes or tongs or any other device which will disturb or damage the oysters thereon. As used in this section, ‘oyster rocks’ mean those rocks in the coastal fishing waters upon which oysters grow.”; deleted subsection (b), which read: “It is unlawful for any person to take clams on oyster rocks posted by the Department by use of rakes, tongs, or any other device which will disturb or damage the oysters growing thereon. This section will not apply to the taking of clams by signing.”; and in subsection (c), made a minor stylistic change.

§ 113-208. Protection of private shellfish rights.

1. It is unlawful for any person, other than the holder of private shellfish rights, to take or attempt to take shellfish from any privately leased, franchised, or deeded shellfish bottom area without written authorization of the holder and with actual knowledge it is a private shellfish bottom area. Actual knowledge will be presumed when the shellfish are taken or attempted to be taken:
   1. From within the confines of posted boundaries of the area as identified by signs, whether the whole or any part of the area is posted, or
   2. When the area has been regularly posted and identified and the person knew the area to be the subject of private shellfish rights.
2. The prosecutor shall dismiss any case brought for a violation of this section if the defendant produces a notarized written authorization in conformance with subsection (a) which states that the defendant had permission to take oysters or clams from the leased area at the time of the alleged violation; except the prosecutor may refuse to dismiss the case if he has reason to believe that the written authorization is fraudulent.

A violation of this section shall constitute a Class A1 misdemeanor, which may include a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). The written authorization shall include the lease number or deed reference, name and address of authorized person, date of issuance, and date of expiration, and it must be signed by the holder of the private shellfish right. Identification signs shall include the lease number or deed reference and the name of the holder.

History. 1979, c. 537; 1987, c. 463; 1989, c. 281, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 842; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1998-225, s. 3.7.

Study Penalties Associated with Violations of Laws Regarding Taking Shellfish and Shellfish Aquaculture Operations.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 10, provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality, in consultation with the North Carolina Department of Justice and the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, shall study the penalties associated with violations of laws regarding taking shellfish and shellfish aquaculture operations. The agencies shall specifically review G.S. 113-207 (Taking shellfish from certain areas forbidden; penalty), G.S. 113-208 (Protection of private shellfish rights), G.S. 113-218 (Protection of private marine aquaculture rights), and G.S. 113-269 (Robbing or injuring hatcheries and other aquaculture operations), and may review other statutes with penalties associated with violations of laws regarding taking shellfish and shellfish aquaculture operations. In their review of the statutes, the agencies shall consider the levels of criminal penalties, fines, and restitution; the consistency and proportionality of the statutes; and whether any of the statutes or their provisions are duplicative. The agencies shall develop recommendations for amendment of the statutes that would make the penalties more consistent and proportional and less duplicative and that would serve to better protect the wild and cultured shellfish resources in the State. The agencies shall report the results of their study, including their recommendations, to the General Assembly no later than March 1, 2020.”

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

Legal Periodicals.

For article, “The Pearl in the Oyster: The Public Trust Doctrine in North Carolina,” see 12 Campbell L. Rev. 23 (1989).

§ 113-209. Taking polluted shellfish at night or with prior conviction forbidden; penalty.

1. It is unlawful for any person between sunset and sunrise to willfully take or attempt to take shellfish from areas closed to harvest by statute, rule, or proclamation because of suspected pollution.
2. It is unlawful for any person to willfully possess, sell or offer for sale shellfish taken between sunset and sunrise from areas closed to harvest by statute, rule, or proclamation because of suspected pollution.
3. It is unlawful for any person who has been convicted of an offense under this Chapter within the preceding two years involving shellfish taken from areas closed because of suspected pollution to willfully take, attempt to take, possess, sell or offer for sale shellfish from areas closed to harvest by statute, rule, or proclamation because of suspected pollution.
4. Any person violating any provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class I felony which may include a fine no less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500). Upon conviction of any person for a violation of this section, the court shall order the confiscation of all weapons, equipment, vessels, vehicles, conveyances, fish, and other evidence, fruit, and instrumentalities of the offense. The confiscated property shall be disposed of in accordance with G.S. 113-137.

History. 1989, c. 275, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 1301; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

§ 113-210. Under Dock Oyster Culture.

1. Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit. —  An Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit authorizes the holder of the permit to attach up to 90 square feet of oyster cultivation containers to a dock or pier owned by the permit holder.
2. Application. —  The owner of a dock or pier who wishes to obtain an Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit shall apply to the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries.
3. Issuance. —  The Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries shall issue an Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit only if the Director determines all of the following:
   1. That the dock or pier is not located in an area that the State Health Director has recommended be closed to shellfish harvest due to pollution or that has been closed to harvest by statute, rule, or proclamation due to suspected pollution.
   2. That the owner of the dock or pier has satisfied the training requirements established by the Marine Fisheries Commission pursuant to subsection (j) of this section.
   3. That the attachment of the oyster cultivation containers to the dock or pier will be compatible with all lawful uses by the public of other marine and estuarine resources. Other lawful public uses include, but are not limited to, navigation, fishing, and recreation.
4. Duration. —  An Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit is valid for a one-year period from the date of issuance.
5. Renewal. —  The Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries shall renew an Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit only if the Director determines the requirements of subsection (c) of this section continue to be satisfied and the holder of the permit is attempting to utilize the permit to cultivate oysters on a continuing basis.
6. Reporting Requirements. —  The holder of an Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit shall comply with the biological data sampling and survey programs of the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Division of Marine Fisheries.
7. Posting of Signs. —  The holder of an Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit shall post signs that indicate the presence of the oyster cultivation containers and that the oyster cultivation containers and their contents are private property.
8. Sale of Oysters Prohibited. —  It is unlawful for the holder of an Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit to sell oysters cultivated pursuant to the permit.
9. Assignment and Transfer Prohibited. —  An Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit is not assignable or transferable.
10. Oyster Cultivation Training Requirements. —  The Marine Fisheries Commission, in consultation with the Sea Grant College Program at The University of North Carolina, shall develop and adopt rules for the training of individuals who cultivate oysters pursuant to this section.
11. Revocation of Permit. —  If the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries determines that the holder of an Under Dock Oyster Culture Permit has failed to comply with any provision of this section, the Director shall revoke the Permit. The owner of the dock or pier shall remove the oyster cultivation containers that were authorized by the revoked permit within 15 days of revocation.
12. Repealed by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(h), effective July 1, 2014.
13. Repealed by Session Laws 2014-120, s. 33(a), effective July 1, 2014.

History. 2004-124, s. 12.7B; 2013-360, s. 14.8(t); 2014-100, s. 14.9(h); 2014-120, s. 33(a).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.10A(a)-(e), provides: “(a) The Division of Marine Fisheries and Division of Coastal Management of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [Department of Environmental Quality] shall, in consultation with representatives of nongovernmental conservation organizations working on oyster restoration, create a new permitting process specifically designed for oyster restoration projects that apply to oyster restoration projects instead of a major development permit under G.S. 113A-118. The Department shall submit its report, including recommended legislation, to the Environmental Review Commission no later than May 1, 2016.

“(b) Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Coastal Resources Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall implement 15A NCAC 03O .0503(g) (Scientific or Educational Activity Permit) as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

“(c) Notwithstanding 15A NCAC 03O .0503(g) (Scientific or Educational Activity Permit), the Division of Marine Fisheries may issue a scientific or educational activity permit for approved activities conducted by or under the direction of a nongovernmental conservation organization in addition to a scientific or educational institution. For purposes of this section, a nongovernmental conservation organization is defined as an organization whose primary mission is the conservation of natural resources.

“(d) The Environmental Management Commission shall adopt rules to amend 15A NCAC 03O .0503(g) and any other cross-referenced rules consistent with subsection (c) of this section. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this subsection shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1) as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided by G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).

“(e) This section is effective when this act becomes law [September 18, 2015]. Subsection (c) of this section expires on the date that rules adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section become effective.”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2015.’ ”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.6, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(t), effective August 1, 2013, added subsections ( l ) and (m).

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.9(h), effective July 1, 2014, deleted subsection ( l ) relating to fees.

Session Laws 2014-120, s. 33(a), effective July 1, 2014, deleted subsection (m) relating to advance sale of permits.

§ 113-211. Shellfish Growers Loan Program.

1. Definitions. —  For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
   1. Department. —The Department of Commerce.
   2. Governmental crop insurance. —Insurance coverage through the United States Department of Agriculture Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
   3. Prime rate. —The interest rate that a commercial bank holds out as its lowest rate for a loan with less than a 36-month term to its most creditworthy borrowers.
   4. Qualifying business. —A business entity or resident subject to taxation under Part 2 of Article 4 of Subchapter I of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes that will use the loan proceeds for the establishment or expansion of shellfish aquaculture businesses, including equipment and supplies for intensive shellfish aquaculture operations, water column leasing, and bottom culture leasing.
   5. Qualifying lender. —A nonprofit corporation or community development financial institution chosen by the Rural Center that engages in lending to small businesses.
   6. Rural Center. —Rural Economic Development Center, Inc., a nonprofit corporation.
2. Program. —  There is established the Shellfish Growers Loan Program to be administered by the Rural Center. The program shall provide a revolving source of low-interest working capital and equipment loans to emerging and existing small shellfish growers in this State. Funds credited to the program are available in perpetuity and must be used only to provide loans to eligible businesses as allowed in this section.
3. [Loans. —]   The following shall apply to the program and loans made under the program:
   1. A loan provided under the program shall have a fixed interest rate that is equal to the prime rate plus two and one-quarter percent (2.25%) and shall be amortized over the term of the loan.
   2. A working capital loan shall have a term of at least 12 months and shall not exceed 24 months.
   3. An equipment loan shall have a term of at least 12 months and shall not exceed 60 months.
   4. A loan provided under the program may not exceed more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per qualifying business.
   5. There shall be no penalty for prepayment of the loan by a qualifying business.
   6. The qualifying lender may retain an amount equal to the interest collected under subdivision (1) of this subsection and may assess an origination fee not to exceed two percent (2%) of the principal amount of the loan.
   7. Loans are made pursuant to an agreement with a qualifying business that includes at least the following:
      1. A provision requiring a qualifying business to certify in writing that it will use the loan proceeds for the establishment or expansion of shellfish aquaculture businesses, including equipment and supplies for intensive shellfish aquaculture operations, water column leasing, and bottom culture leasing.
      2. A provision establishing the method for determining compliance with the program.
      3. A provision requiring the loan is secured through a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement.
      4. A provision requiring recapture of loan funds if a business fails to comply with the requirements of the program. The qualifying lender shall recapture loan funds only if the lender determines there is a reasonable expectation that the recovery of funds will exceed the cost of recovery.
      5. A provision requiring proof that the qualifying business possesses current governmental crop insurance to protect from disasters.
      6. A provision allowing for losses from disasters in excess of governmental crop insurance coverage on loans made to the qualifying business to be covered by the program funds up to the remaining unpaid principal loaned to the qualifying business but not repaid at the time of the loss.
4. Information. —  The qualifying lender shall make available on their website and in the loan application for qualifying businesses information regarding governmental crop insurance for shellfish aquaculture growers through the United States Department of Agriculture.
5. Reporting. —  On September 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Department shall report to the chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources; the chairs of the Joint Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight Committee; the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources; the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources; and the Fiscal Research Division. The Department shall consult with the Rural Center and may consult the North Carolina Coastal Federation in compiling information for the report. Qualifying lenders shall supply information to the Rural Center to compile information for the report. The duty to report pursuant to this section shall continue for the duration of the program until the funds appropriated for the program are depleted. Each report shall contain, at a minimum, all of the following:
   1. The number, average size, and location of qualifying businesses that received loans under the prior fiscal year of the report.
   2. The average loan amount.
   3. The total amount loaned to date.
   4. The total amount of loans repaid to date.
   5. The total amount of loans defaulted on to date.
   6. The total amount of loans defaulted that have been recaptured.

History. 2021-180, s. 11.4(b).

Editor's Note.

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 43.8, made this section, as added by Session Laws 2021-180, s. 11.4(b), effective July 1, 2021.

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 11.4(a), provides: “Of the funds appropriated in this act to the Department of Commerce, the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in nonrecurring funds is allocated to the Rural Economic Development Center, Inc. (Rural Center), a nonprofit corporation, for the Shellfish Growers Loan Program created in subsection (b) of this section.” Subsection (b) of this section is codified as G.S. 113–211.

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 11.4(c), provides: “The Rural Center shall select Array Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit corporation, as a qualifying lender for the purposes set forth in G.S. 113-211, as enacted by this section.”

At the direction of the Revisor of Statutes, the bracketed catchline has been added to subsection (c).

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2021’.”

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 43.5, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2021-180, s. 43.7, is a severability clause.

§§ 113-212 through 113-214.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 113-215. Definitions.

In addition to the definitions in G.S. 113-128 and G.S. 113-129, the following definitions shall apply in this Article:

1. Marine aquaculture. — The propagation and rearing of marine aquatic species in controlled or selected environments, including, but not limited to, ocean ranching, marine hatcheries, and other deep water fish farming operations in the coastal fishing waters of the State and, to the extent not inconsistent with federal law, to the limits of the United States exclusive economic zone, as that term is defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq.
2. Marine aquaculture lease. — A lease of the public bottom and superjacent water column granted by the Secretary for marine aquaculture.
3. Marine aquatic species. — Any species of finfish, mollusk, crustacean, or other aquatic invertebrate, amphibian, reptile, or aquatic plant, and including, but not limited to, “fish” and “fishes,” as defined in G.S. 113-129(7), found exclusively or for part of its life cycle in coastal fishing waters.

History. 2017-190, s. 1.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2017-190, s. 2, provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality shall do the following:

“(1) Request that the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils develop a Fishery Management Plan for regulating offshore aquaculture in federal waters offshore from the North Carolina coast.

“(2) Petition the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to initiate rule-making proceedings to implement a comprehensive regulatory program for managing the development of an environmentally sound and economically sustainable aquaculture fishery in federal waters offshore from the North Carolina coast.

“The Division shall provide an interim report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources no later than February 1, 2018, regarding their progress in implementing this section and a final report on or before May 1, 2018, that includes the request and petition required by this section.”

§ 113-216. Legislative findings and declaration of policy.

The General Assembly finds that development of a marine aquaculture industry in the State provides increased seafood production and long-term economic and employment opportunities. The General Assembly declares that it is the policy of the State to encourage the development of private, commercial marine aquaculture in ways that are compatible with other public uses of marine and estuarine resources such as navigation, fishing, and recreation.

History. 2017-190, s. 1.

§ 113-217. New leases for marine aquaculture.

1. To increase the use of suitable areas underlying coastal fishing waters for establishment of marine aquaculture, the Secretary may grant marine aquaculture leases under the terms of this section when the Secretary determines, in accordance with the Secretary’s duty to conserve the marine and estuarine resources of the State, that the public interest will benefit from issuance of the lease. Suitable areas for marine aquaculture shall meet the following minimum standards:
   1. The area leased must not contain a natural commercially significant shellfish bed.
   2. The marine aquaculture operation in the leased area will not unreasonably interfere with lawful utilization by the public of other marine and estuarine resources. Other public uses which may be considered include, but are not limited to, navigation, fishing, and recreation.
   3. The operation of a marine aquaculture operation in the leased area will not unreasonably interfere upon the rights of riparian owners.
   4. The area leased must not include an area designated for inclusion in the Department’s Shellfish Management Program.
   5. The area leased must not include an area that the State Health Director has recommended be closed to shellfish harvest by reason of pollution.
   6. The marine aquaculture operation would not unreasonably interfere with public access and use of waters of the State, taking into account the potential economic impact of the operation.
   7. Aquaculture use of the leased area must not significantly impair navigation.
   8. The leased area must not be within a navigation channel marked or maintained by a State or federal agency.
   9. The leased area must not be within an area traditionally used and available for significant levels of fishing or hunting activities incompatible with the activities proposed by the leaseholder, such as trawling or seining.
   10. Aquaculture use of the leased area must not significantly interfere with the exercise of riparian rights by adjacent property owners, including access to navigation channels from piers or other means of access.
2. The Secretary may delete any part of an area proposed for lease or may condition a lease to protect the public interest with respect to the factors enumerated in subsection (a) of this section. The Secretary shall enter into memoranda of agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers or any other appropriate State or federal regulatory agencies to provide for appropriate standards and markings for marine aquaculture structures to avoid impairment of navigation.
3. No person, including a corporate entity or single family unit, may acquire and hold by lease, lease renewal, or purchase more than 1,500 acres under marine aquaculture leases. No individual lease may exceed 100 acres. For purposes of this subsection, the number of acres of leases held by a person includes acres held by a corporation in which the person holds an interest.
4. Any person desiring to apply for a lease must make written application to the Secretary on forms prepared by the Department containing such information as deemed necessary to determine the desirability of granting or not granting the lease requested. Except in the case of renewal leases, the application must be accompanied by a map or diagram made at the expense of the applicant, showing the area proposed to be leased.
5. The map or diagram must conform to standards prescribed by the Secretary concerning accuracy of map or diagram and the amount of detail that must be shown. If, on the basis of the application information and map or diagram, the Secretary deems that granting the lease would benefit the marine aquaculture industry of North Carolina, the Secretary must order an investigation of the area proposed to be leased. The investigation is to be made by the Secretary or the Secretary’s authorized agent to determine whether the area proposed to be leased is consistent with the standards in subsection (a) of this section. In the event the Secretary finds the application inconsistent with the applicable standards, the Secretary shall deny the application or propose that a conditional lease be issued that is consistent with the applicable standards. In the event the Secretary authorizes amendment of the application, the applicant must furnish a new map or diagram meeting requisite standards showing the area proposed to be leased under the amended application. At the time of making an application for an initial lease, the applicant must pay a filing fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
6. The area proposed to be leased must be as compact as possible, taking into consideration the shape of the body of water, the consistency of the bottom, and the desirability of separating the boundaries of a leasehold by a sufficient distance from any other marine aquaculture operations or shellfish leases.
7. Within 60 days after receipt of an application that complies with subsection (e) of this section, the Secretary shall notify the applicant of the intended action on the lease application. If the intended action is approval of the application as submitted, or approval with a modification to which the applicant agrees, the Secretary shall conduct a public hearing in the county where the proposed leasehold lies. The Secretary must publish at least two notices of the intention to lease in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the proposed leasehold lies. The first publication must precede the public hearing by more than 20 days; the second publication must follow the first by seven to 11 days. The notice of intention to lease must contain a description of the area of the proposed leasehold sufficient to establish its boundaries with reasonable ease and certainty and must also contain the date, hour, and place of the hearing.
8. After consideration of the public comment received and any additional investigations the Secretary orders to evaluate the comments, the Secretary shall notify the applicant in person or by certified or registered mail of the decision on the lease application. The Secretary shall also notify persons who submitted comments at the public hearing and requested notice of the lease decision. An applicant who is dissatisfied with the Secretary’s decision or another person aggrieved by the decision may commence a contested case by filing a petition under G.S. 150B-23 within 20 days after receiving notice of the Secretary’s decision. In the event the Secretary’s decision is a modification to which the applicant agrees, the lease applicant must furnish an amended map or diagram before the lease can be issued by the Secretary.
9. After a lease application is approved by the Secretary, the applicant shall submit to the Secretary information sufficient to define the bounds of the area approved for leasing with markers in accordance with the rules of the Commission. The information shall conform to standards prescribed by the Secretary concerning accuracy of survey and the amount of detail to be shown. When information is submitted, the boundaries are marked and all fees and rents due in advance are paid, the Secretary shall execute the lease on forms approved by the Attorney General. The Secretary is authorized, with the approval of the lessee, to amend an existing lease by reducing the area under lease or by combining contiguous leases without increasing the total area leased.
10. Initial leases begin upon the issuance of the lease by the Secretary and expire at noon on the first day of July following the twentieth anniversary of the granting of the lease. Renewal leases are issued for a period of 20 years from the time of expiration of the previous lease. At the time of making application for renewal of a lease, the applicant must pay a filing fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00). The rental for initial leases and renewed leases is two hundred ten dollars ($210.00) per acre, per year. Rental must be paid annually in advance prior to the first day of April each year. Upon initial granting of a lease, the pro rata amount for the portion of the year left until the first day of July must be paid in advance at the rate of two hundred ten dollars ($210.00) per acre, per year; then, on or before the first day of April next, the lessee must pay the rental for the next full year.
11. Except as otherwise restricted by this Article, leaseholds granted under this section are to be treated as if they were real property and are subject to all laws relating to taxation, sale, devise, inheritance, gift, seizure and sale under execution or other legal process, and the like. Leases properly acknowledged and probated are eligible for recordation in the same manner as instruments conveying an estate in real property. Within 30 days after transfer of beneficial ownership of all or any portion of or interest in a leasehold to another, the new owner must notify the Secretary of such fact. Such transfer is not valid until notice is furnished to the Secretary.
12. Upon receipt of notice by the Secretary of any of the following occurrences, the Secretary must commence action to terminate the leasehold:
    1. Failure to pay the annual rent in advance.
    2. Failure to file information required by the Secretary upon annual remittance of rental or filing false information on the form required to accompany the annual remittance of rental.
    3. Failure by new owner to report a transfer of beneficial ownership of all, or any portion of, or interest in the leasehold.
    4. Failure to mark the boundaries in the leasehold and to keep them marked as required in the rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission.
    5. Failure to utilize the leasehold on a continuing basis for marine aquaculture purposes, except if marine aquaculture activities under the lease are suspended as a part of a disease or biosecurity plan.
13. In the event the leaseholder takes steps within 30 days to remedy the situation upon which the notice of intention to terminate was based, and the Secretary is satisfied that continuation of the lease is in the best interests of the shellfish culture of the State, the Secretary may discontinue termination procedures. Where there is no discontinuance of termination procedures, the leaseholder may initiate a contested case by filing a petition under G.S. 150B-23 within 30 days of receipt of notice of intention to terminate. Where the leaseholder does not initiate a contested case, or the final decision upholds termination, the Secretary must send a final letter of termination to the leaseholder. The final letter of termination may not be mailed sooner than 30 days after receipt by the leaseholder of the Secretary’s notice of intention to terminate, or of the final agency decision, as appropriate. The lease is terminated effective at midnight on the day the final notice of termination is served on the leaseholder. The final notice of termination may not be issued pending hearing of a contested case initiated by the leaseholder.Service of any notice required in this subsection may be accomplished by certified mail, return receipt requested; personal service by any law enforcement officer; or upon the failure of these two methods, publication. Service by publication shall be accomplished by publishing such notices in a newspaper of general circulation within the county where the lease is located for at least once a week for three successive weeks and by posting the notices on the Commission’s Web site. The format for notice by publication shall be approved by the Attorney General.
14. Upon final termination of any leasehold, the leased area in question is thrown open to the public for use in accordance with laws and rules governing use of public grounds generally. Within 30 days of final termination of the leasehold, the former leaseholder shall remove all abandoned markers denominating the area of the leasehold. The State may, after 10 days’ notice to the owner of the abandoned markers thereof, remove the abandoned structure and have the area cleaned up. The cost of such removal and cleanup shall be payable by the owner of the abandoned markers and the State may bring suit to recover the costs thereof.
15. Every year between January 1 and February 15, the Secretary must mail to all leaseholders a notice of the annual rental due and include forms designed by the Secretary for determining the amount of harvest gathered. Such forms may contain other pertinent questions relating to the utilization of the leasehold in the best interests of the aquaculture industry of the State and must be executed and returned by the leaseholder with the payment of the leaseholder’s rental. Any leaseholder or the leaseholder’s agent executing such forms for the leaseholder who knowingly makes a false statement on such forms is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

History. 2017-190, s. 1.

§ 113-218. Protection of private marine aquaculture rights.

It is unlawful for any person, other than the holder of a lease issued under this Article, to take or attempt to take marine species being produced under the license and associated lease from any privately leased, franchised, or deeded marine aquaculture operation without written authorization of the holder and with actual knowledge it is a marine aquaculture leased area. Actual knowledge will be presumed when the marine species are taken or attempted to be taken under the following circumstances:

1. From within the confines of posted boundaries of the area as identified by signs, whether the whole or any part of the area is posted; or
2. When the area has been regularly posted and identified and the person knew the area to be the subject of private marine aquaculture rights.

A violation of this subsection shall constitute a Class A1 misdemeanor, which may include a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). The written authorization shall include the lease number or deed reference, name and address of authorized person, date of issuance, and date of expiration, and it must be signed by the holder of the marine aquaculture rights. Identification signs shall include the lease number or deed reference and the name of the holder.

History. 2017-190, s. 1.

Study Penalties Associated with Violations of Laws Regarding Taking Shellfish and Shellfish Aquaculture Operations.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 10, provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality, in consultation with the North Carolina Department of Justice and the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, shall study the penalties associated with violations of laws regarding taking shellfish and shellfish aquaculture operations. The agencies shall specifically review G.S. 113-207 (Taking shellfish from certain areas forbidden; penalty), G.S. 113-208 (Protection of private shellfish rights), G.S. 113-218 (Protection of private marine aquaculture rights), and G.S. 113-269 (Robbing or injuring hatcheries and other aquaculture operations), and may review other statutes with penalties associated with violations of laws regarding taking shellfish and shellfish aquaculture operations. In their review of the statutes, the agencies shall consider the levels of criminal penalties, fines, and restitution; the consistency and proportionality of the statutes; and whether any of the statutes or their provisions are duplicative. The agencies shall develop recommendations for amendment of the statutes that would make the penalties more consistent and proportional and less duplicative and that would serve to better protect the wild and cultured shellfish resources in the State. The agencies shall report the results of their study, including their recommendations, to the General Assembly no later than March 1, 2020.”

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

§§ 113-219, 113-220.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 113-221. Rules.

1. Chapter 150B of the General Statutes governs the adoption of rules under this Article.
2. Upon purchasing a license, each licensee shall be provided access to a copy of the rules concerning the activities authorized by the license. The copy may be in written or electronic form, including by file download over the Internet. A written copy of the rules shall be provided to a licensee upon request.
3. The Fisheries Director shall notify licensees of a new rule or change to a rule by sending each licensee either a newsletter containing the text of the rule or change or an updated codification of the rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission that contains the new rule or change. The Director may elect to use electronic means rather than mail to notify licensees if electronic means would be more timely and cost-effective. A written copy of any notification produced in accordance with this section shall be provided to a licensee upon request.
4. Unless there are overriding policy considerations involved, any rule of the Marine Fisheries Commission that will result in severe curtailment of the usefulness or value of equipment in which fishermen have any substantial investment shall be given a future effective date so as to minimize undue potential economic loss to fishermen. Whether or not any rule will result in severe curtailment of the usefulness or value of equipment in which fishermen have any substantial investment and whether or not a future effective date should be set is a matter within the sole discretion of the Marine Fisheries Commission. This subsection does not require the Marine Fisheries Commission to establish an effective date that is more than two years later than the date on which the rule is adopted.
5. Repealed by Session Laws 2003-154, s. 1, effective July 1, 2003.
6. Repealed by Session Laws 2003-154, s. 1, effective July 1, 2003.
7. All persons who may be affected by rules adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission are under a duty to keep themselves informed of the current rules. It is no defense in any criminal prosecution for the defendant to show that the defendant in fact received no notice of a particular rule. In any prosecution for violation of a rule, or in which proof of matter contained in a rule is involved, the Department is deemed to have complied with publication procedures and the burden is on the defendant to show by the greater weight of the evidence substantial failure of compliance by the Department with the required publication procedures.
8. Every court shall take judicial notice of any codification of rules issued by the Fisheries Director within two years preceding the date of the offense charged or transaction in issue. In the absence of any indication to the contrary, the codifications are to be deemed accurate and current statements of the text of the rules in question and it is incumbent upon any person asserting that a relevant portion of the codified text is inaccurate, or has been amended or deleted, to satisfy the court as to the text of the rules that is in fact properly applicable.
9. Repealed by Session Laws 1983, c. 221, s. 1.

History. 1915, c. 84, s. 21; 1917, c. 290, s. 7; C.S., s. 1878; 1925, c. 168, s. 2; 1935, c. 35; 1945, c. 776; 1953, cc. 774, 1134, 1251; 1963, c. 1097, s. 1; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; c. 1331, s. 3; 1975, 2nd Sess., c. 983, s. 70; 1979, c. 388, s. 6; 1983, cc. 221, 619, 620; 1987, c. 641, ss. 7, 19; c. 827, s. 7; 1997-400, s. 4.3; 1998-225, s. 3.8; 2000-189, s. 9; 2003-154, s. 1; 2014-100, s. 14.13.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.13, effective July 1, 2014, in subsection (b), substituted “provided access to” for “given” in the first sentence and added the second and third sentences; and added the last two sentences in subsection (c).

§ 113-221.1. Proclamations; emergency review.

1. Chapter 150B of the General Statutes does not apply to proclamations issued under this Article.
2. The Marine Fisheries Commission may delegate to the Fisheries Director the authority to issue proclamations suspending or implementing, in whole or in part, particular rules of the Commission that may be affected by variable conditions. These proclamations shall be issued by the Fisheries Director or by a person designated by the Fisheries Director. Except as provided in this subsection, all proclamations shall state the hour and date upon which they become effective and shall be issued at least 48 hours in advance of the effective date and time. A proclamation that prohibits the taking of certain fisheries resources for reasons of public health or that governs a quota-managed fishery may be made effective immediately upon issuance. A proclamation to reopen the taking of certain fisheries resources closed for reasons of public health shall be issued at least 12 hours in advance of the effective date and time of the reopening. A person who violates a proclamation that is made effective immediately upon issuance shall not be charged with a criminal offense for the violation if the violation occurred between the time of issuance and 48 hours after the issuance and the person did not have actual notice of the issuance of the proclamation. Fisheries resources taken or possessed by any person in violation of any proclamation may be seized regardless of whether the person had actual notice of the proclamation. A permanent file of the text of all proclamations shall be maintained in the office of the Fisheries Director. Certified copies of proclamations are entitled to judicial notice in any civil or criminal proceeding. The Fisheries Director shall make every reasonable effort to give actual notice of the terms of any proclamation to persons who may be affected by the proclamation. Reasonable effort includes a press release to communications media, posting of a notice at docks and other places where persons affected may gather, personal communication by inspectors and other agents of the Fisheries Director, and other measures designed to reach the persons who may be affected. It is a defense to an enforcement action for a violation of a proclamation that a person was prevented from receiving notice of the proclamation due to a natural disaster or other act of God occasioned exclusively by violence of nature without interference of any human agency and that could not have been prevented or avoided by the exercise of due care or foresight.
3. All persons who may be affected by proclamations issued by the Fisheries Director are under a duty to keep themselves informed of current proclamations. It is no defense in any criminal prosecution for the defendant to show that the defendant in fact received no notice of a particular proclamation. In any prosecution for violation of a proclamation, or in which proof of matter contained in a proclamation is involved, the Department is deemed to have complied with publication procedures; and the burden is on the defendant to show, by the greater weight of the evidence, substantial failure of compliance by the Department with the required publication procedures.
4. Pursuant to the request of five or more members of the Marine Fisheries Commission, the Chair of the Marine Fisheries Commission may call an emergency meeting of the Commission to review an issuance or proposed issuance of proclamations under the authority delegated to the Fisheries Director pursuant to subsection (b) of this section or to review the desirability of directing the Fisheries Director to issue a proclamation to prohibit or allow the taking of certain fisheries resources. At least 48 hours prior to any emergency meeting called pursuant to this subsection, a public announcement of the meeting shall be issued that describes the action requested by the members of the Marine Fisheries Commission. The Department shall make every reasonable effort to give actual notice of the meeting to persons who may be affected. After its review is complete, the Marine Fisheries Commission, consistent with its duty to protect, preserve, and enhance the commercial and sports fisheries resources of the State, may approve, cancel, or modify the previously issued or proposed proclamation under review or may direct the Fisheries Director to issue a proclamation that prohibits or allows the taking of certain fisheries resources. An emergency meeting called pursuant to this subsection and any resulting orders issued by the Marine Fisheries Commission are exempt from the provisions of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. The decisions of the Marine Fisheries Commission shall be the final decision of the State and shall not be set aside on judicial review unless found to be arbitrary and capricious.

History. 1915, c. 84, s. 21; 1917, c. 290, s. 7; C.S., s. 1878; 1925, c. 168, s. 2; 1935, c. 35; 1945, c. 776; 1953, cc. 774, 1134, 1251; 1963, c. 1097, s. 1; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; c. 1331, s. 3; 1975, 2nd Sess., c. 983, s. 70; 1979, c. 388, s. 6; 1983, cc. 221, 619, 620; 1987, c. 641, ss. 7, 19; c. 827, s. 7; 1997-400, s. 4.3; 1998-225, s. 3.8; 2000-189, s. 9; 2003-154, s. 2.

Editor’s Note.

The provisions of this section were formerly codified as G.S. 113-221, and were recodified as this section pursuant to Session Laws 2003-154, s. 2.

§ 113-221.2. Additional rules to establish sanitation requirements for scallops, shellfish, and crustacea; permits and permit fees authorized.

1. Authority to Adopt Certain Rules and Establish Permits. —  For the protection of the public health, the Marine Fisheries Commission shall adopt rules establishing sanitation requirements for the harvesting, processing and handling of scallops, shellfish, and crustacea of in-State origin. The rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission may also regulate scallops, shellfish, and crustacea shipped into North Carolina. The Department is authorized to enforce the rules and may issue and revoke permits according to the rules. The Department is authorized to establish a fee for each permit not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).
2. Advance Sale of Permits; Permit Revenue. —  To ensure an orderly transition from one permit year to the next, the Division may issue a permit prior to July 1 of the permit year for which the permit is valid. Revenue that the Division receives for the issuance of a permit prior to the beginning of a permit year shall not revert at the end of the fiscal year in which the revenue is received and shall be credited and available to the Division for the permit year in which the permit is valid.

History. 1965, c. 783, s. 1; 1967, c. 1005, s. 1; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 2011-145, s. 13.3(ppp), (qqq); 2013-360, s. 14.8(u).

Editor’s Note.

This section was formerly codified as G.S. 130A-230. It was recodified as G.S. 113-221.2 by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(ppp), effective July 1, 2011.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(www), effective July 1, 2011, provides: “The transfers under this section become effective July 1, 2011, and funds transferred shall be net of any changes enacted by this section. Any references in this act to any program, office, section, division, or department that is transferred under this section shall be construed to be consistent with the transfer under this section.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2011.’ ”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.5, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(qqq), effective July 1, 2011, rewrote the section catchline, which formerly read: “Commission to adopt rules; enforcement of rules”; and in text, twice inserted “Marine Fisheries” and made minor stylistic changes.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.8(u), effective August 1, 2013, added “permits and permit fees authorized” in the section heading; redesignated the formerly undesignated provisions of this section as present subsection (a); added the last sentence to subsection (a); and added subsection (b).

§ 113-221.3. Monitoring program for State coastal fishing and recreation waters; removal or destruction of warning signs.

1. For the protection of the public health of swimmers and others who use the State’s coastal fishing waters for recreational activities, the Department shall develop and implement a program to monitor the State’s coastal fishing waters for contaminants. The monitoring program shall cover all coastal fishing waters up to the point where those waters are classified as inland fishing waters.
2. The Marine Fisheries Commission shall adopt rules to provide for a water quality monitoring program for the coastal recreation waters of the State and to allow the Department to implement the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-284; 114 Stat. 870, 875; 33 U.S.C. §§ 1313, 1362). The rules shall address, but are not limited to, definitions, surveys, sampling, action standards, and posting of information on the water quality of coastal recreation waters.
3. No person shall remove, destroy, damage, deface, mutilate, or otherwise interfere with any sign posted by the Department pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. No person, without just cause or excuse, shall have in his or her possession any sign posted by the Department pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
4. As used in this section, coastal recreation waters has the same meaning as in 33 U.S.C. § 1362.

History. 1997-443, s. 15.17(a); 2003-149, s. 1; 2011-145, s. 13.3(rrr), (sss).

Editor’s Note.

This section was formerly codified as G.S. 130A-233.1. It was recodified as G.S. 113-221.3 by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(rrr), effective July 1, 2011.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(www), provides: “The transfers under this section become effective July 1, 2011, and funds transferred shall be net of any changes enacted by this section. Any references in this act to any program, office, section, division, or department that is transferred under this section shall be construed to be consistent with the transfer under this section.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2011.’ ”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.5, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(sss), effective July 1, 2011, substituted “removal or destruction of warning signs” for “development and implementation of program” in the section catchline; inserted “Marine Fisheries” in subsection (b); and added subsections (c) and (d).

§ 113-221.4. Embargo.

1. If the Secretary of Environmental Quality or a local health director has probable cause to believe that any scallops, shellfish, or crustacea is adulterated or misbranded, the Secretary of Environmental Quality or a local health director may detain or embargo the article by affixing a tag to it and warning all persons not to remove or dispose of the article until permission for removal or disposal is given by the official by whom it was detained or embargoed or by the court. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or dispose of the detained or embargoed article without that permission.
2. The official by whom the scallops, shellfish, or crustacea was detained or embargoed shall petition a judge of the district or superior court in whose jurisdiction the article is detained or embargoed for an order for condemnation of the article. If the court finds that the article is adulterated or misbranded, that article shall be destroyed under the supervision of the petitioner. All court costs and fees, storage and other expense shall be taxed against the claimant of the article. If, the article, by proper labelling can be properly branded, the court, after the payment of all costs, fees, expenses, and an adequate bond, may order that the article be delivered to the claimant for proper labelling under the supervision of the petitioner. The bond shall be returned to the claimant after the petitioner represents to the court that the article is no longer mislabelled and that the expenses of supervision have been paid.

History. 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 1997-261, s. 109; 1997-443, s. 11A.63A; 2006-80, s. 1; 2007-7, s. 1; 2011-145, s. 13.3(ttt), (uuu); 2015-241, s. 14.30(v).

Editor’s Note.

This section was formerly codified as G.S. 130A-21(c). It was recodified as G.S. 113-221.4 by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(ttt), effective July 1, 2011.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(www), provides: “The transfers under this section become effective July 1, 2011, and funds transferred shall be net of any changes enacted by this section. Any references in this act to any program, office, section, division, or department that is transferred under this section shall be construed to be consistent with the transfer under this section.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2011.’ ”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.5, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(uuu), effective July 1, 2011, added the subsection (a) and (b) designations, and therein substituted “shellfish, or crustacea” for “shellfish or crustacea” in the first sentence.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(v), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “Secretary of Environmental Quality” for “Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources” twice in subsection (a).

§ 113-221.5. Right of entry to enforce certain sanitation requirements.

The Secretary of Environmental Quality and a local health director shall each have the delegable right of entry upon the premises of any place where entry is necessary to enforce the provisions of G.S. 113-221.2(a) or the rules adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission or a local board of health. If consent for entry is not obtained, an administrative search and inspection warrant shall be obtained pursuant to G.S. 15-27.2. However, if an imminent hazard exists, no warrant is required for entry upon the premises.

History. 2016-94, s. 14.15.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.15, enacted this section with a subsection (a) designation, but with no subsection (b). The subsection (a) designation has been removed at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes.

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 1.2, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2016.’ ”

Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.7, is a severability clause.

§ 113-222. Arrest, service of process and witness fees of inspectors.

All arrest fees and other fees that may be charged in any bill of costs for service of process by inspectors must be paid to the county in which the trial is held. No witness fee may be taxed in any bill of costs by virtue of the appearance of an inspector as a witness in a criminal case within his enforcement jurisdiction. Acceptance by any inspector of any arrest fee, witness fee, or any other fee to which he is not entitled is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 843; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

§ 113-223. Reciprocal agreements by Department generally.

Subject to the specific provisions of G.S. 113-169.5 and G.S. 113-170.1 relating to reciprocal provisions as to landing and selling catch and as to licenses, the Department is empowered to make reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions respecting any of the matters governed in this Subchapter. Pursuant to such agreements the Department may modify provisions of this Subchapter in order to effectuate the purposes of such agreements, in the overall best interests of the conservation of marine and estuarine resources.

History. 1915, c. 84, s. 5; 1917, c. 290, s. 10; C.S., s. 1883; 1953, c. 1086; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 104; 1998-225, s. 4.22.

§ 113-224. Cooperative agreements by Department.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Department is empowered to enter into cooperative agreements with public and private agencies and individuals respecting the matters governed in this Subchapter. Pursuant to such agreements the Department may expend funds, assign employees to additional duties within or without the State, assume additional responsibilities, and take other actions that may be required by virtue of such agreements, in the overall best interests of the conservation of marine and estuarine resources.
2. The Fisheries Director or a designee of the Fisheries Director shall not enter into an agreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service of the United States Department of Commerce allowing Division of Marine Fisheries inspectors to accept delegation of law enforcement powers over matters within the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 105; 2014-100, s. 14.11(a); 2015-201, s. 3(a).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.11(a), effective July 1, 2014, designated the existing provisions as subsection (a), and added subsection (b).

Session Laws 2015-201, s. 3(a), effective August 5, 2015, inserted “Except as otherwise provided in this section” in the first sentence of subsection (a); and substituted “shall not” for “may” in subsection (b).

§ 113-225. Inspectors not to have financial interest in fisheries.

Except as provided in this Subchapter respecting operations of demonstration and research projects by employees of the Department as part of their employment, no inspector may be financially interested in any fishing industry in the State of North Carolina.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2.

§ 113-226. Administrative authority of Department; administration of funds; delegation of powers.

1. In the overall best interests of the conservation of marine and estuarine resources, the Department may lease or purchase lands, equipment, and other property; accept gifts and grants on behalf of the State; establish boating and fishing access areas; establish fisheries, fishery processing or storage plants, planted seafood beds, fish farms, and other enterprises related to the conservation of marine and estuarine resources as research or demonstration projects either alone or in cooperation with some individual or agency; sell the catch or processed fish or other marine and estuarine resources resulting from research fishing operations or demonstration projects; provide matching funds for entering into projects with some other governmental agency or with some scientific, educational, or charitable foundation or institution; condemn lands in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 40A of the General Statutes and other governing provisions of law; and sell, lease, or give away property acquired by it. Provided, that any private person selected to receive gifts or benefits by the Department be selected:
   1. With regard to the overall public interest that may result, and
   2. From a defined class upon such a rational basis open to all within the class as to prevent constitutional infirmity with respect to requirements of equal protection of the laws or prohibitions against granting exclusive privileges or emoluments.
2. All money credited to, held by, or to be received by the Department in respect of the conservation of marine and estuarine resources must be deposited with the Department. In administering such funds and recommending expenditures, the Department must give attention to the sources of the revenues received so as to encourage disbursements to be made on an equitable basis; nevertheless, except as provided in this section, separate funds may not be established and particular projects and programs deemed to be of sufficient importance in the conservation of marine and estuarine resources may receive proportional shares of Department expenditures that are greater than the proportional shares of license and other revenues produced by such projects or programs for the Department.
3. If as a precondition of receiving funds under any cooperative program there must be a separation of license revenues received from certain classes of licensees and utilization of such revenues for limited purposes, the Department is directed to make such arrangements for separate accounting or for separate funding as may be necessary to insure the use of the revenues for the required purposes and eligibility for the cooperative funds. In such instance, if required, such revenues may be retained by the Department until expended upon the limited purposes in question. This subsection applies whether the cooperative program is with a public or private agency and whether the Department acts alone on behalf of the State or in conjunction with the Wildlife Resources Commission or some other State agency.
4. Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 28.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1987, c. 827, s. 103; 1989, c. 727, s. 106.

§ 113-227. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 28.

§ 113-228. Adoption of federal regulations.

To the extent that the Department is granted authority in this Subchapter over subject matter as to which there is concurrent federal jurisdiction, the Marine Fisheries Commission in its discretion may by reference in its rules adopt relevant provisions of federal laws and regulations as State rules. To prevent confusion or conflict of jurisdiction in enforcement, the Marine Fisheries Commission is exempt from any conflicting limitations in G.S. 150B-21.6 so that it may provide for automatic incorporation by reference into its rules of future changes within any particular set of federal laws or regulations relating to some subject clearly within the jurisdiction of the Department.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1987, c. 641, s. 11; c. 827, s. 104; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 890, s. 7.

§ 113-229. Permits to dredge or fill in or about estuarine waters or State-owned lakes.

1. Except as hereinafter provided before any excavation or filling project is begun in any estuarine waters, tidelands, marshlands, or State-owned lakes, the party or parties desiring to do such shall first obtain a permit from the Department. Granting of the State permit shall not relieve any party from the necessity of obtaining a permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers for work in navigable waters, if the same is required. The Department shall continue to coordinate projects pertaining to navigation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
2. All applications for such permits shall include a plat of the areas in which the proposed work will take place, indicating the location, width, depth and length of any proposed channel, the disposal area, and a copy of the deed or other instrument under which the applicant claims title to the property adjoining the waters in question, (or any land covered by waters), tidelands, or marshlands, or if the applicant is not the owner, then a copy of the deed or other instrument under which the owner claims title plus written permission from the owner to carry out the project on his land.
3. In lieu of a deed or other instrument referred to in subsection (b) of this section, the agency authorized to issue such permits may accept some other reasonable evidence of ownership of the property in question or other lawful authority to make use of the property.
4. The Coastal Resources Commission may, by rule, designate certain classes of major and minor development for which a general or blanket permit may be issued. In developing these rules, the Commission shall consider all of the following:
   1. The size of the development.
   2. The impact of the development on areas of environmental concern.
   3. How often the class of development is carried out.
   4. The need for on-site oversight of the development.
   5. The need for public review and comment on individual development projects.
5. General permits may be issued by the Commission as rules under the provisions of G.S. 113A-118.1. Individual development carried out under the provisions of general permits shall not be subject to the mandatory notice provisions of this section. The Commission may impose reasonable notice provisions and other appropriate conditions and safeguards on any general permit it issues. The variance, appeals, and enforcement provisions of this Article shall apply to any individual development projects undertaken under a general permit.
6. An applicant for a permit, other than an emergency permit, shall notify the owner of each tract of riparian property that adjoins that of the applicant. An applicant may satisfy the required notification of adjoining riparian property owners by either (i) obtaining from each adjoining riparian property owner a signed statement that the adjoining riparian property owner has no objection to the proposed project or (ii) providing a copy of the applicant’s permit application to each adjoining riparian property owner by certified mail. If the owner’s address is unknown and cannot be ascertained with due diligence or if a diligent but unsuccessful effort has been made to serve the copy by certified mail, publication in accordance with the rules of the Commission shall serve to satisfy the notification requirement. An owner may file written objections to the permit with the Department for 30 days after the owner is served with a copy of the application by certified mail. In the case of a special emergency dredge or fill permit the applicant must certify that the applicant took all reasonable steps to notify adjacent riparian owners of the application for a special emergency dredge and fill permit prior to submission of the application. Upon receipt of this certification, the Secretary shall issue or deny the permit within the time period specified in subsection (e) of this section, upon the express understanding from the applicant that the applicant will be entirely liable and hold the State harmless for all damage to adjacent riparian landowners directly and proximately caused by the dredging or filling for which approval may be given.
7. Applications for permits except special emergency permit applications shall be circulated by the Department among all State agencies and, in the discretion of the Secretary, appropriate federal agencies having jurisdiction over the subject matter which might be affected by the project so that such agencies will have an opportunity to raise any objections they might have. The Department may deny an application for a dredge or fill permit upon finding: (1) that there will be significant adverse effect of the proposed dredging and filling on the use of the water by the public; or (2) that there will be significant adverse effect on the value and enjoyment of the property of any riparian owners; or (3) that there will be significant adverse effect on public health, safety, and welfare; or (4) that there will be significant adverse effect on the conservation of public and private water supplies; or (5) that there will be significant adverse effect on wildlife or fresh water, estuarine or marine fisheries. In the absence of such findings, a permit shall be granted. Such permit may be conditioned upon the applicant amending his proposal to take whatever measures are reasonably necessary to protect the public interest with respect to the factors enumerated in this subsection. Permits may allow for projects granted a permit the right to maintain such project for a period of up to 10 years. The right to maintain such project shall be granted subject to such conditions as may be reasonably necessary to protect the public interest. The Coastal Resources Commission shall coordinate the issuance of permits under this section and G.S. 113A-118 and the granting of variances under this section and G.S. 113A-120.1 to avoid duplication and to create a single, expedited permitting process. The Coastal Resources Commission may adopt rules interpreting and applying the provisions of this section and rules specifying the procedures for obtaining a permit under this section. Maintenance work as defined in this subsection shall be limited to such activities as are required to maintain the project dimensions as found in the permit granted. The Department shall act on an application for permit within 75 days after the completed application is filed, provided the Department may extend such deadline by not more than an additional 75 days if necessary properly to consider the application, except for applications for a special emergency permit, in which case the Department shall act within two working days after an application is filed, and failure to so act shall automatically approve the application.
8. The Secretary is empowered to issue special emergency dredge or fill permits upon application. Emergency permits may be issued only when life or structural property is in imminent danger as a result of rapid recent erosion or sudden failure of a man-made structure. The Coastal Resources Commission may elaborate by rule upon what conditions the Secretary may issue a special emergency dredge or fill permit. The Secretary may condition the emergency permit upon any reasonable conditions, consistent with the emergency situation, he feels are necessary to reasonably protect the public interest. Where an application for a special emergency permit includes work beyond which the Secretary, in his discretion, feels necessary to reduce imminent dangers to life or property he shall issue the emergency permit only for that part of the proposed work necessary to reasonably reduce the imminent danger. All further work must be applied for by application for an ordinary dredge or fill permit. The Secretary shall deny an application for a special dredge or fill permit upon a finding that the detriment to the public which would occur on issuance of the permit measured by the five factors in G.S. 113-229(e) clearly outweighs the detriment to the applicant if such permit application should be denied.
9. A permit applicant who is dissatisfied with a decision on his application may file a petition for a contested case hearing under G.S. 150B-23 within 20 days after the decision is made. Any other person who is dissatisfied with a decision to deny or grant a permit may file a petition for a contested case hearing only if the Coastal Resources Commission determines, in accordance with G.S. 113A-121.1(c), that a hearing is appropriate. A permit is suspended from the time a person seeks administrative review of the decision concerning the permit until the Commission determines that the person seeking the review cannot commence a contested case or the issuance of a final decision in a contested case, as appropriate, and no action may be taken during that time that would be unlawful in the absence of the permit.
10. G.S. 113A-122 applies to an appeal of a permit decision under subsection (f).
11. Repealed by Session Laws 1987, c. 827, s. 105.
12. Except as provided in subsection (h2) of this section, all construction and maintenance dredgings of beach-quality sand may be placed on the affected downdrift ocean beaches or, if placed elsewhere, an equivalent quality and quantity of sand from another location shall be placed on the downdrift ocean beaches.
13. Clean, beach quality material dredged from navigational channels within the active nearshore, beach or inlet shoal systems shall not be removed permanently from the active nearshore, beach or inlet shoal system. This dredged material shall be disposed of on the ocean beach or shallow active nearshore area where it is environmentally acceptable and compatible with other uses of the beach.
14. Subject to subsections (h1) and (h2) of this section, all materials excavated pursuant to such permit, regardless of where placed, shall be encased or entrapped in such a manner as to minimize their moving back into the affected water.
15. None of the provisions of this section shall relieve any riparian owner of the requirements imposed by the applicable laws and regulations of the United States.
16. Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Each day’s continued operation after notice by the Department to cease shall constitute a separate offense. A notice to cease shall be served personally or by certified mail.
17. The Secretary may, either before or after the institution of proceedings under subsection (k) of this section, institute a civil action in the superior court in the name of the State upon the relation of the Secretary, for damages, and injunctive relief, and for such other and further relief in the premises as said court may deem proper, to prevent or recover for any damage to any lands or property which the State holds in the public trust, and to restrain any violation of this section or of any provision of a dredging or filling permit issued under this section. Neither the institution of the action nor any of the proceedings thereon shall relieve any party to such proceedings from the penalty prescribed by this section for any violation of the same.
18. This section shall apply to all persons, firms, or corporations, their employees, agents, or contractors proposing excavation or filling work in the estuarine waters, tidelands, marshlands and State-owned lakes within the State, and the work to be performed by the State government or local governments. Provided, however, the provisions of this section shall not apply to the activities and functions of the Department and local health departments that are engaged in mosquito control for the protection of the health and welfare of the people of the coastal area of North Carolina as provided under G.S. 130A-346 through G.S. 130A-349. Provided, further, this section shall not impair the riparian right of ingress and egress to navigable waters.
19. Within the meaning of this section:
    1. “State-owned lakes” include man-made as well as natural lakes.
    2. “Estuarine waters” means all the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within the boundary of North Carolina and all the waters of the bays, sounds, rivers, and tributaries thereto seaward of the dividing line between coastal fishing waters and inland fishing waters agreed upon by the Department and the Wildlife Resources Commission, within the meaning of G.S. 113-129.
    3. “Marshland” means any salt marsh or other marsh subject to regular or occasional flooding by tides, including wind tides (whether or not the tidewaters reach the marshland areas through natural or artificial watercourses), provided this shall not include hurricane or tropical storm tides. Salt marshland or other marsh shall be those areas upon which grow some, but not necessarily all, of the following salt marsh and marsh plant species: Smooth or salt water Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), Black Needlerush (Juncus roemerianus), Glasswort (Salicornia spp.), Salt Grass (Distichlis spicata), Sea Lavender (Limonium spp.), Bulrush (Scirpus spp.), Saw Grass (Cladium jamaicense), Cattail (Typha spp.), Salt-Meadow Grass (Spartina patens), and Salt Reed-Grass (Spartina cynosuroides).

History. 1969, c. 791, s. 1; 1971, c. 1159, s. 6; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; c. 1331, s. 3; 1975, c. 456, ss. 1-7; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 253, ss. 1, 2; 1983, c. 258, ss. 1-3; c. 442, s. 2; 1987, c. 827, s. 105; 1989, c. 727, s. 107; 1993, c. 539, s. 844; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 777, s. 6(a), (b); 1995, c. 509, s. 55.1(a)-(c); 2000-172, ss. 3.1, 3.2; 2002-126, ss. 29.2(h)-(j); 2011-398, s. 36; 2013-413, s. 55; 2014-115, s. 17.

Safety of Shallow Draft Navigation Channels and Oregon Inlet Land Acquisition Task Force.

Session Laws 2013-138, ss. 1, 2, and 3.1 through 3.8, provide: “Section 1. For purposes of this act, the following definitions apply:

“(1) ‘Department’ means the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“(2) ‘Corps’ means the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

“(3) ‘Shallow draft navigation channel’ means (i) a waterway connection with a maximum depth of 16 feet between the Atlantic Ocean and a bay or the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, (ii) a river entrance to the Atlantic Ocean through which tidal and other currents flow, or (iii) other interior coastal waterways. ‘Shallow draft navigation channel‘includes the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and its side channels, Beaufort Harbor, Bogue Inlet, Carolina Beach Inlet, the channel from Back Sound to Lookout Back, channels connected to federal navigation channels, Lockwoods Folly River, Manteo/Shallowbag Bay, including Oregon Inlet, Masonboro Inlet, New River, New Topsail Inlet, Rodanthe, Rollinson, Shallotte River, Silver Lake Harbor, and the waterway connecting Pamlico Sound and Beaufort Harbor.

“Section 2. The Department shall take all of the following steps in order to ensure that the State’s shallow draft navigation channels are safe and navigable:

“(1) The Department shall utilize long-term agreements with Corps to maintain the dredging of the State’s shallow draft navigation channels to depths authorized on the date this act becomes law.

“(2) The Department shall assist local governments in their pursuit of general permit authorizations from the Corps to allow the local governments to dredge shallow draft navigation channels to depths and according to project designs authorized on the date this act becomes law.

“(3) The Department shall assist local governments in their pursuit of individual permits under the State Coastal Area Management Act permits issued by the Corps to allow the dredging of shallow draft navigation channels to depths greater than authorized on the date this act becomes law and to allow the placement of dredged materials on beaches.

“Section 3.1. There is hereby created the Oregon Inlet Land Acquisition Task Force for the purpose of determining, reviewing, and considering the State’s options for acquiring the federal government’s right, title, and interest in Oregon Inlet and the real property adjacent thereto, including submerged lands. A more particular description of the property to be acquired is provided in Section 3.8 of this act. Acquiring the property described in Section 3.8 of this act will allow the State to preserve Oregon Inlet and to develop long-term management solutions for preserving and enhancing the navigability of Oregon Inlet, which is both a critical transportation corridor and a critical source of commerce for the State’s Outer Banks. The Task Force shall have duties including the following:

“(1) Consulting with the State Property Office and agencies and departments of the federal government, including the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States National Park Service, Congressional Budget Office, and members of the North Carolina congressional delegation to establish the monetary value of Oregon Inlet and the real property adjacent thereto.

“(2) Determining whether and to what degree the federal government will sell to the State Oregon Inlet and the real property adjacent thereto or exchange the property for State-owned real property. If the federal government expresses a willingness to exchange the property for State-owned property, the Task Force shall determine the identity of the State-owned property and the monetary value of the property.

“(3) Exploring any and all options for acquiring Oregon Inlet and the real property adjacent thereto, including condemnation of the coastal lands conveyed to the federal government in a deed dated August 7, 1958, and recorded September 3, 1958, in the Dare County Registry of Deeds.

“(4) Considering any other issues deemed relevant by the Task Force that are related to the acquisition of Oregon Inlet and the real property adjacent thereto.

“Section 3.2. The Task Force shall consist of the following 13 members:

“(1) The Governor or the Governor’s designee, who shall be chair.

“(2) The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the Commissioner’s designee.

“(3) The Secretary of the Department of Administration or the Secretary’s designee.

“(4) The Secretary of the Department of Commerce or the Secretary’s designee.

“(5) The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or the Secretary’s designee.

“(6) The Secretary of the Department of Public Safety or the Secretary’s designee.

“(7) The Secretary of the Department of Transportation or the Secretary’s designee.

“(8) The Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee.

“(9) Two members of the Senate appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

“(10) Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“(11) The chair of the Dare County Board of Commissioners or the chair’s designee.

“Section 3.3. The terms of the members appointed under Section 3.2 of this act shall commence on July 1, 2013. A vacancy on the Task Force shall be filled by the Governor, except that a vacancy in an appointment by the General Assembly shall be filled by the original appointing authority.

“Section 3.4. The Task Force shall meet at the call of the Governor. All members of the Task Force are voting members. A majority of the members of the Task Force constitutes a quorum.

“Section 3.5. Members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for their service, but may receive per diem, travel, and subsistence allowances in accordance with G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, and 138-6, as appropriate. No State funds shall be appropriated to the Task Force or to any State agency or department for the Task Force.

“Section 3.6. The Department of Commerce shall provide staff to the Task Force. All State agencies and departments shall provide assistance to the Task Force upon request.

“Section 3.7. By May 1, 2014, the Task Force shall submit a report detailing its findings and recommendations to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the General Assembly. The Task Force shall terminate upon the filing of the report required by this section.”

Session Laws 2013-138, s. 3.8, provided a list of latitude and longitude points of the federally owned property to be acquired by the State.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.7(a)-(h), authorizes the initiation of negotiations by the Department of Administration with the appropriate federal authority for the acquisition of certain federally owned property for the creation of Oregon Inlet State Park. If the subject real property is acquired by the State, then, together with any other real property owned by the State within the subject area, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is authorized to add Oregon Inlet State Park to the State Parks System. The provisions of Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.7(a)-(h), further provides for the condemnation authority necessary to manage existing and future transportation corridors on the Outer Banks, and for the identification of federally owned property necessary to construct or manage existing and future transportation corridors on the Outer Banks.

Editor’s Note.

G.S. 130A-346 through G.S. 130A-349, referred to in subsection (m), were repealed by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.3(j), effective July 1, 2011.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.7(a)-(h), provides for acquisition of federally owned property and the creation of the Oregon Inlet State Park.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.7(m), provides: “Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 146 of the General Statutes, Article 9A of Chapter 113A of the General Statutes, or any other provision of law, neither the Governor nor the Council of State shall be required to approve any conveyance, exchange, or condemnation made pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, consultation with or reporting to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations shall not be required prior to the conveyance, exchange, or condemnation, except as set forth in subsection (h) of this section.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: ‘This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.’ ”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2011-398, s. 36, effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to contested cases commenced on or after that date, substituted “the issuance of a final decision” for “the Commission makes a final decision” in the last sentence of subsection (f).

Session Laws 2013-413, s. 55, in subsection (d), substituted “notify” for “send a copy of his application to,” “An applicant may . . . riparian property owner” for “The copy shall be served,” added “shall serve to satisfy the notification requirement” and “by certified mail,” and made minor stylistic and punctuation changes throughout. For effective date, see Editor’s note.

Legal Periodicals.

For article on legal aspects of North Carolina coastal problems, see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 857 (1971).

For note on defining navigable waters and the application of the public trust doctrine in North Carolina, see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 888 (1971).

For note on preservation of the estuarine zone, see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 964 (1971).

For article, “Public Rights and Coastal Zone Management,” see 51 N.C.L. Rev. 1 (1972).

For a note on the State’s interest in wild animals, see 2 Campbell L. Rev. 151 (1980).

For survey of 1980 administrative law, see 59 N.C.L. Rev. 1026 (1981).

For article, “The Battle to Preserve North Carolina’s Estuarine Marshes: The 1985 Legislation, Private Claims to Estuarine Marshes, Denial of Permits to Fill, and the Public Trust,” see 64 N.C.L. Rev. 565 (1986).

For article, “The Pearl in the Oyster: The Public Trust Doctrine in North Carolina,” see 12 Campbell L. Rev. 23 (1989).

For article, “Now Open for Development?: The Present State of Regulation of Activities in North Carolina Wetlands,” see 79 N.C.L. Rev. 1667 (2001).

For article, “North Carolina Oceanfront Property and Public Waters and Beaches: The Rights of Littoral Owners in the Twenty-First Century,” see 83 N.C. L. Rev. 1427 (2005).

§ 113-230. Orders to control activities in coastal wetlands.

1. The Secretary, with the approval of the Coastal Resources Commission, may from time to time, for the purpose of promoting the public safety, health, and welfare, and protecting public and private property, wildlife and marine fisheries, adopt, amend, modify, or repeal orders regulating, restricting, or prohibiting dredging, filling, removing or otherwise altering coastal wetlands. In this section, the term “coastal wetlands” shall mean any marsh as defined in G.S. 113-229(n)(3), as amended, and such contiguous land as the Secretary reasonably deems necessary to affect by any such order in carrying out the purposes of this section.
2. The Secretary shall, before adopting, amending, modifying or repealing any such order, hold a public hearing thereon in the county in which the coastal wetlands to be affected are located, giving notice thereof to interested State agencies and each owner or claimed owner of such wetlands by certified or registered mail at least 21 days prior thereto.
3. Upon adoption of any such order or any order amending, modifying or repealing the same, the Secretary shall cause a copy thereof, together with a plan of the lands affected and a list of the owners or claimed owners of such lands, to be recorded in the register of deeds office in the county where the land is located, and shall mail a copy of such order and plan to each owner or claimed owner of such lands affected thereby.
4. Any person, firm or corporation that violates any order issued under the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
5. The superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to restrain violations of such orders.
6. Any person having a recorded interest in or registered claim to land affected by any such order may, within 90 days after receiving notice thereof, petition the superior court to determine whether the petitioner is the owner of the land in question, and in case he is adjudged the owner of the subject land, whether such order so restricts the use of his property as to deprive him of the practical uses thereof and is therefore an unreasonable exercise of the police power because the order constitutes the equivalent of a taking without compensation. If the court finds the order to be an unreasonable exercise of the police power, as aforesaid, the court shall enter a finding that such order shall not apply to the land of the petitioner; provided, however, that such finding shall not affect any other land than that of the petitioner. The Secretary shall cause a copy of such finding to be recorded forthwith in the register of deeds office in the county where the land is located. The method provided in this subsection for the determination of the issue of whether any such order constitutes a taking without compensation shall be exclusive, and such issue shall not be determined in any other proceeding.
7. After a finding has been entered that such order shall not apply to certain land as provided in the preceding subsection, the Department of Administration, upon the request of the Coastal Resources Commission, shall take the fee or any lesser interest in such land in the name of the State by eminent domain under the provisions of Chapter 146 of the General Statutes and hold the same for the purposes set forth in this section.
8. This section shall not repeal the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Department under the provisions of G.S. 113-229.

History. 1971, c. 1159, s. 7; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 253, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 108; 1993, c. 539, s. 845; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

Legal Periodicals.

For article, “Now Open for Development?: The Present State of Regulation of Activities in North Carolina Wetlands,” see 79 N.C.L. Rev. 1667 (2001).

§§ 113-231 through 113-240.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§§ 113-241 through 113-250. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 72.

Editor’s Note.

Former sections 113-246 through 113-250 had been reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 113-251. Definition of terms.

As used in this Article:

1. “Commission” means the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
2. “Commissioner” means a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
3. “Compact” means the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact.
4. “Fisheries Director” means the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 109; 2003-92, s. 2; 2015-241, s. 14.30(u).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(u), effective July 1, 2015, substituted “Department of Environmental Quality” for “Department of Environment and Natural Resources” in subdivision (4).

§ 113-252. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact and Commission.

The Governor of this State is hereby authorized and directed to execute a compact on behalf of the State of North Carolina with any one or more of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida and with such other states as may enter into the compact, legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact The contracting states solemnly agree: Article I The purpose of this Compact is to promote the better utilization of the fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous, of the Atlantic seaboard by the development of a joint program for the promotion and protection of such fisheries, and by the prevention of the physical waste of the fisheries from any cause. It is not the purpose of this Compact to authorize the states joining herein to limit the production of fish or fish products for the purpose of establishing or fixing the price thereof, or creating and perpetuating monopoly. Article II This agreement shall become operative immediately as to those states executing it whenever any two or more of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida have executed it in the form that is in accordance with the laws of the executing state and the Congress has given its consent. Any state contiguous with any of the aforementioned states and riparian upon waters frequented by anadromous fish, flowing into waters under the jurisdiction of any of the aforementioned states, may become a party hereto as hereinafter provided. Article III Each state joining herein shall appoint three representatives to a commission hereby constituted and designated as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. One shall be the executive officer of the administrative agency of the state charged with the conservation of the fisheries resources to which this compact pertains. The second shall be a member of the legislature appointed by the Governor. The third shall be a citizen who has knowledge of and interest in marine fisheries issues, appointed by the Governor. This Commission shall be a body corporate, with the powers and duties set forth herein. Article IV The duty of the said Commission shall be to make inquiry and ascertain from time to time such methods, practices, circumstances and conditions as may be disclosed for bringing about the conservation and the prevention of the depletion and physical waste of the fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous, of the Atlantic seaboard. The Commission shall have power to recommend the coordination of the exercise of the police powers of the several states within their respective jurisdictions to promote the preservation of those fisheries and their protection against overfishing, waste, depletion or any abuse whatsoever and to assure a continuing yield from the fisheries resources of the aforementioned states. To that end the Commission shall draft and, after consultation with the advisory committee hereinafter authorized, recommend to the governors and legislatures of the various signatory states legislation dealing with the conservation of the marine, shell and anadromous fisheries of the Atlantic seaboard. The Commission shall more than one month prior to any regular meeting of the legislature in any signatory state, present to the governor of the state its recommendations relating to enactments to be made by the legislature of that state in furthering the intents and purposes of this Compact. The Commission shall consult with and advise the pertinent administrative agencies in the states party hereto with regard to problems connected with the fisheries and recommend the adoption of such regulations as it deems advisable. The Commission shall have power to recommend to the states party hereto the stocking of the waters of such states with fish and fish eggs, or joint stocking by some or all of the states party hereto, and when two or more of the states shall jointly stock waters the Commission shall act as the coordinating agency for such stocking. Article V The Commission shall elect from its number a chairman and a vice-chairman and shall appoint and at its pleasure remove or discharge such officers and employees as may be required to carry the provisions of this Compact into effect, and shall fix and determine their duties, qualifications and compensation. Said Commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business. It may establish and maintain one or more offices for the transaction of its business and may meet at any time or place but must meet at least once a year. Article VI No action shall be taken by the Commission in regard to its general affairs except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of compacting states present at any meeting. No recommendation shall be made by the Commission in regard to any species of fish except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the compacting states which have an interest in such species. The Commission shall define what shall be an interest. Article VII The Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior of the government of the United States shall act as the primary research agency of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, cooperating with the research agencies in each state for that purpose. Representatives of the said Fish and Wildlife Service shall attend the meetings of the Commission. An advisory committee to be representative of the commercial fishermen and the saltwater anglers and such other interests of each state as the Commission deems advisable shall be established by the Commission as soon as practicable for the purpose of advising the Commission upon such recommendations as it may desire to make. Article VIII When any state other than those named specifically in Article II of this Compact shall become a party thereto for the purpose of conserving its anadromous fish in accordance with the provisions of Article II the participation of such state in the action of the Commission shall be limited to such species of anadromous fish. Article IX Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to limit the powers of any signatory state or to repeal or prevent the enactment of any legislation or the enforcement of any requirement by any signatory state imposing additional conditions and restrictions to conserve its fisheries. Article X Continued absence of representation or of any representative on the Commission from any state party hereto shall be brought to the attention of the governor thereof. Article XI The states party hereto agree to make annual appropriations to the support of the Commission in proportion to the primary market value of the products of their fisheries, exclusive of cod and haddock, as recorded in the most recently published reports of the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior, provided no state shall contribute less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) per annum and the annual contribution of each state above the minimum shall be figured to the nearest one hundred dollars ($100.00). The compacting states agree to appropriate initially the annual amounts scheduled below, which amounts are calculated in the manner set forth herein, on the basis of the catch record of 1938. Subsequent budgets shall be recommended by a majority of the Commission and the cost thereof allocated equitably among the states in accordance with their respective interests and submitted to the compacting states. Schedule of Initial Annual State Contributions Maine $ 700 New Hampshire 200 Massachusetts 2300 Rhode Island 300 Connecticut 400 New York 1300 New Jersey 800 Delaware 200 Maryland 700 Virginia 1300 North Carolina. 600 South Carolina. 200 Georgia 200 Florida 1500 Article XII

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This Compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each compacting state until renounced by it. Renunciation of this Compact must be preceded by sending six months’ notice in writing of intention to withdraw from the Compact to the other states party hereto.

History. 1949, c. 1086, s. 1; 1965, c. 957, s. 18; 2003-92, s. 3.

State Government Reorganization.

The administration of the Fisheries Compact was transferred to the Department of Natural and Economic Resources by former G.S. 143A-126, enacted by Session Laws 1971, c. 864. A transfer of functions was made to the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development by former G.S. 143B-277. As to transfer of functions to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (now the Department of Environmental Quality), see G.S. 143B-279.3.

§ 113-253. Amendment to Compact to establish joint regulation of specific fisheries.

The Governor is authorized to execute on behalf of the State of North Carolina an amendment to the Compact set out in G.S. 113-252 with any one or more of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida or such other states as may become party to that Compact for the purpose of permitting the states that ratify this amendment to establish joint regulation of specific fisheries common to those states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and their representatives on that body. Notice of intention to withdraw from this amendment shall be executed and transmitted by the Governor and shall be in accordance with Article XII of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact and shall be effective as to this State with those states which similarly ratify this amendment. This amendment shall take effect as to this State with respect to such other of the aforesaid states as take similar action.

Amendment No. 1 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact

The states consenting to this amendment agree that any two or more of them may designate the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission as a joint regulatory agency with such powers as they may jointly confer from time to time for the regulation of the fishing operations of the citizens and vessels of such designating states with respect to specific fisheries in which such states have a common interest. The representatives of such states on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission shall constitute a separate section of such Commission for the exercise of the additional powers so granted, provided that the states so acting shall appropriate additional funds for this purpose. The creation of such section as a joint regulatory agency shall not deprive the states participating therein of any of their privileges or powers or responsibilities in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission under the general compact.

History. 1949, c. 1086, s. 2; 1965, c. 957, s. 18.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.4(c), provides: “Money collected pursuant to Article 8E of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes between July 1, 2013, and the date this act becomes law shall be credited to the General Fund. The money shall be used for the purposes provided in G.S. 113-44.15 and G.S. 113-253(c)(8b)-(8d), as enacted by this act.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.’ ”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause.

§ 113-254. North Carolina members of Commission.

1. In pursuance of Article III of the Compact, there shall be three commissioners from North Carolina. The first commissioner shall be the Fisheries Director, ex officio. The term of this commissioner shall terminate at the time the commissioner ceases to hold office as the Fisheries Director. The successor to this commissioner shall be the commissioner’s successor as Fisheries Director. The second commissioner shall be a legislator appointed by the Governor. The term of this commissioner shall terminate at the time the commissioner ceases to hold legislative office. This commissioner’s successor shall be appointed by the Governor. The third commissioner from the State of North Carolina shall be a citizen of the State with knowledge of and interest in marine fisheries issues appointed by the Governor. The term of this commissioner shall be three years. This commissioner may be reappointed for successive terms and shall hold office until the commissioner’s successor is appointed and qualified. A vacancy occurring in the office of this commissioner for any reason or cause shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired term.
2. The Fisheries Director may delegate to any deputy or other subordinate of the Fisheries Director the power to be present, participate, and vote as the Fisheries Director’s representative or substitute at any meeting, hearing, or other proceeding of the Commission.
3. Any commissioner may be removed from office by the Governor upon charges and after a hearing.

History. 1949, c. 1086, s. 3; 1965, c. 957, s. 18; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 28, 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1987, c. 641, s. 9; 1989, c. 727, s. 110; 2003-92, s. 4.

§ 113-255. Powers of Commission and commissioners.

There is hereby granted to the Commission and the commissioners thereof all the powers provided for in the said Compact and all the powers necessary or incidental to the carrying out of said Compact in every particular. All officers of the State of North Carolina are hereby authorized and directed to do all things falling within their respective provinces and jurisdiction necessary or incidental to the carrying out of said Compact in every particular; it being hereby declared to be the policy of the State of North Carolina to perform and carry out the said Compact and to accomplish the purposes thereof. All officers, bureaus, departments and persons of and in the State government or administration of the State of North Carolina are hereby authorized and directed at convenient times and upon request of the said Commission to furnish the said Commission with information and data possessed by them or any of them and to aid said Commission by loan of personnel or other means lying within their legal rights respectively.

History. 1949, c. 1086, s. 4; 1965, c. 957, s. 18.

§ 113-256. Powers herein granted to Commission are supplemental.

Any powers herein granted to the Commission shall be regarded as in aid of and supplemental to and in no case a limitation upon any of the powers vested in said Commission by other laws of the State of North Carolina or by the laws of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida or by the Congress or the terms of said Compact.

History. 1949, c. 1086, s. 5; 1965, c. 957, s. 18.

§ 113-257. Report of Commission to Governor and legislature; recommendations for legislative action; examination of accounts and books by Auditor.

The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements and shall report to the Governor and the legislature of the State of North Carolina on or before the tenth day of December in each year, setting forth in detail the transactions conducted by it during the 12 months preceding December 1 of that year and shall make recommendations for any legislative action deemed by it advisable, including amendments to the statutes of the State of North Carolina which may be necessary to carry out the intent and purposes of the compact between the signatory states.

The Auditor of the State of North Carolina is hereby authorized and empowered from time to time to examine the accounts and books of the Commission, including its receipts, disbursements and such other items referring to its financial standing as such Auditor may deem proper and to report the results of such examination to the Governor of such State.

History. 1949, c. 1086, s. 6; 1955, c. 236, s. 2; 1965, c. 957, s. 18.

§ 113-258. Commission subject to provisions of State Budget Act.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission of the State of North Carolina shall be subject to all the terms and provisions of the State Budget Act, Chapter 143C of the General Statutes of North Carolina.

History. 1949, c. 1086, s. 7; 1955, c. 236, s. 1; 1965, c. 957, s. 18; 2006-203, s. 27.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2006-203, s. 27, effective July 1, 2007, and applicable to to the budget for the 2007-2009 biennium and each subsequent biennium thereafter, substituted “State Budget Act” for “Executive Budget Act” in the section heading; and substituted “State Budget, Chapter 143C” for “Executive Budget Act, Article 1 of Chapter 143”.

§ 113-259. North Carolina members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

1. In pursuance of Section 302 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq., there shall be at least two members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from the State of North Carolina.
2. The first Council member shall be the principal State official with marine fishery management responsibility and expertise in the State, which official is the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department or his designee.
3. Pursuant to the enabling legislation, other members from the state of North Carolina are selected by the United States Secretary of Commerce from a list of qualified individuals submitted by the Governor of the State. The list of nominees shall be compiled by the Marine Fisheries Commission and must be comprised of individuals who are knowledgeable and experienced with regard to the management, conservation, or commercial or recreational harvest of the fishery resources in the Atlantic Ocean seaward of the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Prior to submission of the list of nominees, the Governor may consult with the Commission regarding additions to the list of nominees to be submitted. Should it be necessary for the Governor to submit additional nominees, the list of nominees shall be compiled by the Marine Fisheries Commission.

History. 1987, c. 641, s. 18; 1989, c. 727, s. 111; 1998-225, s. 4.23.

§ 113-260. North Carolina members of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

1. In pursuance of Section 302 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq., there shall be at least two members of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council from the State of North Carolina.
2. The first Council member shall be the principal State official with marine fishery management responsibility and expertise in the State, which official is the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department or his designee.
3. Pursuant to the enabling legislation, other members from the State of North Carolina are selected by the United States Secretary of Commerce from a list of qualified individuals submitted by the Governor of the State. The list of nominees shall be compiled by the Marine Fisheries Commission and must be comprised of individuals who are knowledgeable and experienced with regard to the management, conservation, or commercial or recreational harvest of the fishery resources in the Atlantic Ocean seaward of the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Prior to submission of the list of nominees, the Governor may consult with the Commission regarding additions to the list of nominees to be submitted. Should it be necessary for the Governor to submit additional nominees, the list of nominees shall be compiled by the Marine Fisheries Commission.

History. 1998-225, s. 4.23.

§§ 113-260.1 through 113-260.5.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 113-261. Taking fish and wildlife for scientific purposes; permits to take in normally unauthorized manner; cultural and scientific operations.

1. The Department, the Wildlife Resources Commission, and agencies of the United States with jurisdiction over fish and wildlife are hereby granted the right to take marine, estuarine, and wildlife resources within the State, to conduct fish cultural operations and scientific investigations in the several waters of North Carolina, to survey fish and wildlife populations in the State, to conduct investigations to determine the status and requirements for survival of resident species of fish and wildlife, to propagate animals, birds, and fish, and to erect fish hatcheries and fish propagating plants without regard to any licensing or permit requirements of this Subchapter.
2. The Department with respect to fish in coastal fishing waters and the Wildlife Resources Commission with respect to wildlife may provide for the issuance of permits, on such terms as they deem just and in the best interest of conservation, authorizing persons to take such fish or wildlife through the use of drugs, poisons, explosives, electricity, or any other generally prohibited manner. Such permits need not be restricted solely to victims of depredations or to scientific or educational institutions, but should be issued only for good cause. No permit to take wildlife other than fish by means of poison may be issued, however, unless the provisions of Article 22A are met.
3. The Department, the Wildlife Resources Commission, and agencies of the United States with jurisdiction over fish and wildlife may, as necessary in their legitimate operations, take fish and wildlife in a manner generally prohibited by this Subchapter or by rules made under the authority of this Subchapter.

History. 1915, c. 84, s. 7; C.S., s. 1886; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98.

OPINIONS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Division of Marine Fisheries has ample authority to conduct a research project for the purpose of studying the fishery management and enforcement aspects of the non-commercial growing of shellfish in cages under piers, even when it is otherwise inconsistent with authority for an ongoing regulatory program of general application. See opinion of Attorney General to Mr. Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, and Mr. James A. Johnson, Jr., Chairman, North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission, 2003 N.C. Op. Att'y Gen. 13 (9/22/03).

§ 113-262. Taking fish or wildlife by poisons, drugs, explosives or electricity prohibited; exceptions; possession of illegally killed fish or wildlife prohibited.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Subchapter, or in rules permitting use of electricity to take certain fish, it is a Class 2 misdemeanor to take any fish or wildlife through the use of poisons, drugs, explosives, or electricity. This subsection does not apply to any person lawfully using any poison or pesticide under the Structural Pest Control Act of North Carolina of 1955, as amended, or the North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971, as amended.
2. Except under a valid permit it is unlawful to possess any fish or wildlife:
   1. Bearing evidence of having been taken in violation of subsection (a); or
   2. With knowledge or reason to believe that the fish or wildlife was taken in violation of subsection (a).

History. 1883, c. 290; Code, s. 1094; Rev., s. 3417; C.S., ss. 1968, 2124; 1927, c. 107; 1935, c. 486, ss. 18-20; 1939, c. 235, s. 1; 1949, c. 1205, ss. 2, 3; 1953, c. 1134; 1955, c. 104; c. 1053, ss. 1, 3, 4; 1957, c. 1056; 1959, c. 207; c. 500; 1961, c. 1182; 1963, c. 381; c. 697, ss. 1, 31/2; 1965, c. 904, s. 1; c. 957, s. 2; 1967, c. 728, s. 1; c. 858, s. 1; c. 1149, s. 1.5; 1969, c. 75; c. 140; 1971, c. 439, ss. 1-3; c. 449, s. 1; c. 461; c. 648, s. 1; c. 899, s. 1; 1973, c. 1096; c. 1210, ss. 1-3, 5; c. 1262, s. 18; 1975, c. 669; c. 728; 1977, c. 493; c. 794, s. 4; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1993, c. 539, s. 846; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

§ 113-263. Inspecting plans and specifications of dams.

The Department and the Wildlife Resources Commission, in addition to other agencies primarily responsible, may inspect the plans and specifications of all dams proposed to be built, in North Carolina or elsewhere within the United States, the design or proposed mode of construction of which may have an adverse effect upon fish within the State. The Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission, as the case may be, may be heard before the appropriate agency charged with approving said plans and specifications, and due consideration shall be given to said Department or Wildlife Resources Commission in the approval or disapproval of the plans and specifications of proposed dams by the agencies so charged with said duty.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18.

§ 113-264. Regulatory power over agency property; public hunting opportunities; scheduling of managed hunts.

1. The Department and the Wildlife Resources Commission are granted the power by rule to license, regulate, prohibit, or restrict the public as to use and enjoyment of, or harm to, any property of the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission, and may charge the public reasonable fees for access to or use of such property. “Property” as the word is used in this section is intended to be broadly interpreted and includes lands, buildings, vessels, vehicles, equipment, markers, stakes, buoys, posted signs and other notices, trees and shrubs and artificial constructions in boating and fishing access areas, game lands, wildlife refuges, public waters, public mountain trout waters, and all other real and personal property owned, leased, controlled, or cooperatively managed by either the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission.
2. Every wildlife protector and every law enforcement officer of this State and its subdivisions shall have the authority within his or her established jurisdiction to enforce the rules promulgated pursuant to the power granted by this section regarding the willful removal of, damage to, or destruction of any property of the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission.
3. To the extent that subsection (a1) of this section conflicts with any provision of any local act, subsection (a1) of this section prevails.
4. Unless a different level of punishment is elsewhere set out, willful removal of, damage to, or destruction of any property of the Department or the Wildlife Resources Commission is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
5. The Wildlife Resources Commission may cooperate with private landowners in the establishment of public hunting grounds. It may provide for the posting of these areas and of restricted zones within them, require that authorized hunters obtain written permission from the owner to hunt, enforce general laws concerning trespass by hunters and concerning damage or injurious activities by hunters and by others carrying weapons on or discharging weapons across public hunting grounds or restricted zones.
6. The Wildlife Resources Commission may schedule managed hunting opportunities for any species of wildlife administered through permits. Permit recipients shall be selected at random by computer. The Wildlife Resources Commission may require by rule that an applicant 16 years of age or older have the required hunting license before the drawing for the hunt, and that an applicant less than 16 years of age apply as a member of a party that includes a properly licensed adult if the young applicant does not have the proper hunting license. When licenses are required prior to the drawing, all applications shall be screened for compliance. A nonrefundable fee of eight dollars ($8.00) will be required of each applicant.
7. For applications sold directly through the Wildlife Resources Commission by telephone, mail, online, or at a service counter, the Wildlife Resources Commission may charge a fee of two dollars ($2.00) per transaction.
8. A wildlife protector or law enforcement officer of this State or its subdivisions may have a vehicle towed at a Commission-owned or operated public boating access area if the vehicle:
   1. Is parked in an area other than one designated for parking; or
   2. Is left by an individual for a purpose other than launching, operating, or retrieving a vessel.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 18, 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1983, c. 403; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 996, s. 2; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1989, c. 221; c. 642, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 847; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2005-82, s. 1; 2005-164, s. 2; 2018-90, s. 1.

Cross References.

As to adoption of rules establishing fees for hunting, fishing, trapping and activity licenses issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission, see G.S. 113-270.1B(e).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-82, s. 1, effective June 14, 2005, in subsection (d), deleted “from properly licensed applicants” at the end of the first sentence and inserted the present second and third sentences.

Session Laws 2005-164, s. 2, effective December 1, 2005, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date, added subsection (e).

Session Laws 2018-90, s. 1, effective July 1, 2018, rewrote the section heading and subsection (d); and added subsection (d1).

§ 113-265. Obstructing or polluting flow of water into hatchery; throwing fish offal into waters.

1. No person may obstruct, pollute, or diminish the natural flow of water into or through any fish hatchery in violation of the requirements of the Environmental Management Commission.
2. It is unlawful for any person to throw or cause to be thrown into the channel of any navigable waters fish offal in any quantity likely to hinder or prevent the passage of fish along such channel. The Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule impose further restrictions upon the throwing of fish offal in any coastal fishing waters or inland fishing waters respectively.
3. to (e) Repealed by Session Laws 1987, c. 636, s. 2.

History. 1883, c. 137, s. 5; Code, ss. 3385, 3386, 3389, 3407, 3418; Rev., ss. 2444, 2465, 2478; C.S., ss. 1969, 1971, 1972; 1959, c. 405; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1971, c. 690, s. 4; 1973, c. 1262, ss. 18, 28; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 996, s. 3; 1987, c. 636, s. 2; c. 827, s. 98.

Cross References.

As to robbing or injuring nets, seines, buoys, pots, etc., see G.S. 113-267.

As to unlawful harassment of persons taking wildlife resources, see G.S. 113-295.

As to fishing from bridges, see G.S. 136-102.5, 153A-242 and 160A-302.1.

§ 113-266. Interference with artificial reef marking devices.

It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to destroy, injure, relocate, or remove any navigational aids, buoys, markers, or other devices lawfully set out by the Division of Marine Fisheries in connection with the marking of any artificial reef in the coastal waters of the State and in the Atlantic Ocean to the seaward extent of the State’s jurisdiction as now or hereafter defined.

History. 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 996, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 848; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

§ 113-267. Replacement costs of marine, estuarine, and wildlife resources; rules authorized; prima facie evidence.

To provide information to the courts and other officials taking action under G.S. 15A-1343(b1)(5), under G.S. 143-215.3(a)(7), or under any other pertinent authority of law, the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission are authorized to adopt rules setting forth the factors that should be considered in determining the replacement costs of fish and wildlife and other marine, estuarine, and wildlife resources that have been taken, injured, removed, harmfully altered, damaged, or destroyed. The Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission may make similar rules respecting costs of investigations required by G.S. 143-215.3(a)(7) or which are made pursuant to a court order. For common offenses resulting in the destruction of marine, estuarine, and wildlife resources the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt schedules of costs which reasonably state the likely replacement costs and necessary investigative costs when appropriate. Rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission stating scheduled costs or cost factors must be treated as prima facie evidence of the actual costs, but do not prevent a court or jury from examining the reasonableness of the rules or from assessing the special factors in a case which may make the true costs either higher or lower than the amount stated in the rules. The term “replacement costs” must be broadly construed to include indirect costs of replacement through habitat improvement or restoration, establishment of sanctuaries, and other recognized conservation techniques when direct stocking or replacement is not feasible.

History. 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1985, c. 509, s. 7; 1987, c. 827, s. 98.

§ 113-268. Injuring, destroying, stealing, or stealing from nets, seines, buoys, pots, etc.

1. It is unlawful for any person without the authority of the owner of the equipment to take fish from nets, traps, pots, and other devices to catch fish which have been lawfully placed in the open waters of the State.
2. It is unlawful for any master or other person having the management or control of a vessel in the navigable waters of the State to willfully, wantonly, and unnecessarily do injury to any seine, net or pot which may lawfully be hauled, set, or fixed in such waters for the purpose of taking fish except that a net set across a channel may be temporarily moved to accommodate persons engaged in drift netting, provided that no fish are removed and no damage is done to the net moved.
3. It is unlawful for any person to willfully steal, destroy, or injure any buoys, markers, stakes, nets, pots, or other devices on property lawfully set out in the open waters of the State in connection with any fishing or fishery.
4. Violation of subsections (a), (b), or (c) is a Class A1 misdemeanor.
5. The Department may, either before or after the institution of any other action or proceeding authorized by this section, institute a civil action for injunctive relief to restrain a violation or threatened violation of subsections (a), (b), or (c) of this section pursuant to G.S. 113-131. The action shall be brought in the superior court of the county in which the violation or threatened violation is occurring or about to occur and shall be in the name of the State upon the relation of the Secretary. The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought pursuant to this subsection may, in its discretion, award costs of litigation including reasonable attorney and expert-witness fees to any party.

History. 1987, c. 636, s. 1; 1989, c. 727, s. 112; 1993, c. 539, s. 849; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1998-225, s. 3.9.

§ 113-269. Robbing or injuring hatcheries and other aquaculture operations.

1. The definitions established in G.S. 106-758 are incorporated by reference into this section. For the purposes of this section, a shellfish lease issued pursuant to G.S. 113-202 is defined as an aquaculture facility only when it has been amended pursuant to G.S. 113-202.1 to authorize use of the water column and when it is or has been regularly posted and identified in accordance with the rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission.
2. It is unlawful for any person without the authority of the owner of an aquaculture facility to take fish or aquatic species being cultivated or reared by the owner from an aquaculture facility.
3. It is unlawful for any person to receive or possess fish or aquatic species stolen from an aquaculture facility while knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the fish or aquatic species are stolen.
4. It is unlawful for any person to willfully destroy or injure an aquaculture facility or aquatic species being reared in an aquaculture facility.
5. Violation of subsections (b) or (c) for fish or aquatic species valued at more than four hundred dollars ($400.00) is punishable under G.S. 14-72. Violation of subsections (b) or (c) for fish or aquatic species valued at four hundred dollars ($400.00) or less is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
6. Violation of subsection (d) is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
7. In deciding to impose any sentence other than an active prison sentence, the sentencing judge shall consider and may require, in accordance with G.S. 15A-1343, restitution to the victim for the amount of damage to the aquaculture facility or aquatic species or for the value of the stolen fish or aquatic species.
8. The district attorney shall dismiss any case brought pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) if defendant produces a notarized written authorization for taking fish or aquatic species from the aquaculture facility or if the fish or aquatic species taken from a shellfish lease aquaculture facility was not a shellfish authorized for cultivation on the lease.

History. 1989, c. 281, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, ss. 850, 851; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

Study Penalties Associated with Violations of Laws Regarding Taking Shellfish and Shellfish Aquaculture Operations.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 10, provides: “The Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality, in consultation with the North Carolina Department of Justice and the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, shall study the penalties associated with violations of laws regarding taking shellfish and shellfish aquaculture operations. The agencies shall specifically review G.S. 113-207 (Taking shellfish from certain areas forbidden; penalty), G.S. 113-208 (Protection of private shellfish rights), G.S. 113-218 (Protection of private marine aquaculture rights), and G.S. 113-269 (Robbing or injuring hatcheries and other aquaculture operations), and may review other statutes with penalties associated with violations of laws regarding taking shellfish and shellfish aquaculture operations. In their review of the statutes, the agencies shall consider the levels of criminal penalties, fines, and restitution; the consistency and proportionality of the statutes; and whether any of the statutes or their provisions are duplicative. The agencies shall develop recommendations for amendment of the statutes that would make the penalties more consistent and proportional and less duplicative and that would serve to better protect the wild and cultured shellfish resources in the State. The agencies shall report the results of their study, including their recommendations, to the General Assembly no later than March 1, 2020.”

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2019-37, s. 13(a), is a severability clause.

§ 113-270. Use of oyster shells by landscape contractors prohibited.

1. No landscape contractor shall use oyster shells as a ground cover.
2. Enforcement of the prohibition set forth in this section shall be under the jurisdiction of the Marine Fisheries Commission.
3. For purposes of this section, landscape contractor shall have the definition set forth in G.S. 89D-11.

History. 2015-241, s. 14.7(a).

§ 113-270.1. License agents.

1. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule provide for the appointment of persons as license agents to sell licenses and permits that the Commission is authorized to issue by this Subchapter or by any other provisions of law. To facilitate the convenience of the public, the efficiency of administration, the need to keep statistics and records affecting the conservation of wildlife resources, boating, water safety, and other matters within the jurisdiction of the Wildlife Resources Commission, and the need to issue licenses and permits containing special restrictions, the Wildlife Resources Commission may issue licenses and permits in any particular category through:
   1. License agents.
   2. The Wildlife Resources Commission’s headquarters.
   3. Employees of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
   4. Two or more such sources simultaneously.
2. When there are substantial reasons for differing treatment, the Wildlife Resources Commission may issue a type of license or permit by one method in one locality and by another method in another locality.
3. License agents may charge a fee of two dollars ($2.00) per transaction for licenses or permits issued.
4. When licenses or permits are to be issued by license agents as provided by subsection (a) of this section, the Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to provide for any of the following:
   1. Qualifications of the license agents.
   2. Duties of the license agents.
   3. Methods and procedures to ensure accountability and security for proceeds and unissued licenses and permits.
   4. Types and amounts of evidence that a license agent must submit to relieve the agent of responsibility for losses due to occurrences beyond the control of the agent.
   5. Any other reasonable requirement or condition that the Wildlife Resources Commission deems necessary to expedite and control the issuance of licenses and permits by license agents.
5. The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to authorize the Executive Director to take any of the following actions related to license agents:
   1. Select and appoint license agents in areas most convenient for the sale of licenses and permits.
   2. Limit the number of license agents in an area if necessary for efficiency of operation.
   3. Require prompt and accurate reporting and remittance of public funds or documents by license agents.
   4. Conduct periodic and special audits of accounts.
   5. Suspend or terminate the authorization of any license agent found to be noncompliant with rules adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission or when State funds or property are reasonably believed to be in jeopardy.
   6. Require the immediate surrender of all equipment, forms, licenses, permits, records, and State funds and property, issued by or belonging to the Wildlife Resources Commission, in the event of the termination of a license agent.
6. The Wildlife Resources Commission is exempt from the contested case provisions of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes with respect to determinations of whether to authorize or terminate the authority of a person to sell licenses and permits as a license agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
7. If any check or bank account draft of any license agent for the issuance of licenses or permits shall be returned by the banking facility upon which the same is drawn for lack of funds, the license agent shall be liable to the Commission for a penalty of five percent (5%) of the amount of the check or bank account draft, but in no event shall the penalty be less than five dollars ($5.00) or more than two hundred dollars ($200.00). License agents shall be assessed a penalty of twenty-five percent (25%) of their issuing fee on all remittances to the Commission after the fifteenth day of the month immediately following the month of sale.
8. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 3.2. See notes for contingent effective date.
9. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for a license agent to do any of the following:
   1. Withhold or misappropriate funds from the sale of licenses or permits.
   2. Falsify records of licenses or permits sold.
   3. Willfully and knowingly assist or allow a person to obtain a license or permit for which the person is ineligible.
   4. Willfully issue a backdated license or permit.
   5. Willfully include false information or omit material information on records, licenses, or permits regarding either:
      1. A person’s entitlement to a particular license or permit.
      2. The applicability or term of a particular license or permit.
   6. Charge or accept any additional fee, remuneration, or other item of value in association with any activity set out in subdivisions (1) through (5) of this subsection.
10. through (j) Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 3.2. See notes for contingent effective date.

History. 1961, c. 352, ss. 4, 9; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1985, c. 791, s. 34; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1993, c. 539, ss. 852, 853; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2005-455, s. 3.2; 2013-283, s. 15.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 3.1(a) and (b), expiring on the date that all rules adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission pursuant to Section 3.1 become effective, provided: “(a) The Wildlife Resources Commission shall adopt rules to provide for the following:

“(1) Qualifications of license agents.

“(2) Duties of license agents.

“(3) Methods and procedures to ensure accountability and security for proceeds and unissued licenses and permits.

“(4) Types and amounts of evidence that a license agent must submit to relieve the agent of responsibility for losses due to occurrences beyond the control of the agent.

“(5) Any other reasonable requirement or condition that the Wildlife Resources Commission deems necessary to expedite and control the issuance of licenses and permits by license agents.

“(b) The Wildlife Resources Commission shall adopt rules to authorize the Executive Director to take the following actions related to license agents:

“(1) Select and appoint license agents in areas most convenient for the sale of licenses and permits.

“(2) Limit the number of license agents in an area if necessary for efficiency of operation.

“(3) Require prompt and accurate reporting and remittance of public funds or documents by license agents.

“(4) Conduct periodic and special audits of accounts.

“(5) Suspend or terminate the authorization of any license agent found to be noncompliant with rules adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission or when State funds or property are reasonably believed to be in jeopardy.

“(6) Require the immediate surrender of all equipment, forms, licenses, permits, records, and State funds and property, issued by or belonging to the Wildlife Resources Commission, in the event of the termination of a license agent.”

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 4.2, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 4.3, provided, in part, that the amendments to this section by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 3.2, became effective on the date that all rules adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission pursuant to s. 3.1 of the act became effective, except that G.S. 113-270.1(b3) and (b4) became effective January 1, 2006. Section 4.3 further provided that the Chair of the Wildlife Resources Commission was to notify the Revisor of Statutes when all rules adopted pursuant to s. 3.1 became effective. The Revisor of Statutes is informed that all rules have been adopted and became effective in May 2007.

Session Laws 2009-89, s. 3(a) and (b), provides: “(a) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in consultation with the Wildlife Resources Commission, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, and a cross section of interested agricultural organizations, shall study issues related to the importation of feral swine in North Carolina, including the associated risks and potential economic impact of that importation. In the course of its study, the Department may consider population estimates, disease risks, and efforts that could be undertaken to mitigate any risks posed by feral swine to the ecosystem or the agricultural industry of the State, including an examination of enforcement issues and existing penalties for the illegal transportation of feral swine into and around the State. In conducting its study, the Department shall solicit input from the following, as well as any other persons or groups with expertise on the subject:

“(1) Swine veterinarians working in the pork industry;

“(2) Confinement operation-type swine farmers;

“(3) Pasture-raised operation-type swine farmers; and

“(4) Sportsmen.

“(b) The Department shall report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Chairs of the House Agriculture Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee during the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.11(a), (b), provides: “(a) The Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission shall develop and implement an agreement that includes at least all of the following provisions:

“(1) Provisions to authorize the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol to perform any needed boating safety inspection.

“(2) To avoid the duplication of enforcement activities by the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol and the Wildlife Resources Commission law enforcement officers, a schedule for high-volume areas that is developed to take into account that the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol must confine their enforcement activities to the coastal waters.

“(3) To further encourage more efficient management of the State’s resources, a protocol that sets forth appropriate circumstances when the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol is authorized or required to investigate boating accidents in coastal waters and within the joint jurisdiction of the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources Commission.

“(4) A provision to prohibit, except in the instances of investigations of boating accidents, the Division of Marine Fisheries from receiving any federal boating safety funds.

“(5) A provision to provide mutual aid that authorizes the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol to enter into inland waters in winter to conduct a normal investigation of suspected illegal netting activity.

“(b) No later than April 1, 2014, the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Wildlife Resources Commission shall submit a joint report to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division. The report shall include any findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals. The report shall include findings regarding at least the following issues:

“(1) Whether the agreement developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section has been successful from the perspective of the Division of Marine Fisheries, the Wildlife Resources Commission and the public in clarifying enforcement activities and reducing the duplication of enforcement activities by the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol and the Wildlife Resources Commission law enforcement officers.

“(2) As an alternative to the agreement developed under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, whether it would be preferable to confer law enforcement powers upon the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol to authorize the Division of Marine Fisheries marine patrol to engage in enforcement activity related to only fisheries under the jurisdiction of the Division of Marine Fisheries or subject to the management of the Division of Marine Fisheries.

“(3) Any other issue the Division of Marine Fisheries or the Wildlife Resources Commission deems pertinent to include in the report.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as the ‘Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.’ ”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.2, provides: “Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium.”

Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2015-263, s. 35(b), provides: “The Wildlife Resources Commission shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety no later than March 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, on the number of complaints received against Commission law enforcement officers, the subject matter of the complaints, and the geographic areas in which the complaints were filed.” Session Laws 2021-160, s. 3, effective September 20, 2021, repealed Session Laws 2015-263, s. 35(b).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 3.2, rewrote the section. See Editor’s Note for contingent effective date.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 15, effective January 1, 2014, rewrote subsection (b), which formerly read “License agents may deduct from the amount collected for each license or permit a fee of six percent (6%).”

§ 113-270.1A. Hunter safety course required.

1. Except as provided in subsections (a1) and (d) of this section, on or after July 1, 2013, a person, regardless of age, may not procure a hunting license in this State without producing a hunter education certificate of competency or one of the following issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission:
   1. A North Carolina hunting heritage apprentice permit.
   2. A hunting license issued prior to July 1, 2013.
2. A person who qualifies for a disabled license under G.S. 113-270.1C(b)(5) or (6), G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(7) or (8), or G.S. 113-351(c)(3)f. or g. need not comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section in order to receive that license, so long as the person does not make use of the license unless:
   1. The disabled hunter is accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age who is licensed to hunt; and
   2. The licensed adult maintains a proximity to the disabled hunter which enables the adult to monitor the activities of the disabled hunter by remaining within sight and hearing distance at all times without the use of electronic devices.
3. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall institute and coordinate a statewide course of instruction in hunter ethics, wildlife laws and regulations, and competency and safety in the handling of firearms, and in so doing, may cooperate with any political subdivision, or with any reputable organization. The course of instruction shall be conducted as follows:
   1. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall designate those persons or agencies authorized to give the course of instruction, and this designation shall be valid until revoked by the Commission. Those designated persons shall submit to the Wildlife Resources Commission validated listings naming all persons who have successfully completed the course of instruction.
   2. The Wildlife Resources Commission may conduct the course in hunter education, using Commission personnel or Commission-approved persons.
   3. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue a certificate of competency and safety to each person who successfully completes the course of instruction, and the certificate shall be valid until revoked by the Commission.
   4. Any similar certificate issued outside the State by a governmental agency, shall be accepted as complying with the requirements of subsection (a) above, if the privileges are reciprocal for North Carolina residents.
   5. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for the course of instruction and the issuance of the certificates consistent with the purpose of this section.
4. On or after July 1, 2013, any person who obtains a hunting license by presenting a fictitious certificate of competency or who attempts to obtain a certificate of competency or hunting license through fraud shall have his hunting privileges revoked by the Wildlife Resources Commission for a period not to exceed one year.
5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the lifetime licenses provided for in G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), and 113-270.2(c)(2), and 113-351(c)(3) may be purchased by or in the name of persons who have not obtained a hunter education certificate of competency, subject to the requirements of this subsection. Pending satisfactory completion of the hunter education course, persons who possess one of the lifetime licenses specified in this subsection may exercise the privileges of the lifetime license only when accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age who is licensed to hunt in this State. For the purpose of this section, “accompanied” means that the licensed adult maintains a proximity that enables the adult to monitor the activities of the hunter by remaining within sight and hearing distance at all times without use of electronic devices.

History. 1989, c. 324, s. 1; 1991, c. 70, s. 1; 1997-365, s. 1; 1999-456, s. 27; 2005-438, s. 1; 2013-63, s. 1.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 1997-365, s. 2, provides: “Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1 of this act, locations where hunting safety is taught shall not be relieved of their obligation to make the course accessible to persons with disabilities who wish to take the course.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-438, s. 1, effective October 1, 2005, in subsection (a), substituted “subsections (a1) and (d)” for “subsection (a1)” and deleted “or hunt” following “hunting license”; substituted “G.S. 113-270.1C(b)(4)” for “G.S. 113-270.1C(b)(3)” in subsection (a1); and rewrote subdivisions (a1)(1), (a1)(2) and subsection (d).

Session Laws 2013-63, s. 1, effective July 1, 2013, redesignated former subsection (a) as present subsection (a) and subdivision (a)(2); added subdivision (a)(1); rewrote subsections (a), (b), and (d) and subdivisions (a)(2), (a1)(2), and (b)(2); added “of at least 18 years of age” in subdivision (a1)(1); and substituted “July 1, 2013” for “July 1, 1991” in subsection (c).

§ 113-270.1B. License required to hunt, fish, or trap; fees set by Commission.

1. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, no person may hunt, fish, trap, or participate in any other activity regulated by the Wildlife Resources Commission for which a license is provided by law without having first procured a current and valid license authorizing the activity.
2. Except as indicated otherwise, all licenses, permits, stamps, and certifications are valid from the date of issue for a period of 12 months.
3. As used in this section, the term “effective date” means the later of:
   1. The date of purchase of a new license.
   2. The first day after the expiration of a currently valid license of the same type held by the licensee.
4. For those licenses sold directly through the Commission by telephone, mail, online, or at a service counter, the Commission may charge a fee of two dollars ($2.00) per transaction. A fee may not be charged by the Commission for federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification, big game harvest report cards for lifetime license holders, exempt landowners, persons of less than 16 years of age, or for any other license or vessel transactions for which there is no charge.
5. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall adopt rules to establish fees for all licenses, permits, stamps, and certifications issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission, except those specified in G.S. 113-173. No rule may increase a fee in excess of the total increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, rounded up to the next whole dollar, over the period of time since the last fee change.The statutory fees for the hunting, fishing, trapping, and activity licenses issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission shall expire when the rules adopted pursuant to this subsection become effective.

History. 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 1; 2012-81, s. 1; 2013-283, ss. 16, 20(b), (c); 2017-57, s. 13A.3; 2019-204, s. 6(a).

Local Modification.

Forsyth County: 2005-257, s. 1.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2012-190, s. 1, provides: “(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide funding for the dredging and maintenance of the State’s coastal inlets from fees charged to those who make use of the inlets.

“(b) In order to identify possible sources of funds for the purposes set out in subsection (a) of this section, the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission, and the Deputy Secretary for Transit of the Department of Transportation shall jointly study the fees associated with the issuance of coastal fishing licenses pursuant to Chapter 113 of the General Statutes and the numbering and titling of vessels pursuant to Chapter 75A of the General Statutes.

“(1) For coastal fishing licenses, the Director and Executive Director shall specifically:

“a. Identify all types of fishing licenses issued for the purpose of taking fish in coastal fishing waters, both recreational and commercial.

“b. Identify the fees associated with these licenses.

“c. Identify the analogous licenses issued and fees charged by states with fisheries profiles similar to those of North Carolina, including at least South Carolina and Virginia.

“d. Recommend several levels of increases in the license fees and calculate the amount of revenue that would be generated by the different levels of increase.

“e. Identify any limitations under State or federal law on the use of license fees for purposes not related to the management of marine fisheries.

“(2) For the numbering and titling of vessels, the Executive Director shall specifically:

“a. Identify all requirements for the numbering and titling of vessels.

“b. Determine whether there is a method for differentiating between vessels that are used predominantly in coastal fishing waters versus those that are used predominantly in inland fishing waters.

“c. Identify the fees associated with the numbering and titling of vessels.

“d. Identify the analogous vessel numbering and titling requirements and fees charged by states with coastal boating profiles similar to those of North Carolina, including at least South Carolina and Virginia.

“e. Recommend several levels of increases in the fees associated with the numbering and titling of vessels and calculate the amount of revenue that would be generated by the different levels of increase.

“f. Identify any limitations under State or federal law on the use of fees associated with the numbering and titling of vessels.

“(3) The Director and the Executive Director shall examine all other sources of funding, including the gas tax.

“(c) The Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission, and the Deputy Secretary for Transit of the Department of Transportation shall jointly submit a report on the study required by subsection (b) of this section to the Legislative Research Commission’s Committee on Marine Fisheries no later than September 1, 2012.”

Subsection (d) was enacted by Session Laws 2013-283, s. 16, as subsection (c). It was redesignated at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 20(a), provides: “Effective January 1, 2015, the statutory fees for the hunting, fishing, trapping, and activity licenses issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission shall remain at the levels existing on that date until the rules required to be adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section become effective.”

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 20(b) and (c), effective January 1, 2015, were codified as subsection (e) of this section at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 22 provides, in part: “Sections 15, 16, 17, and 18 of this act become effective January 1, 2014. Section 20 becomes effective January 1, 2015.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2012-81, s. 1, effective July 1, 2013, at the end of the introductory language of subsection (b), substituted “12 months from the effective date printed on the face of the license” for “12 months”; and added subsection (c).

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 16, effective January 1, 2014, added the subsection designated herein as (d)

Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13A.3, effective July 1, 2017, substituted “total increase” for “average increase” and “period of time since the last fee change” for “preceding five years” in subsection (e).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(a), effective September 1, 2019, substituted “licenses, permits, stamps and certifications are” for “licenses are annual licenses” in subsection (b); and rewrote subsection (e).

§ 113-270.1C. Combination hunting and inland fishing licenses.

1. The combination hunting and inland fishing licenses set forth in subsection (b) of this section entitle the licensee to take all wild birds and wild animals, other than big game and waterfowl, by all lawful methods, except trapping, and in all open seasons, and to fish with hook and line in all inland and joint fishing waters, and public mountain trout waters, but does not entitle the licensee to engage in fishing in coastal fishing waters. A combination hunting and inland fishing license issued under this section entitles the licensee to access and use Wildlife Resources Commission Property.
2. Combination hunting and inland fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:
   1. Resident Annual Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing License — $35.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.
   2. , (3) Repealed by Session Laws 1997-326, s. 2.

(4) Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.6, effective January 1, 2007.

(5) Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing License — $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee.

(6) Resident Totally Disabled Lifetime Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing License — $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee.

History. 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 1; 1997-326, ss. 2, 3; 2001-91, s. 1; 2005-455, s. 1.6; 2013-283, s. 1; 2019-204, s. 6(b).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 1997-326, s. 6, provides that all lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses issued under subdivisions (b)(2) and (b)(3) prior to October 1, 1997, shall remain valid for the uses for which they were issued.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.20, provides: “The repeal by this act of the statutory authority of the Wildlife Resources Commission to issue a type of license shall not affect the authority of an individual to whom a license of that type is issued prior to the effective date of the repeal to engage in the activity that the repealed license type authorizes so long as the license is otherwise valid.”

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 4.2, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.6, effective January 1, 2007, inserted “inland” in the section heading; in subsection (a), inserted “inland” preceding “fishing licenses,” substituted “licensee” for “holder” and added the last sentence; deleted former subdivision (b)(4), which pertained to lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses for disabled residents; and added subdivisions (b)(5) and (b)(6).

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 1, effective August 1, 2014, substituted “$25.00” for “$20.00” in subdivision (b)(1).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(b), effective September 1, 2019, rewrote this section.

§ 113-270.1D. Sportsman licenses.

1. Annual Sportsman License —  $50.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and entitles the licensee to take all wild animals and wild birds, including waterfowl, by all lawful methods, except trapping, in all open seasons, and to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters, but does not entitle the licensee to engage in fishing in coastal waters. An annual sportsman license issued under this subsection entitles the licensee to access and use Wildlife Resources Commission Property.
2. Lifetime Sportsman Licenses. —  Lifetime sportsman licenses are valid for the lifetime of the licensees. Lifetime sportsman licenses entitle the licensees to take all wild animals and wild birds by all lawful methods, except trapping, in all open seasons, and to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters, but do not entitle the licensee to engage in fishing in coastal fishing waters, except if the license was purchased before January 1, 2006, pursuant to G.S. 113-174.2(d)(2). A lifetime sportsman license issued under this subsection entitles the licensee to access and use Wildlife Resources Commission Property. Lifetime sportsman licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:
   1. Infant Lifetime Sportsman License — $200.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual under one year of age.
   2. Youth Lifetime Sportsman License — $350.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual under 12 years of age.
   3. Adult Resident Lifetime Sportsman License — $500.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State who is 12 years of age or older but younger than 70 years of age. Except for individuals qualifying for a discounted license pursuant to G.S. 113-276(o), a resident who is 50 years of age or older but younger than 70 years of age shall be eligible to purchase this license at fifty percent (50%) of the applicable fee.
   4. Nonresident Lifetime Sportsman License — $1,200. This license shall be issued only to an individual nonresident of the State.
   5. Age 70 Resident Lifetime Sportsman License — $15.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State who is at least 70 years of age.
   6. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.7. effective January 1, 2007.
   7. Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Sportsman License — $100.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
   8. Resident Totally Disabled Lifetime Sportsman License — $100.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
   9. Fallen Wildlife Officers Memorial Lifetime Sportsman License. — This license shall also be known as the John Oliver Edwards Memorial Lifetime Sportsman License and shall be issued free of charge only to a surviving spouse, child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a wildlife enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.

History. 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 1; 1997-326, s. 1; 1999-339, s. 4; 2005-455, s. 1.7; 2013-283, s. 2; 2014-100, s. 14.25(e); 2018-82, s. 1; 2019-204, s. 6(c); 2021-160, s. 8(a).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.20, provides: “The repeal by this act of the statutory authority of the Wildlife Resources Commission to issue a type of license shall not affect the authority of an individual to whom a license of that type is issued prior to the effective date of the repeal to engage in the activity that the repealed license type authorizes so long as the license is otherwise valid.”

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 4.2, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 21, provides: “All discounted licenses for persons at least 65 years of age provided for in G.S. 113-270.1D(b), 113-271(d), 113-351(c), and 113-174.2(c) for which the age requirement is increased from 65 to 70 by Sections 2, 7, 10, and 11 of this act shall remain available at age 65 for all persons who were born on or before August 1, 1953.”

Session Laws 2018-82 provides in its preamble: “Whereas, Deputy Game Warden John W. Hollowell lost his life in the line of duty on August 30, 1930; and

“Whereas, Game Warden Joseph D. Whitaker lost his life in the line of duty on November 15, 1936; and

“Whereas, District Game and Fish Protector W. I. Wright, Jr., lost his life in the line of duty on October 31, 1948; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Agent Grover C. Quinn, Jr., lost his life in the line of duty on March 25, 1949; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Protector William G. Holler lost his life in the line of duty on October 19, 1951; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Protector Amos M. Bordeaux lost his life in the line of duty on April 10, 1962; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Officer John O. Edwards lost his life in the line of duty on August 3, 1963; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Refuge Manager Dewey H. McCall lost his life in the line of duty on September 5, 1971; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Area Leader Troy M. Sigmon lost his life in the line of duty on September 1, 1978; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Officer Lloyd O. Mayse lost his life in the line of duty on November 27, 1980; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Officer William A. Williamson lost his life in the line of duty on December 4, 1985; and

“Whereas, thousands of men and women proudly perform their duties as wildlife enforcement officers throughout the United States and the State of North Carolina; and

“Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution declares it to be the policy of this State to conserve and protect its lands and waters for the benefit of all its citizenry; and

“Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution also declares it to be the proper function of the State to preserve as a part of the common heritage of this State its forests, wetlands, estuaries, beaches, historical sites, open lands, and places of beauty; and

“Whereas, G.S. 143B-135.42 provides that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geological, biological, scenic, and recreational resources and finds that these resources are part of the heritage of the people of this State and should be preserved and managed by the people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and

“Whereas, the Wildlife Enforcement Officers of the Wildlife Resources Commission are dedicated public servants and work tirelessly to uphold these provisions of the State’s Constitution and General Statutes, fulfill their duties to preserve our State’s spectacular natural resources, and assure the safety of the State’s citizenry in enjoying these resources; and

“Whereas, the origins of the Wildlife Resource Commission may be traced to 1947, when the General Assembly established the agency to conserve and sustain the State’s wildlife and inland fish resources; and

“Whereas, the Wildlife Enforcement Officers of the Wildlife Resources Commission have responsibility for enforcement of the inland fishing, hunting, trapping, and boating laws throughout the State; and

“Whereas, many Wildlife Enforcement Officers have been injured in the line of duty, and eleven Wildlife Enforcement Officers have lost their lives in the line of duty; and

“Whereas, it is fitting to honor and commend the exemplary group of men and women who have served and continue to serve our State and nation and routinely endure dangerous and difficult conditions in the performance of their duties and those that have been injured and lost in the line of duty through service to their State and nation; Now, therefore,”

Session Laws 2018-82, s. 4, provides: “The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to implement this act.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.7, effective January 1, 2007, in subsection (a), substituted “licensee” for “holder” in the first sentence and added the last sentence; in subsection (b), substituted “Except as provided . . . licensees to take” for “Lifetime sportsman licenses are valid for the lifetime of the holders and entitle the holders to take” and added the last sentence; in subdivision (b)(5), substituted “65” for “70” twice and “$15.00” for “$10.00” once; deleted former subdivision (b)(6), which pertained to disabled resident sportsman licenses; and added subdivisions (b)(7) and (b)(8).

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 2, effective August 1, 2014, substituted “$50.00” for “$40.00” in subsection (a); substituted “$1,200” for “$1,000” in subdivision (b)(4); substituted “70” for “65” twice in subdivision (b)(5); and added “or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission” in subdivisions (b)(7) and (b)(8).

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.25(e), effective August 1, 2014, added “who is 12 years of age or older but younger than 70 years of age” at the end of subdivision (b)(3); and made a punctuation change in subdivision (b)(4).

Session Laws 2018-82, s. 1, effective July 1, 2019, added subdivision (b)(9).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(c), effective September 1, 2019, rewrote subsections (a) and (b); and deleted the former last sentence of subdivision (b)(7), which read: “This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled.”

Session Laws 2021-160, s. 8(a), effective September 20, 2021, added the second sentence of subdivision (b)(3).

§ 113-270.2. Hunting licenses.

1. The hunting licenses set forth in subdivisions (1), (2), (5), (6), and (7) of subsection (c) of this section entitle the holder to take wild birds and wild animals, other than big game and waterfowl, by all lawful methods, except trapping, and in all open seasons. Unless otherwise specified, a hunting license issued under this subsection entitles the licensee to access and use Wildlife Resources Commission Property. The comprehensive hunting licenses of subdivisions (2) and (5) of subsection (c) of this section further entitle the holder to take big game and waterfowl.
2. Repealed by Session Laws 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 2.
3. The hunting licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:
   1. Resident State Hunting License —  $25.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.
   2. Lifetime Resident Comprehensive Hunting License —  $250.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and is valid for the lifetime of the holder.
   3. Repealed by Session Laws 2013-283, s. 3, effective August 1, 2014.
   4. Controlled Hunting Preserve Hunting License —  $20.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident to take only foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and domestically raised chukars, Hungarian partridges, and game birds, other than wild turkey, only within a controlled hunting preserve licensed and operated in accordance with G.S. 113-273(g) and implementing rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license does not authorize access to or use of Wildlife Resources Commission Property.
   5. Resident Annual Comprehensive Hunting License —  $36.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.
   6. Nonresident State Hunting License.—  This license shall be issued only to a nonresident. The nonresident State hunting licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:
      1. Season License —  $100.00.
      2. Ten-Day License —  $80.00. This license is valid for the 10 consecutive dates indicated on the license.
   7. Falconry Hunting License —  $25.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident and authorizes taking wildlife by means of falconry. In addition to a falconry hunting license, the license holder shall also possess a valid falconry license as described in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(4). This license expires June 30.
4. One dollar ($1.00) of the proceeds received from the sale of each nonresident hunting license sold pursuant to subdivision (6) of subsection (c) of this section shall be set aside by the Wildlife Resources Commission and contributed to a proper agency or agencies in the United States for expenditure in Canada for the restoration and management of migratory waterfowl.

History. 1935, c. 486, s. 12; 1937, c. 45, s. 1; 1945, c. 617; 1949, c. 1203, s. 1; 1957, c. 849, s. 1; 1959, c. 304; 1961, c. 384, s. 1; 1967, c. 790; 1969, c. 1030; c. 1042, ss. 1-5, 13; 1971, c. 242; c. 282, s. 1; c. 705, ss. 1, 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1975, c. 197, ss. 1-4, 6, 8; c. 673, s. 2; 1977, c. 658; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1178, s. 1; 1981, c. 482, s. 4; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1201, s. 1; 1983, c. 140, s. 1; 1987, c. 156, ss. 1, 2; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1989, c. 324, s. 2; c. 616, s. 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 909, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 2; 1999-339, s. 5; 2001-91, s. 2; 2013-283, s. 3; 2019-204, s. 6(d).

Cross References.

As to the Wildlife Endowment Fund, see G.S. 143-250.1.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 3, effective August 1, 2014, substituted “$20.00” for “$15.00” in subdivisions (c)(1) and (c)(4); deleted subdivision (c)(3); substituted “$36.00” for “$30.00” in subdivision (c)(5); substituted “$80.00” for “$60.00” in sub-subdivision (c)(6)a.; and, in sub-subdivision (c)(6)b., substituted “Ten-Day” for “Six-Day,” “$60.00” for “$40.00,” and “10” for “six.”

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(d), effective September 1, 2019, rewrote subsections (a) and (c).

§ 113-270.2A. Voluntary contribution to hunter education program.

1. A person applying for a hunting license may make a voluntary contribution to the Wildlife Resources Commission for the purpose of funding a hunter education program.
2. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall devise administrative procedure for the collection of all contributions donated pursuant to the provisions of this act and shall collect and use the contributions to fund and provide for a hunter education program.

History. 1979, c. 764, ss. 1, 2; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 2013-63, s. 2.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-63, s. 2, effective July 1, 2013, substituted “hunter” for “hunters safety” in the section heading; deleted “of fifty cents (50¢)” preceding “to the Wildlife Resources Commission” in subsection (a); and deleted “safety” preceding “education program” in subsections (a) and (b).

§ 113-270.2B. Voluntary migratory waterfowl conservation print.

1. The Wildlife Resources Commission has exclusive production rights for the voluntary migratory waterfowl conservation print, and is authorized to adopt policy for the annual selection of an appropriate design for the print and to have the print produced for sale. This policy may include ownership rights of the original art selected; arrangements for the reproduction, distribution and marketing of prints; and provisions for sharing the resulting revenues.
2. The proceeds accruing to the Commission from its share of the voluntary migratory waterfowl conservation prints shall be used by the Commission for the benefit of migratory waterfowl management in North Carolina.

History. 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1269; 1987, c. 452, s. 1; c. 827, s. 98.

§ 113-270.3. Special activity licenses; big game kill reports.

1. In addition to any hunting, trapping, or fishing license that may be required pursuant to G.S. 113-270.1B(a), individuals engaging in specially regulated activities must have the appropriate special activity license and stamp prescribed in this section before engaging in the regulated activity.
2. The special activity licenses and stamp issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:
   1. Resident Big Game Hunting License  — $13.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and entitles the holder to take big game by all lawful methods and during all open seasons.
   2. Nonresident Bear Hunting License — $225.00. This license is valid for use only by an individual within the State and must be procured before taking any bear within the State. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a nonresident individual may not take any bear within the State without procuring this license; provided, that neither those persons who have a nonresident lifetime sportsman combination license purchased prior to May 24, 1994, nor those persons who have obtained a lifetime license established by G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(9) shall have to purchase this license. This license expires June 30.
   3. Bear Management Stamp — $10.00. This electronically generated stamp must be procured before taking any bear within the State. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a resident or nonresident individual may not take any bear within the State without procuring this stamp; provided, that those persons who have purchased a lifetime license established by G.S. 113-270.1D(b), 113-270.2(c)(2), or 113-351(c)(3) prior to July 1, 2014, those persons who have obtained a lifetime license established by G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(9), and those persons exempt from the license requirements as set forth in G.S. 113-276(c), G.S. 113-276(d), and G.S. 113-276(n) shall obtain this stamp free of charge. All of the revenue generated by this stamp shall be dedicated to black bear research and management. This stamp expires June 30.
   4. Nonresident Big Game Hunting License. This license shall be issued only to an individual nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to take big game by all lawful methods and during all open seasons. The nonresident big game hunting licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:
      1. Season License — $100.00.
      2. Ten-Day License — $80.00. This license is only valid for the 10 consecutive dates indicated on the license.
   5. Bonus Antlerless Deer License — $10.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State who holds a valid North Carolina big game hunting license or an individual resident who is exempt from the hunting license requirement in accordance with G.S. 113-276(c) and G.S. 113-276(d) and entitles the holder to take two antlerless deer during seasons and by methods authorized by the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license expires June 30.
   6. Game Land License — $15.00. The Wildlife Resources Commission may, pursuant to G.S. 113-264(a), designate in its rules activities on game lands that require purchase of this license and may charge additional fees for use of specially developed facilities.
   7. Falconry License — $10.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and must be procured before:
      1. Taking, importing, transporting, or possessing a raptor; or
      2. Taking wildlife by means of falconry.
   8. Migratory Waterfowl Hunting License — $13.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to take migratory waterfowl in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Wildlife Resources Commission may implement this license requirement through the sale of an official waterfowl stamp which may be a facsimile, in an appropriate size, of the waterfowl conservation print authorized by G.S. 113-270.2B. An amount not less than one-half of the annual proceeds from the sale of this license shall be used by the Commission for cooperative waterfowl habitat improvement projects through contracts with local waterfowl interests, with the remainder of the proceeds to be used by the Commission in its statewide programs for the conservation of waterfowl.
   9. Resident American Alligator License — $250.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident of the State and entitles the holder to take American alligator during the open alligator season by methods authorized by the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license expires June 30.
   10. Nonresident American Alligator License — $500.00. This license shall be issued to an individual nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to take American alligator during the open alligator season by methods authorized by the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license expires June 30.
   11. Resident Elk License — $500.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident of the State and entitles the holder to take elk during the open elk season by methods authorized by the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license expires June 30.
   12. Nonresident Elk License — $1,000. This license shall be issued to an individual nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to take elk during the open elk season by methods authorized by the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license expires June 30.
3. Any individual who kills any species of big game must report the kill to the Wildlife Resources Commission. The Commission may by rule prescribe the method of making the report, prescribe its contents, and require positive identification of the carcass of the kill, by tagging or otherwise. The Wildlife Resources Commission may administratively provide for the annual issuance of big game tags or other identification for big game authorized by this section to holders of lifetime sportsman licenses and lifetime comprehensive hunting licenses.
4. Any individual who possesses any of the lifetime sportsman licenses established by G.S. 113-270.1D(b) may engage in specially regulated activities without the licenses required by subdivisions (1), (2), (3), and (5) of subsection (b) of this section. Any individual possessing an annual sportsman license established by G.S. 113-270.1D(a) or a lifetime or annual comprehensive hunting license established by G.S.113-270.2(c)(2) or (5) may engage in specially regulated activities without the licenses required by subdivisions (1), (3), and (5) of subsection (b) of this section.
5. When the Wildlife Resources Commission establishes a primitive weapons season pursuant to G.S. 113-291.2(a), all of the combination hunting and fishing licenses established in G.S.113-270.1C, sportsman licenses established in G.S. 113-270.1D, and hunting licenses established in G.S. 113-270.2(c)(1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) entitle the holder to participate. For purposes of this section, “primitive weapons” include bow and arrow, muzzle-loading firearm, and any other primitive weapon specified in the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.

In addition to a falconry license, license holders 16 years of age and older must also possess a hunting license as set forth in G.S. 113-270.1C, 113-270.1D, and 113-270.2 when taking wildlife by means of falconry. The Wildlife Resources Commission may issue classes of falconry licenses necessary to participate in the federal/State permit system, require necessary examinations before issuing licenses or permits to engage in various authorized activities related to possession and maintenance of raptors and the sport of falconry, and regulate licenses as required by governing federal law and rules. To defray the costs of administering required examinations, the Wildlife Resources Commission may charge reasonable fees upon giving them. To meet minimum federal standards plus other State standards in the interests of conservation of wildlife resources, the Wildlife Resources Commission may impose all necessary controls, including those set out in the sections pertaining to collection licenses and captivity licenses, and may issue permits and require reports, but no collection license or captivity license is needed in addition to the falconry license.

History. 1969, c. 1042, s. 7; 1973, c. 1097, s. 1; 1975, c. 171; c. 197, ss. 5, 7; c. 673, s. 1; 1977, c. 746, s. 1; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1178, ss. 2, 5; 1981, c. 482, s. 7; c. 620, s. 1; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1201, s. 2; 1983, c. 140, ss. 2-3; 1987, c. 156, ss. 3-5; c. 452, ss. 2, 3; c. 745, s. 2; c. 827, s. 98; 1991, c. 671, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 557, s. 2; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 3; 1999-339, s. 6; 2001-91, s. 3; 2006-226, s. 21; 2009-214, s. 1; 2011-369, s. 3; 2013-283, s. 4; 2014-100, s. 14.25(a); 2018-82, s. 2; 2018-90, s. 2; 2019-204, s. 6(e).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2018-82 provides in its preamble: “Whereas, Deputy Game Warden John W. Hollowell lost his life in the line of duty on August 30, 1930; and

“Whereas, Game Warden Joseph D. Whitaker lost his life in the line of duty on November 15, 1936; and

“Whereas, District Game and Fish Protector W. I. Wright, Jr., lost his life in the line of duty on October 31, 1948; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Agent Grover C. Quinn, Jr., lost his life in the line of duty on March 25, 1949; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Protector William G. Holler lost his life in the line of duty on October 19, 1951; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Protector Amos M. Bordeaux lost his life in the line of duty on April 10, 1962; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Officer John O. Edwards lost his life in the line of duty on August 3, 1963; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Refuge Manager Dewey H. McCall lost his life in the line of duty on September 5, 1971; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Area Leader Troy M. Sigmon lost his life in the line of duty on September 1, 1978; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Officer Lloyd O. Mayse lost his life in the line of duty on November 27, 1980; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Officer William A. Williamson lost his life in the line of duty on December 4, 1985; and

“Whereas, thousands of men and women proudly perform their duties as wildlife enforcement officers throughout the United States and the State of North Carolina; and

“Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution declares it to be the policy of this State to conserve and protect its lands and waters for the benefit of all its citizenry; and

“Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution also declares it to be the proper function of the State to preserve as a part of the common heritage of this State its forests, wetlands, estuaries, beaches, historical sites, open lands, and places of beauty; and

“Whereas, G.S. 143B-135.42 provides that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geological, biological, scenic, and recreational resources and finds that these resources are part of the heritage of the people of this State and should be preserved and managed by the people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and

“Whereas, the Wildlife Enforcement Officers of the Wildlife Resources Commission are dedicated public servants and work tirelessly to uphold these provisions of the State’s Constitution and General Statutes, fulfill their duties to preserve our State’s spectacular natural resources, and assure the safety of the State’s citizenry in enjoying these resources; and

“Whereas, the origins of the Wildlife Resource Commission may be traced to 1947, when the General Assembly established the agency to conserve and sustain the State’s wildlife and inland fish resources; and

“Whereas, the Wildlife Enforcement Officers of the Wildlife Resources Commission have responsibility for enforcement of the inland fishing, hunting, trapping, and boating laws throughout the State; and

“Whereas, many Wildlife Enforcement Officers have been injured in the line of duty, and eleven Wildlife Enforcement Officers have lost their lives in the line of duty; and

“Whereas, it is fitting to honor and commend the exemplary group of men and women who have served and continue to serve our State and nation and routinely endure dangerous and difficult conditions in the performance of their duties and those that have been injured and lost in the line of duty through service to their State and nation; Now, therefore,”

Session Laws 2018-82, s. 4, provides: “The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to implement this act.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2006-226, s. 21, effective August 10, 2006, substituted “subdivisions (1), (3), and (5)” for “subdivisions (1) and (3)” near the end of subsection (d).

Session Laws 2009-214, s. 1, effective July 1, 2009, added subdivision (b)(2a).

Session Laws 2011-369, s. 3, effective October 1, 2011, and applicable to acts that occur on or after that date, in subdivision (b)(1a), rewrote the subdivision catchline, which formerly read: “Nonresident Bear/Wild Boar Hunting License,” and in the last two sentences, deleted “or wild boar” following “bear.”

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 4, effective August 1, 2014, added “stamps” in the section heading; added “and stamp” in subsections (a) and (b); substituted “$13.00” for “$10.00” in subdivisions (b)(1) and (b)(5); substituted “$225.00” for “$125.00” in subdivision (b)(1a); added subdivision (b)(1b); substituted “$80.00” for “$60.00” in sub-subdivision (b)(2)a.; and, in sub-subdivision (b)(2)b., substituted “Ten-Day” for “Six-Day,” “$60.00” for “$40.00,” and “10” for “six.”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.25(a), effective August 1, 2014, inserted “G.S. 113-276(d)” in the second sentence of subdivision (b)(1b).

Session Laws 2018-82, s. 2, effective July 1, 2019, rewrote subdivision (b)(1a); and inserted “those persons who have obtained a lifetime license established by G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(9),” following “July 1, 2014,” in subdivision (b)(1b).

Session Laws 2018-90, s. 2, effective July 1, 2018, added the last sentence in subdivisions (b)(1a), and (b)(1b); and added subdivisions (b)(6) through (b)(9).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(e), effective September 1, 2019, substituted “$100.00” for “$80.00” in subdivision (b)(2)a; substituted “$80.00” for “$60.00” in subdivision (b)(2)b; in subdivision (b)(3), deleted the former first sentence, which read: “This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to hunt and trap on game lands managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission.” and deleted “other” following “its rules”; and added the first sentence in the ending undesignated paragraph of subdivision (b)(4).

§ 113-270.4. Hunting and fishing guide license.

1. No one may serve for hire as a hunting or fishing guide without having first procured a current and valid hunting and fishing guide license. This license is valid only for use by an individual meeting the criteria set by the Wildlife Resources Commission for issuance of the license subject to the limitations set forth in this section. Possession of the hunting and fishing guide license does not relieve the guide from meeting other applicable license requirements.
2. The hunting and fishing guide licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources are:
   1. Resident Hunting and Fishing Guide License — $15.00. This license is valid for use only by an individual resident of the State.
   2. Nonresident Hunting and Fishing Guide License — $150.00. This license is valid for use by a nonresident individual in the State.
3. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule provide for the qualifications and duties of hunting and fishing guides. In implementing this section, the Wildlife Resources Commission may delegate to the Executive Director and his subordinates administrative responsibilities concerning the selection and supervision of hunting and fishing guides, except that provisions relating to revocation of hunting and fishing guide licenses must be substantially set out in the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.

History. 1935, c. 486, s. 12; 1937, c. 45, s. 1; 1945, c. 617; 1949, c. 1203, s. 1; 1957, c. 849, s. 1; 1959, c. 304; 1961, c. 834, s. 1; 1967, c. 790; 1969, c. 1030; c. 1042, ss. 1-5; 1971, c. 242, c. 282, s. 1; c. 705, ss. 1, 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1975, c. 197, ss. 1-4; 1977, c. 658; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1201, s. 3; 1983, c. 140, s. 4; 1987, c. 156, s. 6; c. 827, s. 98; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 989, s. 1; 1993, c. 553, s. 32.1; 2001-91, s. 4; 2013-283, s. 5.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 5, effective August 1, 2014, substituted “15.00” for “$10.00” in subdivision (b)(1); and substituted “$150.00” for “$100.00” in subdivision (b)(2).

§ 113-270.5. Trapping licenses.

1. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, no person may take wild animals by trapping during open trapping seasons without a valid trapping license.
2. The trapping licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows and entitle the licensee to access and use Wildlife Resource Commission Property:
   1. Resident State Trapping License — $30.00. This license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State.
   2. Resident Lifetime Trapping License — $300.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and is valid for the lifetime of the licensee.
   3. Repealed by Session Laws 2013-283, s. 6, effective August 1, 2014.
   4. Nonresident State Trapping License — $125.00. This license is valid for use by an individual within the State.

History. 1929, c. 278, s. 3; 1969, c. 1042, s. 6; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1975, c. 197, ss. 9-11; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1201, s. 4; 1983, c. 140, s. 5; 1987, c. 156, s. 7; c. 827, s. 98; 2001-91, s. 5; 2013-283, s. 6; 2019-204, s. 6(f).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 6, effective August 1, 2014, substituted “30.00” for “$25.00” in subdivision (b)(1); deleted subdivision (b)(2); and substituted “$125.00” for “$100.00” in subdivision (b)(3).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(f), effective September 1, 2019, rewrote subsection (a); rewrote subsection (b), which formerly read: “The trapping licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows”; and added subdivision (b)(1a).

§ 113-271. Hook-and-line licenses in inland and joint fishing waters.

1. An inland hook-and-line fishing license issued under subdivisions (2), (3), (5), (6), (6a), (6b), and (6c) of subsection (d) of this section entitles the licensee to fish with hook and line in inland fishing waters, joint fishing waters, and public mountain trout waters. An inland hook-and-line fishing license issued under this section entitles the licensee to access and use Wildlife Resources Commission Property, but does not entitle the licensee to engage in fishing in coastal fishing waters.
2. Repealed by Session Laws 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 4.
3. Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.
4. The hook-and-line fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:
   1. Repealed by Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(g), effective September 1, 2019.
   2. Resident State Inland Fishing License — $25.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.
   3. Lifetime Resident Comprehensive Inland Fishing License — $250.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and is valid for the lifetime of the licensee.
   4. Repealed by Session Laws 2013-283, s. 7, effective August 1, 2014.
   5. Nonresident State Inland Fishing License — $45.00. This license shall be issued to an individual nonresident of the State.
   6. Short-Term Inland Fishing Licenses. Short-term inland fishing licenses are valid only for the date or consecutive dates indicated on the licenses. Short-term inland fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:
      1. Resident 10-day Inland Fishing License — $9.00. This license shall be issued only to a resident of the State.
      2. Nonresident 10-day Inland Fishing License — $23.00. This license shall be issued only to a nonresident of the State.
      3. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.8, effective January 1, 2007.
   7. Age 70 Resident Lifetime Inland Fishing License — $15.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State who is at least 70 years of age.
   8. Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Inland Fishing License — $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee.
   9. Resident Totally Disabled Lifetime Inland Fishing License — $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee.
   10. , (8) Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.8, effective January 1, 2007.

(9) Special Landholder and Guest Fishing License — $100.00. This license shall be issued only to the landholder of private property bordering inland or joint fishing waters. This license shall entitle the landholder and guests of the landholder to fish from the shore or any pier or dock originating from the property without any additional fishing license. This license is applicable only to private property and private docks and piers and is not valid for any public property, pier, or dock nor for any private property, pier, or dock operated for any commercial purpose whatsoever. This license shall not be in force unless displayed on the premises of the property and only entitles fishing without additional license to persons fishing from the licensed property and then only when fishing within the private property lines. This license is not transferable as to person or location. For purposes of this subdivision, a guest is any individual invited by the landholder to fish from the property at no charge. A charge includes any fee, assessment, dues, rent, or other consideration which must be paid, whether directly or indirectly, in order to be allowed to fish from the property, regardless of the stated reason for such charge.

(10) Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Three-Day Fishing License — $8.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and shall entitle the holder to fish in waters designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission as mountain heritage trout waters for the three consecutive days indicated on the license. An individual who holds a mountain heritage trout waters three-day fishing license does not need to hold any other hook-and-line fishing license issued pursuant to this subsection in order to fish in mountain heritage trout waters.

History. 1929, c. 335, ss. 1-4; 1931, c. 351; 1933, c. 236; 1935, c. 478; 1945, c. 529, ss. 1, 2; c. 567, ss. 1-4; 1949, c. 1203, s. 2; 1953, c. 1147; 1955, c. 198, s. 1; 1957, c. 849, s. 2; 1959, c. 164; 1961, c. 312; c. 834, ss. 3-6; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1969, c. 761; c. 1042, s. 9; 1973, c. 476, s. 143; c. 504; 1975, c. 197, s. 15; 1979, c. 737, ss. 1, 2; c. 748, s. 6; c. 830, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1178, ss. 3, 5; 1981, c. 482, s. 5; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1201, s. 5; 1983, c. 140, s. 6; 1987, c. 156, ss. 8, 9; c. 827, s. 98; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 909, s. 2; c. 926; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 4; 1995, c. 535, s. 6.1; 1997-443, s. 11A.118(a); 1999-456, s. 28; 2005-455, s. 1.8; 2006-255, s. 8; 2013-283, s. 7; 2019-204, s. 6(g).

Local Modification.

Transylvania: 1995, c. 314, s. 1; city of Mebane: 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 843.

Cross References.

As to the Wildlife Endowment Fund, see G.S. 143-250.1.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.20, provides: “The repeal by this act of the statutory authority of the Wildlife Resources Commission to issue a type of license shall not affect the authority of an individual to whom a license of that type is issued prior to the effective date of the repeal to engage in the activity that the repealed license type authorizes so long as the license is otherwise valid.”

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 4.2, is a severability clause.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 21, provides: “All discounted licenses for persons at least 65 years of age provided for in G.S. 113-270.1D(b), 113-271(d), 113-351(c), and 113-174.2(c) for which the age requirement is increased from 65 to 70 by Sections 2, 7, 10, and 11 of this act shall remain available at age 65 for all persons who were born on or before August 1, 1953.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.8, effective January 1, 2007, inserted “and joint” in the section heading; rewrote subsection (a); inserted “inland” preceding “fishing” in subdivisions (d)(1) through (d)(6); substituted “licensee” for “holder” in subdivision (d)(3); substituted “licensee” for “license holder” in subdivision (d)(4); substituted “10-day Inland Fishing License” for “one-day” in subdivisions (d)(6)a. and (d)(6)b.; deleted former subdivision (d)(6)c. which read: “Nonresident three day - $15.00. This license shall be issued only to a nonresident of the State.”; added subdivisions (d)(6a) through (d)(6c); repealed former subdivision (d)(7), which pertained to lifetime fishing licenses for the legally blind; repealed former subdivision (d)(8), which pertained to adult care home resident fishing licenses; and in subdivision (d)(9), inserted “Inland” in the catchline and substituted “individuals” for “persons” twice.

Session Laws 2006-255, s. 8, effective August 23, 2006, in subdivision (d)(9), inserted “Landholder and” near the beginning of the subdivision catchline, substituted “landholder” for “owner or lessee” near the beginning of the first sentence, substituted “waters. This license shall entitle the landholders and guests of the landholder” for “waters, including public mountain trout waters, and entitles persons” near the end of the first sentence, substituted “This license” for “The guest fishing license” at the beginning of the fourth sentence, substituted “This” for “The guest fishing” at the beginning of the first sentence, and added the last two sentences.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 7, effective August 1, 2014, substituted “25.00” for “$20.00” in subdivision (d)(1); substituted “$20.00” for “$15.00” in subdivision (d)(2); deleted subdivision (d)(4); substituted “$36.00” for “$30.00” in subdivision (d)(5); substituted “$7.00” for “$5.00” in sub-subdivision (d)(6)a.; substituted “$18.00” for “$10.00” in sub-subdivision (d)(6)b.; substituted “70” for “65” twice in subdivision (d)(6a); added “or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission” in subdivisions (d)(6b) and (d)(6c); and substituted “$100.00” for “$50.00” in subdivision (d)(9).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(g), effective September 1, 2019, rewrote this section.

§ 113-272. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(h), effective September 1, 2019.

History. 1953, cc. 432, 828; 1955, c. 198, s. 2; 1961, c. 834, s. 2; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1969, c. 1042, s. 10; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1975, c. 197, s. 16; 1979, c. 748, s. 7; c. 830, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1178, ss. 4, 5; 1981, c. 482, s. 6; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1201, s. 6; 1983, c. 140, s. 7; 1987, c. 156, s. 10; c. 827, s. 98; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 5; 2001-91, s. 6; 2007-408, ss. 1, 2; 2013-283, s. 8; repealed by 2019-204, s. 6(h), effective September 1, 2019.

Cross References.

As to current provisions as to Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Three-Day Fishing License, see now G.S. 113-271(d)(10).

Editor’s Note.

Subdivisions (c)(2) and (c)(3) were redesignated as subdivisions (c)(3) and (c)(2), respectively, at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes.

Former G.S. 113-272 pertained to special trout license; mountain heritage trout waters 3-day fishing license.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2007-408, s. 1, effective August 21, 2007, added the catchline in subsection (a); rewrote subsection (c); and added “Fee” to the subsection catchline in subsection (d).

Session Laws 2007-408, s. 2, effective July 1, 2008, substituted “license; mountain heritage trout waters 3-day fishing license” for “license” in the section heading, and added subsection (e).

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 8, effective August 1, 2014, substituted “13.00” for “$10.00” in subsection (d).

§ 113-272.1. [Repealed]

Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

§ 113-272.2. Special device licenses.

1. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, no one may fish in inland fishing waters with any special device without having first procured a current and valid special device license. Special devices are all devices used in fishing other than hook and line.
2. Repealed by Session Laws 2001-91, s. 7, effective July 1, 2001.
3. The special device licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:
   1. Repealed by Session Laws 2013-283, s. 9, effective August 1, 2014.
   2. Resident Special Device License — $75.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State. It authorizes the taking of nongame fish from inland fishing waters with special devices authorized by the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission for use in specified waters. The Wildlife Resources Commission may restrict the user of the license to specified registered equipment, require tagging of items of equipment, charge up to one dollar ($1.00) per tag issued, and require periodic catch data reports. Nongame fish lawfully taken under this license may be sold.
   3. Repealed by Session Laws 2013-283, s. 9, effective August 1, 2014.
   4. Nonresident Special Device License — $500.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid only for use by an individual within the State. It is otherwise subject to the terms and conditions set out in subdivision (1a) of this subsection.
   5. , (4) Repealed by Session Laws 1987, c. 156, s. 11.
4. Repealed by Session Laws 1995, c. 36, s. 2.

History. 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1981, c. 620, s. 2; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1201, s. 7; 1983, c. 140, s. 8; 1987, c. 156, ss. 11, 12; c. 827, s. 98; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 778, s. 1; 1995, c. 36, s. 2; 2001-91, s. 7; 2013-283, s. 9.

Local Modification.

Columbus: 2003-21, s. 1 (as to portions of Waccamaw and Lumber Rivers).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 9, effective August 1, 2014, deleted subdivisions (c)(1) and (c)(2); deleted “Commercial” preceding “Special Device” in the subdivision headings of subdivisions (c)(1a) and (c)(2a); in subdivision (c)(1a), deleted “four or more” preceding “special devices” in the second sentence, and substituted “75.00” for “$100.00”; and substituted “$500.00” for “$200.00” in subdivision (c)(2a).

§ 113-272.3. Special provisions respecting fishing licenses; grabbling; taking bait fish; use of landing nets; lifetime licenses issued from Wildlife Resources Commission headquarters; personalized lifetime sportsman combination licenses.

1. The Wildlife Resources Commission by rule may define the meaning of “hook and line” and “special device” as applied to fishing techniques. Any technique of fishing that may be lawfully authorized which employs neither the use of any special device nor hook and line must be pursued under the appropriate hook-and-line fishing license.
2. In accordance with established fishing customs and the orderly conservation of wildlife resources, the Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule provide for use of nets or other special devices which it may authorize as an incident to hook-and-line fishing or for procuring bait fish without requiring a special device license. In this instance, however, the individual fishing must meet applicable hook-and-line license requirements.
3. Lifetime licenses are issued from the Wildlife Resources Commission headquarters to facilitate compliance with 50 C.F.R. § 80.31. Each application for any Infant Lifetime Sportsman, Youth Lifetime Sportsman, or Age 70 Resident Lifetime License must be accompanied by a copy of the birth certificate, adoption order containing the date of birth, or other proof of age satisfactory to the Commission, of the individual to be named as the licensee. Each application for a Fallen Wildlife Officers Memorial Lifetime Sportsman License shall be accompanied by proof of relationship to the fallen wildlife officer, satisfactory to the Wildlife Resources Commission, of the individual to be named as the licensee.
4. In issuing lifetime licenses, the Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized to adopt rules to establish a personalized series for certain license types and to charge a five dollar ($5.00) administrative fee, to be deposited in the Wildlife Fund, to defray the cost of issuance of the personalized license. The fee shall not be assessed for a personalized Fallen Wildlife Officers Memorial Lifetime Sportsman License as enacted under G.S. 113-270.1D(b)(9).
5. Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program. —  The Wildlife Resources Commission shall establish and implement a Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program to promote trout fishing as a heritage tourism activity. The Commission shall develop criteria for participation in the Program by cities and prepare a management plan for mountain heritage trout waters. A city that meets the criteria for participation in the Program shall be designated by the Commission as a Mountain Heritage Trout City.

History. 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1981, c. 482, s. 8; c. 620, s. 3; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 6.1; 2005-455, s. 1.9; 2006-255, s. 9; 2018-82, s. 3; 2019-204, s. 6(i).

Cross References.

As to adoption of rules establishing fees for hunting, fishing, trapping and activity licenses issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission, see G.S. 113-270.1B(e).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2007-408, s. 3, purported to amend G.S. 133-272.3, which does not exist. The act set out the text of G.S. 113-272.3. Had the amendatory language of the act correctly identified G.S. 113-272.3, it would have added a new subsection (e) as follows: “(e) Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program. — The Wildlife Resources Commission shall adopt rules to establish and implement a Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program to promote trout fishing as a heritage tourism activity. The Commission shall develop criteria for participation in the Program by cities and prepare a management plan for mountain heritage trout waters. A city that meets the criteria for participation in the Program shall be designated by the Commission as a Mountain Heritage Trout City.”

Session Laws 2018-82 provides in its preamble: “Whereas, Deputy Game Warden John W. Hollowell lost his life in the line of duty on August 30, 1930; and

“Whereas, Game Warden Joseph D. Whitaker lost his life in the line of duty on November 15, 1936; and

“Whereas, District Game and Fish Protector W. I. Wright, Jr., lost his life in the line of duty on October 31, 1948; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Agent Grover C. Quinn, Jr., lost his life in the line of duty on March 25, 1949; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Protector William G. Holler lost his life in the line of duty on October 19, 1951; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Protector Amos M. Bordeaux lost his life in the line of duty on April 10, 1962; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Officer John O. Edwards lost his life in the line of duty on August 3, 1963; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Refuge Manager Dewey H. McCall lost his life in the line of duty on September 5, 1971; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Area Leader Troy M. Sigmon lost his life in the line of duty on September 1, 1978; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Officer Lloyd O. Mayse lost his life in the line of duty on November 27, 1980; and

“Whereas, Wildlife Enforcement Officer William A. Williamson lost his life in the line of duty on December 4, 1985; and

“Whereas, thousands of men and women proudly perform their duties as wildlife enforcement officers throughout the United States and the State of North Carolina; and

“Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution declares it to be the policy of this State to conserve and protect its lands and waters for the benefit of all its citizenry; and

“Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution also declares it to be the proper function of the State to preserve as a part of the common heritage of this State its forests, wetlands, estuaries, beaches, historical sites, open lands, and places of beauty; and

“Whereas, G.S. 143B-135.42 provides that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geological, biological, scenic, and recreational resources and finds that these resources are part of the heritage of the people of this State and should be preserved and managed by the people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and

“Whereas, the Wildlife Enforcement Officers of the Wildlife Resources Commission are dedicated public servants and work tirelessly to uphold these provisions of the State’s Constitution and General Statutes, fulfill their duties to preserve our State’s spectacular natural resources, and assure the safety of the State’s citizenry in enjoying these resources; and

“Whereas, the origins of the Wildlife Resource Commission may be traced to 1947, when the General Assembly established the agency to conserve and sustain the State’s wildlife and inland fish resources; and

“Whereas, the Wildlife Enforcement Officers of the Wildlife Resources Commission have responsibility for enforcement of the inland fishing, hunting, trapping, and boating laws throughout the State; and

“Whereas, many Wildlife Enforcement Officers have been injured in the line of duty, and eleven Wildlife Enforcement Officers have lost their lives in the line of duty; and

“Whereas, it is fitting to honor and commend the exemplary group of men and women who have served and continue to serve our State and nation and routinely endure dangerous and difficult conditions in the performance of their duties and those that have been injured and lost in the line of duty through service to their State and nation; Now, therefore,”

Session Laws 2018-82, s. 4, provides: “The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to implement this act.”

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.9, effective January 1, 2006, substituted “certificate, adoption order containing the date of birth, or other proof of age satisfactory to the Commission, of the individual to be named as the licensee” for “certificate of the individual to be named as the license holder” in subsection (c).

Session Laws 2006-255, s. 9, effective August 23, 2006, in subsection (d), deleted “sportsman combination” preceding “licenses” near the beginning, and inserted “for certain license types” near the middle.

Session Laws 2018-82, s. 2, effective July 1, 2019, added the last sentence in subsections (c) and (d).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(i), effective September 1, 2019, rewrote subsection (c); and added subsection (e).

§ 113-272.4. Collection licenses.

1. In the interest of the orderly and efficient conservation of wildlife resources, the Wildlife Resources Commission may provide for the licensing of individuals to take any of the wildlife resources of the State under a collection license that may serve in lieu of any other license required in this Article. This license authorizes incidental transportation and possession of the wildlife resources necessary to implement the authorized purposes of the taking, but the Wildlife Resources Commission in its discretion may additionally impose permit requirements under subsection (d) below and G.S. 113-274.
2. The Wildlife Resources Commission may delegate to the Executive Director the authority to impose time limits during which the license is valid and restrictions as to what may be taken and method of taking and possession, in the interests of conservation objectives. Methods of taking under a collection license need not be restricted to those applicable to ordinary hunting, trapping, or fishing, but the licensee shall observe the restrictions as to taking, transportation, and possession imposed by the Executive Director upon the granting of the license.
3. When a more limited duration period is not set by the Executive Director, collection licenses are valid from January 1 through December 31 in any year. This license is issued upon payment of ten dollars ($10.00). The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to utilize replacement costs of wildlife resources to offset the impact of collection or possession activities.
4. As necessary, the Executive Director may administratively impose on licensees under this section restrictions upon individuals taking, transporting, or possessing under the license which will permit ready identification and control of those involved in the interest of efficient administration of laws pertaining to wildlife resources. Restrictions may include requirements as to record keeping, tagging, marking packages, cages, or containers and exhibition of additional limited-purpose and limited-time permits that may be issued without charge to cover particular activities and other actions that may be administratively required in the reasonable implementation of the objectives of this Subchapter.
5. If the Executive Director deems it administratively appropriate and convenient to do so, in the interests of simplifying the administration of licensing requirements, the Executive Director may grant particular licensees under this section the privilege of utilizing assistants in taking, transporting, or possessing wildlife resources who themselves are not licensed. Any assistants so taking, transporting, or possessing wildlife resources shall have readily available for inspection a written authorization from the licensee to engage in the activity in question. The written authorization shall contain information administratively required by the Executive Director, and a copy of the authorization must be submitted to the Wildlife Resources Commission before any assistant acts under the authorization. The Executive Director may refuse to issue, refuse to renew, or revoke the privilege conferred in this subsection. If this is done, each individual engaged in taking, transporting, or possessing wildlife resources under this section shall meet all applicable licensing and permit requirements.

History. 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 2019-204, s. 6(j).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(j), effective September 1, 2019, rewrote this section.

§ 113-272.5. Captivity license.

1. The Wildlife Resources Commission may license individuals to hold at a specified location wild animals and wild birds that are lawfully taken, crippled, tame, or unfit for immediate release into their natural habitat, or one or more of any particular species of wild animal or wild bird alive in captivity for scientific, educational, exhibition, or other purposes. Before issuing this license, the Executive Director must determine that issuance of the license is appropriate under the objectives of this Subchapter, and that the wild animal or wild bird was not acquired unlawfully or merely as a pet. Upon refusing to issue the captivity license, the Executive Director may either take possession of the wild animal or wild bird for appropriate disposition or issue a captivity permit under G.S. 113-274(c)(1b) for a limited period until the holder makes proper disposition of the wild animal or wild bird.
2. Unless a shorter time is set for a license upon its issuance under the provisions of subsection (c), captivity licenses are annual licenses issued beginning January 1 each year and running until the following December 31. The captivity license for holding shall be issued upon payment of fifty dollars ($50.00) and the captivity license for rehabilitation shall be issued upon payment of ten dollars ($10.00) to the Wildlife Resources Commission.
3. The Wildlife Resources Commission may require standards of caging and care and reports to and supervision by employees of the Wildlife Resources Commission in furtherance of the objectives of this Subchapter. The Executive Director in implementing the provisions of this section may administratively impose restrictions upon the mode of captivity deemed necessary, including prescribing methods of treatment and handling. To this end, the Executive Director may issue the captivity license with an expiration date earlier than December 31 and may also act to terminate any captivity license earlier than the expiration date for good cause.
4. Any substantial deviation from reasonable requirements imposed by rule or administratively under the authority of this section renders possession of the wild animal or wild bird unlawful.
5. No captivity license may be issued for any cougar (Felis concolor), except to:
   1. A bona fide publicly supported zoo.
   2. An educational or scientific research institution.
   3. An individual who lawfully possessed the cougar on June 29, 1977. The license may not be granted, however, for possession of a cougar within a municipality which prohibits such possession by ordinance.
   4. An individual who holds a cougar without caging under conditions simulating a natural habitat, the development of which is in accord with plans and specifications developed by the holder and approved by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
6. The licensing provisions of this section apply to black bears held in captivity, but, to the extent that it differs from this section, Article 2 of Chapter 19A of the General Statutes governs the keeping of black bears in captivity.

History. 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1285, s. 3; 1981, c. 575, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 2013-3, s. 1; 2019-204, s. 6(k).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2013-3, s. 1, effective March 6, 2013, in the first sentence of subsection (a), added “lawfully taken,” deleted “otherwise” preceding “unfit for immediate release,” and at the end of the first sentence, added “for scientific, educational, exhibition, or other purposes.”

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(k), effective September 1, 2019, rewrote subsections (a) and (c); and substituted “The captivity license for holding shall be issued upon payment of fifty dollars ($50.00) and the captivity license for rehabilitation shall be issued upon payment of ten dollars ($10.00)” for “This license is issued upon payment of five dollars ($5.00)” at the beginning of the second sentence of subsection (b).

§ 113-272.6. Possession, Transportation, Importation, and Exportation of non-farmed cervids.

1. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall regulate the possession and transportation, including importation and exportation, of non-farmed cervids, including game carcasses and parts of game carcasses extracted by hunters and carcasses and parts of carcasses imported from hunt facilities as defined by USDA Standards. For purposes of this section, the term “non-farmed cervid” has the same meaning as in G.S. 106-549.97.  The Commission shall follow the USDA Standards as defined in G.S. 106-549.97 and the provisions set forth in 9 C.F.R. Part 55 and 9 C.F.R. Part 81 in the implementation of this section and shall not adopt any rule or standard that is in conflict with, in lieu of, or more restrictive than the USDA Standards. The Commission shall adopt rules to implement this section, including requirements for transportation, importation, and exportation permits. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission may charge a fee of up to fifty dollars ($50.00) for the processing of applications for transportation, importation, and exportation permits, and the renewal or modification of those permits. The fees collected shall be applied to the costs of administering this section.
2. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall notify every applicant for a permit that any permit issued is subject to the applicant’s compliance with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ requirements for transportation pursuant to Article 34 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes.
3. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall regulate the production, sale, and transportation, including importation and exportation, of farmed cervids for commercial purposes and the licensing of farmed cervid facilities pursuant to G.S. 106-549.97. No action taken by the Wildlife Resources Commission shall in any way limit the authority of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to regulate farmed cervids.
4. , (e) Repealed by Session Laws 2015-263, s. 14(b), effective September 30, 2015.

History. 2003-344, s. 5; 2014-100, s. 14.26(e); 2015-263, s. 14(b).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: “This act shall be known as ‘The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.’ ”

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2014-100, s. 14.26(e), effective July 1, 2014, added the second sentence in subsection (a).

Session Laws 2015-263, s. 14(b), effective September 30, 2015, rewrote the section.

§ 113-273. Other licenses.

1. Except when otherwise indicated, licenses in this section are annual licenses issued beginning January 1 each year running until the following December 31.
2. Except as otherwise provided, no person may engage in any activity for which a license is provided under this section without first having procured a current and valid license for that activity. In implementing the provisions of this section, the Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule govern every aspect of the licensee’s dealings in wildlife resources. Specifically, these rules may require licensees to:
   1. Implement a system of tagging or otherwise identifying and controlling species regulated under the license and pay a reasonable fee, for each tag furnished by the Wildlife Resources Commission to defray costs;
   2. Keep records and statistics in record books furnished by the Wildlife Resources Commission, and pay a reasonable charge to defray the cost of furnishing the books;
   3. Be subject to inspection at reasonable hours and audit of wildlife resources and pertinent records and equipment;
   4. Make periodic reports;
   5. Post performance bonds payable to the Wildlife Resources Commission conditioned upon faithful compliance with provisions of law; and
   6. Otherwise comply with reasonable rules and administrative requirements that may be imposed under the authority of this section.
3. Repealed by Session Laws 1993, c. 18, s. 3.
4. Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.
5. Repealed by Session Laws 1993, c. 18, s. 3.
6. Fur-Dealer License. —  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, any individual in this State who deals in furs must obtain an appropriate fur-dealer license. For the purposes of this subsection, “dealing in furs” is engaging in the business of buying or selling fur-bearing animals or other wild animals that may lawfully be sold, the raw furs, pelts, or skins of those animals, or the furs, pelts, or skins of wild animals which may not themselves be sold but whose fur, pelt, or skin may lawfully be sold. A hunter or trapper who has lawfully taken wild animals whose fur, pelt, or skin is permitted to be sold under this subsection is not considered a fur dealer if he exclusively sells the animals or the furs, pelts, and skins, as appropriate, to licensed fur dealers. All fur-dealer licenses are annual licenses issued beginning July 1 each year running until the following June 30. Fur-dealer licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:
   1. Resident fur-dealer license, sixty dollars ($60.00). Authorizes an individual resident of the State to deal in furs in accordance with the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
   2. Nonresident fur-dealer license, three hundred dollars ($300.00). Authorizes an individual within the State to deal in furs in accordance with the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
   3. Fur-dealer station license, one hundred twenty dollars ($120.00). Authorizes a person or individual to deal in furs at an established location where fur dealings occur under the supervision of a responsible individual manager named in the license. Individual employees of the business dealing in furs solely at the established location under the supervision of the manager need not acquire an individual license. Any employee who also deals in furs outside the established location shall obtain the appropriate individual license. Individuals dealing in furs at an established location may elect to do so under their individual licenses.The Executive Director may administratively provide for reissuance of a station license without charge for the remainder of the year when either a business continues at an established location under a new supervising manager or the business changes to a new location. Before reissuing the license, however, the Executive Director shall determine that there is a continuation of essentially the same business previously licensed and that any new supervising manager meets the qualifications imposed by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. The supervising manager shall file the names of all employees of the business covered by a fur-dealer station license, whether temporary or permanent, including employees who process or skin the animals.
7. Controlled Hunting Preserve Operator License. —  The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized by rule to set standards for and to license the operation of controlled hunting preserves operated by private persons. Controlled hunting preserves are of three types: one is an area marked with appropriate signs along the outside boundaries on which only domestically raised chukars, Hungarian partridges, and game birds other than wild turkeys are taken; one is an area enclosed with a dog-proof fence on which rabbits may be hunted with dogs only; and one is an area enclosed with a dog-proof fence on which foxes and coyotes may be hunted with dogs only. A controlled fox and coyote hunting preserve operated for private use may be of any size; a controlled hunting preserve operated for commercial purposes shall be an area of not less than 500 acres or of such size as set by regulation of the Wildlife Resources Commission, which shall take into account differences in terrain and topography, as well as the welfare of the wildlife.Operators of controlled fox hunting preserves may purchase live foxes and coyotes from licensed trappers who live-trap foxes and coyotes during any open season for trapping them and may, at any time, take live foxes from their preserves for sale to other licensed operators. The controlled hunting preserve operator license for domestically raised birds, foxes, and coyotes may be purchased for a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00). The controlled hunting preserve operator license for rabbits may be purchased for a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). The controlled hunting preserve operator license is an annual license issued beginning 1 July each year running until the following 30 June.
8. Game Bird Propagation License. —  No person may propagate game birds in captivity or possess game birds for propagation without first procuring a license under this subsection. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule prescribe the activities to be covered by the propagation license, which species of game birds may be propagated, and the manner of keeping and raising the birds, in accordance with the overall objectives of conservation of wildlife resources. Except as limited by this subsection, propagated game birds may be raised and sold for purposes of propagation, stocking, food, or taking in connection with dog training as authorized in G.S. 113-291.1(d). Migratory game bird operations authorized under this subsection must also comply with any applicable provisions of federal law and rules. The Wildlife Resources Commission may impose requirements as to shipping, marking packages, banding, tagging, or wrapping the propagated birds and other restrictions designed to reduce the change of illicit game birds being disposed of under the cover of licensed operations. The Wildlife Resources Commission may make a reasonable charge for any bands, tags, or wrappers furnished propagators. The game bird propagation license is issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission upon payment of a fee of ten dollars ($10.00). It authorizes a person or individual to propagate and sell game birds designated in the license, in accordance with the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission, except:
   1. Wild turkey and ruffed grouse may not be sold for food.
   2. Production and sale of pen-raised quail for food purposes is under the exclusive control of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Wildlife Resources Commission, however, may regulate the possession, propagation, and transportation of live pen-raised quail.
9. Furbearer Propagation License. —  No person may engage in propagation in captivity or possess any species of furbearers for propagation for the purpose of selling the animals or their pelts for use as fur without first procuring a license under this subsection. The furbearer propagation license is issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission upon payment of a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). It authorizes the propagation or sale of the pelts or carcasses of the species of furbearing animals named therein, including bobcats, opossums and raccoons, or red and silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes), for use as fur. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule prescribe the activities covered by the license, the manner of keeping and raising the animals and the manner of killing them prior to sale, in accordance with overall objectives of conservation of wildlife resources and humane treatment of wild animals raised in captivity. The Wildlife Resources Commission may require tagging of the pelts or carcasses of the animals prior to sale in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 113-276.1(5) and G.S. 113-291.4(g). It is unlawful for any person licensed under this subsection to sell any pelt or carcass of any furbearing animal or fox to any other person who is not lawfully authorized to buy and possess the same, or to sell or deliver a live specimen of any such animal to any person who is not authorized to buy or receive and to hold the animal in captivity.
10. [Reserved.]
11. Taxidermy License. —  Any individual who engages in taxidermy, including the tanning of hides, involving wildlife for any compensation, including reimbursement for the cost of materials, must first procure a taxidermy license. This license is an annual license issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission for fifty dollars ($50.00). In addition to a taxidermy license, license holders engaging in taxidermy of any species of the family Cervidae must also obtain a taxidermy cervid certification issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission for five dollars ($5.00), the proceeds of which shall be used to fund the Cervid Health Cooperator Program and for other chronic wasting disease surveillance. The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized by rule to set standards and reporting requirements for taxidermy licenses and certifications. No taxidermist subject to license requirements may sell any game or game fish in which he deals except that a taxidermist may acquire a valid possessory lien upon game or game fish under the terms of Chapter 44A of the General Statutes and, with a trophy sale permit from the Wildlife Resources Commission, may sell the game or game fish under the procedure authorized in Chapter 44A. Wildlife acquired by a taxidermist is deemed “personal property” for the purposes of Chapter 44A.
12. Wildlife Control Agent License. —  An individual who engages in wildlife damage control or wildlife removal activities, including bat eviction, for compensation, including reimbursement for the cost of materials, shall first procure a wildlife control agent license. This is an annual license issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission for fifty dollars ($50.00). This license shall not be required for licensed trappers taking wild animals during the established trapping season for that species. The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized by rule to set standards for and to license wildlife control agents.
13. Wildlife Control Technician Certification. —  An individual who is under the direct supervision of a licensed wildlife control agent and who engages in wildlife damage control or wildlife removal activities for compensation under the direct supervision of a licensed wildlife control agent shall first procure a wildlife control technician certification. This is an annual certification issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission for twenty-five dollars ($25.00). This certification shall not authorize the individual to issue depredation permits. This certification shall not be required for licensed trappers taking wild animals during the established trapping season for that species. For purposes of this subsection, the term “wildlife damage control or wildlife removal activities” shall include bat eviction and alligator damage control or removal activities, and the term “for compensation” shall include reimbursement for the cost of materials. The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to certify and set standards for wildlife control technicians.
14. Alligator Control Agent Certification. —  An individual who engages in alligator damage control or removal activities for compensation, including reimbursement for the cost of materials, shall first procure an alligator control agent certification, as well as a wildlife control agent license under subsection (l) of this section. This is an annual certification issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission for twenty-five dollars ($25.00). The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized by rule to set standards for and to certify alligator control agents. This certification does not include privileges conveyed with an endangered species permit. The endangered species permit shall be obtained prior to conducting activities under the authorization of this certification.

The Executive Director shall furnish supervising managers and individual licensees with forms or record books for recording required information as to purchase, sale, importation, exportation, and other dealings, and make a reasonable charge to cover the costs of any record books furnished. It is unlawful for anyone dealing in furs to fail to submit reports required by rules or reasonable administrative directives.

Wild turkey acquired or raised under a game bird propagation license shall be confined in a cage or pen approved by the Wildlife Resources Commission and no such wild turkey shall be released for any purpose or allowed to range free. It is a Class 3 misdemeanor to sell wild turkey or ruffed grouse for food purposes, to sell quail other than lawfully acquired pen-raised quail for food purposes, or to release or allow wild turkey to range free.

History. 1929, c. 333, ss. 1-7; c. 198, ss. 1, 2, 4; 1933, c. 337, ss. 1-4; c. 430, s. 1; 1935, c. 471, ss. 1-3; c. 486, ss. 4, 12, 21; 1937, c. 45, s. 1; 1945, c. 617; 1949, c. 1203, s. 1; 1957, cc. 386, 841; c. 849, s. 1; 1959, c. 304; 1961, c. 311; c. 834, s. 1; c. 1056; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1967, c. 790; 1969, c. 1030; c. 1042, ss. 1-5; 1971, c. 242; c. 282, s. 1; c. 515, s. 5; c. 705, ss. 1, 2; 1973, c. 1098; c. 1262, ss. 18, 86; 1975, c. 197, ss. 1-4, 13, 14; 1977, c. 658; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1981, c. 620, ss. 4-6; 1983, c. 140, s. 9; 1985, c. 476, s. 1; 1987, c. 133; c. 827, s. 98; 1989, c. 616, s. 3; 1993, c. 18, s. 3; c. 539, s. 854; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1997-261, s. 81; 2003-96, s. 1; 2019-204, s. 6(l); 2021-160, ss. 4(a), 9.

Cross References.

As to regulation of pen-raised quail by Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Resources Commission, see G.S. 106-549.94.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2014-120, s. 60, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6( l ), effective September 1, 2019, rewrote this section.

Session Laws 2021-160, s. 4(a), effective October 1, 2021, substituted “An” for “Any” in subsection ( l ); added subsection ( l 1); and in subsection (m), substituted “An” for “In addition to the wildlife control agent license, any” and “alligator control agent certification, as well as a wildlife control agent license under subsection ( l ) of this section” for “alligator control agent certification.”

Session Laws 2021-160, s. 9, effective September 20, 2021, in subsection (g) in the second paragraph, inserted “for domestically raised birds, foxes, and coyotes” and substituted “($100.00). The controlled hunting preserve operator license for rabbits may be purchased for a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). The controlled hunting preserve operator license” for “($100.00) and.”

§ 113-274. Permits.

1. As used in this Article, the word “permit” refers to a written authorization issued by an employee or agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission to an individual to conduct some activity over which the Wildlife Resources Commission has jurisdiction. Unless otherwise specified, permits are issued at no cost. When a more limited duration period is not set by the Executive Director, permits are valid through December 31 in any calendar year. When sale of wildlife resources is permitted, rules or the directives of the Executive Director may require the retention of invoices or copies of invoices in lieu of a permit.
2. Except as otherwise specifically provided, no one may engage in any activity for which a permit is required without having first procured a current and valid permit.
3. The Wildlife Resources Commission may issue the following permits:
   1. Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.
   2. Depredation Permit. —  Authorizes the taking, destruction, transfer, removal, transplanting, or driving away of undesirable, harmful, predatory, excess, or surplus wildlife or wildlife resources. Livestock or poultry owners shall be issued a depredation permit for coyotes upon request. The permit must state the manner of taking and the disposition of wildlife or wildlife resources authorized or required and the time for which the permit is valid, plus other restrictions that may be administratively imposed in accordance with rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. No depredation permit or any license is needed for the owner or lessee of property to take wildlife while committing depredations upon the property. The Wildlife Resources Commission may regulate the manner of taking and the disposition of wildlife taken without permit or license, including wildlife killed accidentally by motor vehicle or in any other manner.
   3. Captivity Permit. —  Authorizes the possession of live wildlife that may lawfully be permitted to be retained alive, in accordance with governing rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. This permit may not substitute for any required collection license or captivity license, but may be temporarily issued for possession of wild animals or wild birds for scientific, educational, exhibition, or other purposes pending action on a captivity license or following its denial or termination. If this permit is issued for fish to be held indefinitely, the Wildlife Resources Commission may provide for periodic renewals of the permit, at least once each three years, to insure a review of the circumstances and conditions under which fish are kept. Wild animals and wild birds kept temporarily in captivity under this permit must be humanely treated and in accordance with any stipulations in the permit, but the standards of caging and care applicable to species kept under the captivity license do not apply unless specified in the permit. Any substantial deviation from reasonable requirements imposed by rule or administratively under the authority of this section renders the possession of the wildlife unlawful.
   4. Possession Permit —  ($10.00). Authorizes the possession of dead wildlife or other wildlife resources lawfully acquired. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule implement the issuance and supervision of this permit, in accordance with governing laws and rules respecting the possession of wildlife. Any substantial deviation from reasonable requirements imposed by rule or administratively under the authority of this section renders the possession of the wildlife unlawful.
   5. Transportation Permit. —  The Wildlife Resources Commission may require the use of transportation permits by persons required to be licensed under this Article, or by persons and individuals exempt from license requirements, while transporting wildlife resources within the State — as necessary to discourage unlawful taking or dealing in wildlife resources and to control and promote the orderly and systematic transportation of wildlife resources within, into, through, and out of the State. Transportation permits may be issued for wildlife transported either dead or alive, in accordance with restrictions that may be reasonably imposed. When convenient, rules or administrative directives may require the retention and use of an invoice or memorandum of sale, or the license or permit authorizing the taking or acquisition of the wildlife resources, as a transportation permit. When circumstances warrant, however, a separate additional transportation permit may be required. Any substantial deviation from reasonable requirements imposed by rule or administratively under the authority of this section renders the transportation of the wildlife resources unlawful.
   6. Exportation or Importation Permit —  ($10.00). Authorizes the exportation or importation of wildlife resources from or into the State or from county to county. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule implement the issuance and supervision of this permit, in accordance with governing laws and rules respecting the exportation and importation of wildlife resources. Any substantial deviation from reasonable requirements imposed by rule or administratively under the authority of this section renders the importation or exportation of the wildlife resources unlawful.
   7. Trophy Wildlife Sale Permit —  ($10.00). Authorizes the owner of lawfully taken and possessed dead wildlife specimens or their parts that are mounted, stuffed, or otherwise permanently preserved to sell identified individual specimens that may lawfully be sold under applicable laws and rules.
   8. Repealed by Session Laws 1993, c. 18, s. 4.
   9. Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permit. —  Authorizes a person who does not meet the hunter education course requirements under G.S. 113-270.1A(a) to purchase a hunting license and hunt if accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age who is licensed to hunt in this State or if accompanied by an adult landholder or spouse exempted from the hunting license requirement as defined by G.S. 113-276(c), provided the licensee is hunting on the landholder’s land. For purposes of this section, “accompanied” means that the licensed adult maintains a proximity that enables the adult to monitor the activities of the apprentice by remaining within sight and hearing distance at all times without use of electronic devices. This permit is valid only for the term of the hunting license purchased under the authority of the permit. Any person who hunts with a permit issued under this subdivision without complying with all the requirements of this subdivision is guilty of hunting without having first procured a current and valid license, in violation of G.S. 113-270.1B.
   10. Endangered Species Permit —  ($10.00). Authorizes the collection, possession, or survey of endangered species. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule set standards and requirements for this permit. The Wildlife Resources Commission may enact rules utilizing replacement costs of wildlife resources to offset the impact of collection, possession, or survey activities.
   11. Field Trial Permit —  ($10.00). Authorizes an individual to hold a Commission-sanctioned field trial for dogs in accordance with governing laws and rules adopted and implemented by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
   12. Other Permits. —  In implementing the provisions of this Subchapter, the Wildlife Resources Commission may issue permits for taking, purchase, or sale of wildlife resources if the activity is lawfully authorized, if there is a need for control of the activity, and no other license or permit is applicable. In addition, if a specific statute so provides, a permit under this subdivision may be required in addition to a license when there is a need for closer control than provided by the license.

History. 1935, c. 486, ss. 4, 22; 1941, c. 231, s. 1; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1971, c. 423, s. 2; c. 809, s. 1; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1977, c. 794, s. 1; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1993, c. 18, s. 4; 2010-156, s. 2; 2013-3, s. 2; 2013-63, s. 3; 2019-204, s. 6(m).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2010-156, s. 2, effective July 22, 2010, added the second sentence in subsection (1a).

Session Laws 2013-3, s. 2, effective March 6, 2013, added “for scientific, educational, exhibition, or other purposes” following “wild animals or wild birds” in the second sentence of subdivision (c)(1b).

Session Laws 2013-63, s. 3, effective July 1, 2013, added subdivision (c)(3c).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(m), effective September 1, 2019, substituted “Permit — ($10.00)” for “Permit” throughout subsection (c); in subsection (a), deleted “without charge” following “issued”, and “or a person” following “an individual” in the first sentence and added the second and third sentences; and added subdivisions (c)(3d) and (c)(3e).

§ 113-275. General provisions respecting licenses and permits.

1. The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized to make agreements with other jurisdictions as to reciprocal honoring of licenses in the best interests of the conservation of wildlife resources.
2. Notwithstanding the fees specified for nonresident individuals by G.S. 113-270.2, 113-270.3, 113-270.4, 113-270.5, 113-271, 113-272.2, 113-273, or Wildlife Resources Commission rules, if the Wildlife Resources Commission finds that a state has a nonresident license fee related to wildlife resources that exceeds the fee for a comparable nonresident license in North Carolina, the Wildlife Resources Commission may, by resolution in official session, increase the nonresident license fee applicable to citizens of that state to an amount equal to the fee a North Carolina resident is required to pay in that state.The action of the Wildlife Resources Commission to increase a fee pursuant to this subsection is not subject to the provisions of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. The action of the Wildlife Resources Commission to increase a fee pursuant to this subsection becomes effective on the date specified by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
3. Every license issued under the provisions of this Article is effective beginning upon its date of issuance unless the license expressly provides to the contrary, in accordance with rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission and such administrative authority to set future effective dates in particular types of cases as may be delegated by the Wildlife Resources Commission to responsible employees or agents.
4. No hunting or fishing license issued to a resident under the provisions of G.S. 113-270.1C, 113-270.1D, 113-270.2, 113-270.3, 113-271, or 113-272 becomes invalid for use during the term for which it is issued by reason of a removal of the residence of the licensee to another state.
5. Every license issued under the provisions of this Article must be sold for the full prescribed amount notwithstanding that a portion of the prescribed license period may have elapsed prior to the license application.
6. Upon receipt of a proper application together with a fee of five dollars ($5.00), the Wildlife Resources Commission may issue a new license or permit to replace one that has been lost or destroyed before its expiration. The application must be on a form of the Wildlife Resources Commission setting forth information in sufficient detail to allow ready identification of the lost or destroyed license or permit and ascertainment of the applicant’s continued entitlement to it.
7. In implementing the sale and distribution of licenses issued under this Article, the Wildlife Resources Commission may require license applicants to disclose such information as necessary for determining the applicant’s eligibility for a particular license. Such information as deemed desirable to assist in enforcement of license requirements may be required to be recorded on the face of any license. Fixing the form of the license may be by reasonable administrative directive, and requirements as to such form need not be embodied in rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission in order to be validly required.
8. Where employees of the Wildlife Resources Commission sell licenses of a type also sold through license agents, such employees must sell the licenses for the full amount and remit such full amount to the Wildlife Resources Commission without any deduction of the stipulated license agent’s fee.
9. Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute or except as the Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule prescribe to the contrary:
   1. All licenses and permits under this Article must be kept ready at hand by or about the person of individual licensees and permittees while engaged in the regulated operations;
   2. All licenses and permits under this Article are nontransferable; and
   3. All individuals engaged in operations subject to license or permit requirements must have an individual license or permit — except where such individuals are in the employ of and under the supervision of someone who has the license or permit or acceptable evidence of the same at hand and the activity is one for which a person not an individual may acquire a license.
10. It is unlawful to buy, sell, lend, borrow, or in any other way transfer or receive or attempt to do any such things with respect to any nontransferable license or permit for the purpose of circumventing the requirements of this Article.
11. It is unlawful for any person engaged in regulated operations under this Article to refuse to exhibit or display any required license, permit, or identification upon the request of any employee or agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission or of any officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this Article.
12. It is unlawful to refuse to comply with any provisions of this Article or of rules and administrative requirements reasonably promulgated under the authority of this Article.
13. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person:
    1. Knowingly to engage in any activity regulated under this Article with an improper, false, or altered license or permit;
    2. Knowingly to make any application for a license or permit to which he is not entitled;
    3. Knowingly to make any false, fraudulent, or misleading statement in applying for a license or permit under this Article; or
    4. To counterfeit, alter, or falsify any application, license, or permit under this Article.
14. A person may use a bow and arrow to take nongame fish in inland and joint fishing waters subject to any applicable rule of the Wildlife Resources Commission regarding seasons, creel limits, type of weapon or subsidiary gear, or any other restriction necessary for the conservation of wildlife under the authority of the following licenses:
    1. All of the combination hunting and fishing licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-270.1C;
    2. All of the sportsman licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-270.1D;
    3. The hunting licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113- 270.2(c)(1), (2), (3), (5), and (6);
    4. The hook-and-line fishing licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-271(d)(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (8), and (9); and
    5. All of the special device fishing licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 113-272.2.

History. 1929, c. 335, ss. 6, 10, 11; 1945, c. 567, ss. 5, 6; 1961, c. 329; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1981, c. 620, ss. 7, 8; 1987, c. 745, s. 1; c. 827, s. 98; 1993, c. 539, s. 855; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 7; 1995, c. 36, s. 1; 2000-189, s. 10; 2005-455, s. 1.10; 2019-204, s. 6(n).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2007-2, s. 1, provides: “The Wildlife Resources Commission shall, pursuant to its authority under G.S. 113-275(a), investigate the potential for agreements with other jurisdictions for the reciprocal honoring of hunting and fishing licenses for the disabled.”

G.S. 113-272, referred to in (b1), was repealed by Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(h), effective September 1, 2019.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.10, effective January 1, 2006, substituted “five dollars ($5.00)” for “two dollars ($2.00)” in subsection (c1).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(n), effective September 1, 2019, in subsection (a1), inserted “113-270.4”’, deleted “113-272” following “113-271”, and substituted “113-273, or Wildlife Resources Commission rules” for “and 113-273”; and substituted “G.S. 113-271(d)(2)” for “G.S. 113-271(d)(1), (2)” in subdivision (k)(4).

§ 113-276. Exemptions and exceptions to license and permit requirements.

1. , (b) Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this Subchapter, every landholder, landholder’s spouse, and dependents under 18 years of age residing with the landholder may take wildlife upon the land held by the landholder without any license required by G.S. 113-270.1B or G.S. 113-270.3(a), except that these persons are not exempt from the American alligator licenses established in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(6) and G.S. 113-270.3(b)(7), elk licenses established in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(8) and G.S. 113-270.3(b)(9), bear management stamp established in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(1b), and the falconry license described in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(4).
3. Except as otherwise provided in this Subchapter, individuals under 16 years of age are exempt from the hunting and trapping license requirements of G.S. 113-270.1B(a) and G.S. 113-270.3, except that these individuals are not exempt from the American alligator licenses established in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(6) and G.S. 113-270.3(b)(7), elk licenses established in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(8) and G.S. 113-270.3(b)(9), and the falconry license described in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(4). Individuals under 16 years of age may hunt under this exemption, so long as the hunter is accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age who is licensed to hunt in this State. For purposes of this section, “accompanied” means that the licensed adult maintains a proximity that enables the adult to monitor the activities of the hunter by remaining within sight and hearing distance at all times without use of electronic devices. Upon successfully obtaining the hunter education certificate of competency required by G.S. 113-270.1A(a), a hunter may hunt under the license exemption until age 16 without adult accompaniment. Individuals under 16 years of age are exempt from the fishing license requirements of G.S. 113.270.1B(a) and G.S. 113-271.
4. Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.11.
5. A special device license is not required when a landing net is used in any of the following applications:
   1. To take nongame fish in inland fishing waters.
   2. To assist in taking fish in inland fishing waters when the initial and primary method of taking is by the use of hook and line — so long as applicable hook-and-line fishing-license requirements are met.
6. Bow nets covered by a special device license may be used in waters and during the seasons authorized in the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission by an individual other than the licensee with the permission of the licensee. The individual using another’s bow net must also secure the net owner’s special device license and keep it on or about the individual’s person while fishing in inland fishing waters.
7. Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.
   1. A food server may prepare edible wildlife lawfully taken and possessed by a patron for serving to the patron and any guest the patron may have. The Executive Director may provide for the keeping of records by the food server necessary for administrative control and supervision with respect to wildlife brought in by patrons.
8. A migrant farm worker who has in his possession a temporary certification of his status as such by the Rural Employment Service of the Division of Employment Security on a form provided by the Wildlife Resources Commission is entitled to the privileges of a resident of the State and of the county indicated on such certification during the term thereof for the purposes of purchasing and using the resident fishing licenses provided by G.S. 113-271(d)(2), (4), and (6)a.
9. Box-trapped rabbits may be released for the purpose of training dogs on an area of private land that is completely enclosed with a metal fence through which rabbits may not escape or enter at any time. The Wildlife Resources Commission may establish rules to set standards for areas on which rabbits are released. A person may participate in a field trial for beagles without a hunting license if approved in advance by the Executive Director, conducted without the use or possession of firearms, and on an area of not more than 100 acres of private land that is completely and permanently enclosed with a metal fence through which rabbits may not escape or enter at any time.
10. The fishing license provisions of this Article do not apply upon the lands held in trust by the United States for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.
11. The licensing provisions of this Article do not apply to a member of an Indian tribe recognized under Chapter 71A of the General Statutes for purposes of hunting, trapping, or fishing on tribal land. A person taking advantage of this exemption shall possess and produce proper identification confirming the person’s membership in a State-recognized tribe upon request by a wildlife enforcement officer. For purposes of this section, “tribal land” means only real property owned by an Indian tribe recognized under Chapter 71A of the General Statutes.
12. A resident of this State who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States serving outside the State, or who is serving on full-time active military duty outside the State in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 10101, is exempt from the hunting and fishing license requirements of G.S. 113-270.1B, G.S. 113-270.3(b)(1), G.S. 113-270.3(b)(3), G.S. 113-270.3(b)(5), G.S. 113-271, and the Coastal Recreational Fishing License requirements of G.S. 113-174.2 while that person is on leave in this State for 30 days or less. In order to qualify for the exemption provided under this subsection, the person shall have on his or her person at all times during the hunting or fishing activity the person’s military identification card and a copy of the official document issued by the person’s service unit confirming that the person is on authorized leave from a duty station outside this State.A person exempted from licensing requirements under this subsection is responsible for complying with any reporting requirements prescribed by rule of the Wildlife Resources Commission, complying with the hunter education requirements of G.S. 113-270.1A, purchasing any federal migratory waterfowl stamps as a result of waterfowl hunting activity, and complying with any other requirements that apply to the holder of a North Carolina license.
13. A resident or nonresident of this State who served as a member of the Armed Forces and who separated under honorable conditions is exempt from the Mountain Heritage Trout fishing license requirements of G.S. 113-271(d)(10) while fishing in waters designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission as Mountain Heritage Trout waters. In order to qualify for the exemption provided under this subsection, the person shall have valid documentation of their service on his or her person at all times during the fishing activity.
14. The fourth day of July of each year is declared a free fishing day to promote the sport of fishing and no hook-and-line fishing license is required to fish in any of the public waters of the State on that day. All other laws and rules pertaining to hook-and-line fishing apply.
15. The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to exempt individuals from the hunting and fishing license requirements of G.S. 113-270.1B, 113-270.3(b)(1), 113-270.3(b)(1a), 113-270.3(b)(1b), 113-270.3(b)(2), 113-270.3(b)(3), 113-270.3(b)(5), and 113-271 who participate in organized hunting and fishing events for the specified time and place of the event when the purpose of the event is consistent with the conservation objectives of the Commission. A person exempted from licensing requirements under this subsection is responsible for complying with any reporting requirements prescribed by rule of the Wildlife Resources Commission, purchasing any federal migratory waterfowl stamps as a result of waterfowl hunting activity, and complying with any other requirements that apply to the holder of a North Carolina license. Those exempted persons shall comply with the hunter safety requirements of G.S. 113-270.1A or shall be accompanied by a properly licensed adult who maintains a proximity to the exempt individual that enables the adult to monitor the activities of, and communicate with, the individual at all times.
16. An eligible member of a volunteer fire department, rescue squad, or emergency medical services squad for five consecutive fiscal years, including the prior fiscal year, may be issued any adult resident lifetime license issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission for fifty percent (50%) of the applicable license fee amount. For purposes of this subsection, the term “eligible member” means (i) for volunteer fire department members, an individual appearing on the certified roster of eligible firefighters submitted to the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association under G.S. 58-86-25 and (ii) for volunteer rescue or emergency medical services squad members, an individual appearing on the certified roster of eligible rescue or emergency medical services squad members submitted to the North Carolina Association of Rescue and Emergency Medical Services, Inc., under G.S. 58-86-30.

As used in this subsection, a “landing net” is a net with a handle not exceeding eight feet in length and with a hoop or frame to which the net is attached not exceeding 60 inches along its outer perimeter.

History. 1929, c. 335, ss. 1, 10; 1935, c. 486, s. 12; 1937, c. 45, s. 1; 1945, c. 567, ss. 1, 6; c. 617; 1949, c. 1203, s. 1; 1951, c. 1112, s. 2; 1957, c. 849, s. 1; 1959, c. 304; 1961, cc. 312, 329; c. 834, s. 1; 1963, c. 170; 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1967, cc. 127, 654, 790; 1969, c. 1030; c. 1042, ss. 1-5; 1971, c. 242; c. 282, s. 1; c. 705, ss. 1, 2; c. 1231, s. 1; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1975, c. 197, ss. 1-4; 1977, c. 191, s. 1; c. 658; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, ss. 6, 8, 9; 1999-456, ss. 29, 30; 2005-285, s. 1; 2005-438, s. 2; 2005-455, ss. 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14; 2009-25, s. 1; 2009-248, s. 1; 2011-401, s. 3.15; 2013-63, s. 4; 2013-283, s. 14; 2018-90, s. 3; 2019-204, ss. 6(o), 12; 2021-88, s. 10; 2021-160, ss. 5(a), 8A.

Local Modification.

Forsyth County: 2005-257, s. 1.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2005-285, s. 2, provides: “The Commission of Indian Affairs shall provide the Wildlife Resources Commission with a list of properties owned by State-recognized tribes in this State and update that list whenever additional land is acquired by a tribe. Each tribe shall post tribal land to give notice of its ownership by the tribe.”

Session Laws 2014-120, s. 60, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-285, s. 1, effective August 22, 2005, added new subsection ( l 1).

Session Laws 2005-438, s. 2, effective October 1, 2005, rewrote subsection (d).

Session Laws 2005-455, ss. 1.11 and 1.12, effective January 1, 2007, and ss. 1.13 and 1.14, effective September 29, 2005, deleted former subsection (e), which pertained to exemptions from the hook-and-line fishing-license requirements; rewrote subsection (j); in subsection (m), deleted “Notwithstanding any other provision of law” from the beginning of the first sentence, substituted “that day” for “this day” at the end of the first sentence and deleted “still” preceding “apply” in the second sentence; and added subsection (n).

Session Laws 2009-25, s. 1, effective July 1, 2009, added subdivision ( l 2).

Session Laws 2009-248, s. 1, effective October 1, 2009, rewrote subsection (n).

Session Laws 2011-401, s. 3.15, effective November 1, 2011, substituted “Division of Employment Security” for “Employment Security Commission” in subsection (j).

Session Laws 2013-63, s. 4, effective July 1, 2013, substituted “education” for “safety” in subsections (d), ( 1 2), and (n); deleted “young” preceding “hunter” in the second and fourth sentences of subsection (d); in subsections (d) and (n), added “of at least 18 years of age” and substituted “of the hunter by remaining within sight and hearing distance at all times without use of electronic devices” for “of, and communicate with, the young hunter at all time” or similar language; and substituted “that” for “to the license exempt individual which” in the last sentence of subsection (n).

Session Laws 2013-283, s. 14, effective August 1, 2014, added “the bear management stamp established in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(1b) and” in subsection (c); and added “113-270.3(b)(1a), 113-270.3(b)(1b), 113-270.3(b)(2)” in subsection (n).

Session Laws 2018-90, s. 3, effective July 1, 2018, rewrote subsection (c); inserted “that such individuals are not exempt from the American alligator licenses established in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(6) and G.S. 113-270.3(b)(7), elk licenses established in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(8) and G.S. 113-270.3(b)(9), and” preceding “the falconry license” in subsection (d); and added the first two sentences in subsection (k).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(o), effective September 1, 2019, substituted “G.S. 113-270.3” for “G.S. 113-270.3(a)” in the first sentence of subsection (d); deleted “G.S. 113-272” following “G.S. 113-271” in subsection ( l 2); and deleted “113-272” following “113-271” in subsection (n).

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 12, effective October 1, 2019, added subsection (o).

Session Laws 2021-88, s. 10, effective July 22, 2021, substituted “landholder’s” for “his,” “the landholder” for “him,” and “these persons” for “such persons” in subsection (c); rewrote subsection (d); inserted “in any of the following applications” in subsection (f), and made a stylistic change; substituted “the individual’s” for “his” in subsection (g); substituted “the patron” for “he” in subsection (i); substituted “that is completely” for “which is completely” two times in subsection (k); deleted “G.S. 113-272.2(e)(1)” following “G.S. 113-271” in subsection ( l 2); in the last paragraph in subsection ( l 2), inserted “apply to” preceding “the holder,” and deleted “is subject to” following “license”; and rewrote subsection (n).

Session Laws 2021-160, s. 5(a), effective October 1, 2021, added subsection ( l 3).

Session Laws 2021-160, s. 8A, effective September 20, 2021, in subsection (o), substituted “department, rescue squad, or emergency medical services squad” for “department” near the beginning of the subsection, inserted “(i) for volunteer fire department members,” added “G.S. 58-86-25 and (ii) for volunteer rescue or emergency medical services squad members, an individual appearing on the certified roster of eligible rescue or emergency medical services squad members submitted to the North Carolina Association of Rescue and Emergency Medical Services, Inc., under G.S. 58-86-30” at the end of the subsection; and made a minor punctuation change.

§ 113-276.1. Regulatory authority of Wildlife Resources Commission as to license requirements and exemptions.

In its discretion and in accordance with the best interests of the conservation of wildlife resources, the Wildlife Resources Commission may implement the provisions of this Article with rules that:

1. [Reserved.]
2. Regulate license requirements and exemptions applying to the taking of wildlife on particular waters forming or lying across a county boundary where there may be confusion as to the location of the boundary, hardship imposed as to the location of the boundary, or difficulty of administering or enforcing the law with respect to the actual boundary location.
3. Require persons subject to license requirements, and persons exempt from license requirements, to carry, display, or produce identification that may be necessary to substantiate the person’s entitlement to a particular license or to a particular exemption from license requirements.
4. Require individuals aboard vessels or carrying weapons or other gear that may be used to take wildlife resources, and in an area at a time wildlife resources may be taken, to exhibit identification that includes the individual’s name and current address. More than one piece of identification, including a vehicle driver license, may be required to be exhibited, if available.
5. Implement a system of tagging and reporting fur-bearing animals and big game. Upon the implementation of a tagging system for any species of fur-bearing animal, the Wildlife Resources Commission may charge a reasonable fee to defray its costs for each tag furnished. The price of the big game hunting license includes the cost of big game tags.

History. 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 2019-204, s. 6(p).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(p), effective September 1, 2019, deleted “not to exceed two dollars twenty-five cents ($2.25) per tag” following “costs” in the second sentence in subdivision (5)

§ 113-276.2. Licensees and permittees subject to administrative control; refusal to issue or reissue, suspension, and revocation of their licenses and permits; court orders of suspension.

1. This section applies to the administrative control of:
   1. Persons, other than individual hunters and fishermen taking wildlife as sportsmen, holding permits under this Article;
   2. Individuals holding special device licenses under G.S. 113-272.2(c)(1), (1a), (2), and (2a);
   3. Individuals holding collection licenses under G.S. 113-272.4;
   4. Individuals holding captivity licenses under G.S. 113-272.5 and G.S. 113-272.6; and
   5. Persons holding licenses under G.S. 113-273.
2. Before issuing any license or permit to persons subject to administrative control under this section, the Executive Director must satisfy himself that the person meets the qualifications set by statute, rule, or his administrative guidelines. If the person fails to meet the qualifications or if the Executive Director learns of some other cause for believing that issuing the license or permit would be contrary to the best interests of the conservation of wildlife resources, he must refuse to issue the license or permit.
3. Before reissuing any license or permit to any person subject to administrative control, the Executive Director must review all available information and apply the same standards that governed initial issuance of the license or permit before he may reissue it.
4. Upon refusing to issue or reissue a license or permit under this section, the Executive Director must notify the person in writing of the reasons for his action and inform him that if he is dissatisfied with the Executive Director’s decision he may commence a contested case on the refusal by filing a petition under G.S. 150B-23 within 10 days of receiving the notice. The notice must be personally served by a law enforcement officer or an agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission or sent by mail with return receipt requested.
5. The Executive Director shall revoke a license or permit issued to a person subject to administrative control if he finds that the person does not meet the qualifications for the license or permit, has committed a substantial criminal violation of this Subchapter or a rule adopted under the Subchapter, or has seriously or persistently failed to comply with the terms and conditions upon which the license or permit was issued. Before revoking a license or permit, the Executive Director shall notify the licensee or permittee of his findings and his intention to revoke the license or permit. The notice must be personally served by a law enforcement officer or an agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission or sent by mail with return receipt requested. A licensee or permittee who disagrees with the Executive Director’s findings may commence a contested case on revocation by filing a petition under G.S. 150B-23 within 10 days of receiving the notice. Revocation or suspension of a license or permit by a court under G.S. 113-277 runs concurrently with a revocation under this section.
6. Repealed by Session Laws 1987, c. 827, s. 8.
7. Upon revocation of a license or permit, the Executive Director or his agent must request return of the license or permit and all associated forms, tags, record books, inventories, invoice blanks, and other property furnished by the Wildlife Resources Commission or required to be kept by the Commission solely in connection with the license or permit. If the person needs to retain a copy of the property returned to the Wildlife Resources Commission for tax purposes or other lawful reason, the person may copy items returned if the copies are clearly marked in a manner that they could not be mistaken for the originals. In securing property to be returned or in otherwise closing out the affairs conducted under the license or permit, agents of the Wildlife Resources Commission may enter at reasonable hours the premises of the person in which wildlife resources or items of property pertaining to the license or permit are kept, or reasonably believed to be kept, to inspect, audit, inventory, remove, or take other appropriate action. Any wildlife resources in the possession of the person which he may no longer possess must be disposed of in accordance with the most nearly appropriate provision of G.S. 113-137. If a person fails to return to an agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission all wildlife resources and other property covered by this subsection; refuses to allow entry by the agent to inspect, audit, remove property, or perform other duties; or otherwise obstructs an agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission in performing his duties under this subsection, he is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Each day’s violation is a separate offense.
8. No person refused issuance or reissuance of a license or permit under this section, or whose license or permit was revoked, is eligible to apply again for that or any similar license or permit for two years. Upon application, the Executive Director may not grant the license or permit unless the person produces clear evidence, convincing to the Executive Director, that he meets all standards and qualifications and will comply with all requirements of statutes, rules, and reasonable administrative directives pertaining to the license or permit.
9. The Executive Director is required to make necessary investigations and cause necessary disclosure of information by all persons subject to administrative control, and all applicants for a license or permit that would place them in this category, to determine that the real party in interest is seeking or has been issued the license or permit. Any attempt to circumvent the provisions of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
10. If the Executive Director determines that the effective conservation of wildlife resources would be seriously impaired by continued unfettered operations or by continued possession of property by the person subject to administrative control, the Executive Director may apply to the appropriate court for an order:
    1. Placing special reporting and inspection requirements on the person; or
    2. Impounding some or all of the records or other property associated with the license or permit; or
    3. Limiting the scope of operations under the license or permit; or
    4. If there is clear evidence of a serious threat to the conservation of wildlife resources, suspending the operations of the person under the license or permit; or
    5. Placing other appropriate restrictions, prohibitions, or requirements upon the person.

History. 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, ss. 8, 98; 1993, c. 539, ss. 856, 857; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1999-456, s. 31; 2003-344, s. 6; 2019-204, s. 6(q).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2019-204, s. 6(q), effective September 1, 2019, deleted “dealer” following “holding” in subdivision (a)(5).

§ 113-276.3. Mandatory suspension of entitlement to license or permit for fixed period upon conviction of specified offenses.

1. Upon conviction of a suspension offense under this section, the defendant’s entitlement to any license or permit applicable to the type of activity he was engaging in that resulted in the conviction is suspended for the period stated in subsection (d). The period of suspension begins:
   1. Upon the surrender to an authorized agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission of all applicable licenses and permits; or
   2. If no licenses or permits are possessed, the defendant fails or refuses to surrender all licenses or permits, or any license or permit is lost or destroyed, upon the Executive Director’s placing in the mail the notification required by subsection (c).
2. If the defendant does not wish to appeal, the presiding judge may order surrender of all applicable licenses and permits to an agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission. If the presiding judge does not order the surrender, or if there is for any other reason a failure by the defendant to surrender all applicable licenses and permits, an authorized agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission must demand surrender. Each day’s failure or refusal to surrender a license or permit upon demand, in the absence of satisfactorily accounting for the failure to do so, is a separate offense. A charge under this subsection does not affect the power of the court to institute contempt proceedings if a failure or refusal to surrender a license or permit also violates a court order. Any agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission accepting surrender of licenses and permits, in the courtroom or at a subsequent time and place, must transmit them to the Executive Director with a written notation of the date of surrender and a report of other pertinent circumstances required by the Executive Director.
3. The Executive Director must institute a procedure for the systematic reporting to him by protectors or other authorized agents of the Wildlife Resources Commission of all convictions of suspension offenses under this section. Upon obtaining information concerning conviction of a suspension offense and receiving any surrendered licenses and permits, the Executive Director must determine if all appropriate licenses and permits possessed by the defendant have been surrendered; if not, the Executive Director must notify the appropriate agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission to demand surrender or renew a demand for surrender under the terms of subsection (b) if it is feasible to do so. Upon satisfying himself that he has received all licenses and permits for which surrender may feasibly be obtained, if any, the Executive Director must mail the defendant a notice of the suspension of his entitlement to possess or procure any license or permit of the type applicable to the activity engaged in that resulted in conviction of the suspension offense. The notice must specify the commencement and termination dates of the period of suspension that apply under the terms of this section.
4. Any violation of this Subchapter or of any rule adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission under the authority of this Subchapter which is subject to a penalty greater than the one provided in G.S. 113-135(a)(1) is a suspension offense. Conviction of any of the following suspension offenses results in a suspension for a period of two years:
   1. A violation of G.S. 113-294(b).
   2. A violation of G.S. 113-294(c).
   3. A violation of G.S. 113-294(c1).
   4. A violation of G.S. 113-294(e).
   5. Repealed by Session Laws 1999-120, s. 2, effective October 1, 1999.
   6. A violation of G.S. 113-291.1A.
   7. A third or subsequent violation of G.S. 14-159.6(a).
5. Unless otherwise provided in the judgment, any action by a court under G.S. 113-277 to suspend entitlement to a license or permit or to suspend or revoke a license or permit supersedes any suspension of entitlement to a license or permit mandated by this section. If the judgment of the court after a conviction for suspension offense does not include any suspension or revocation action, the provisions of this section apply.

A conviction of any other suspension offense results in a suspension for a period of one year.

History. 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1981, c. 424, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1999-120, s. 2; 2005-62, s. 3; 2015-144, s. 4(a).

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2015-144, s. 4(b), provides: “The Wildlife Resources Commission shall review the provisions of Article 21B of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes that provide for the suspension of hunting privileges upon conviction of criminally negligent hunting and determine whether those provisions should be amended or expanded to provide increased protection to the public from negligent or reckless hunting. In developing its findings, the Wildlife Resources Commission shall consult with organized hunting clubs and propose recommendations to address individuals who repeatedly violate club rules and regulations. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall also consult with public interest groups in developing its findings. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the 2015 General Assembly when it reconvenes in 2016.”

Session Laws 2015-144, s. 7, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2015-144, s. 4(a), effective October 1, 2015, added subdivision (d)(6).

§ 113-277. Suspension and revocation of licenses and permits in the discretion of the court; suspension of entitlement; court’s power concurrent; definition of “conviction”; penalties.

1. Upon conviction of any licensee or permittee under this Article of a violation of any law or rule administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission under the authority of this Subchapter, the court in its discretion may order surrender of that license or permit plus any other license or permit issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission. The court may order suspension of any license or permit for some stipulated period or may order revocation of any license or permit for the remainder of the period for which it is valid. A period of suspension may extend past the expiration date of a license or permit, but no period of suspension longer than two years may be imposed. During any period of suspension or revocation, the licensee or permittee is not entitled to purchase or apply for any replacement, renewal, or additional license or permit regulating the same activity covered by the suspended or revoked license or permit. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by administrative action and by rule devise procedures designed to implement license or permit suspensions and revocations that may be ordered by the courts.
2. Upon conviction of any person who is not a licensee or permittee under this Article of a violation of any law or rule administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission under the authority of this Subchapter, the court in its discretion may suspend the entitlement of the defendant to possess or procure any specified licenses and permits issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission for a period not to exceed two years.
3. A suspension or revocation by a court under this section may be ordered to run concurrently or consecutively with any suspension under G.S. 113-276.3 or any action under G.S. 113-276.2. If no provision is made, G.S. 113-276.3(e) applies, but action by the Executive Director or the Wildlife Resources Commission under G.S. 113-276.2 may not be preempted.
4. As used in this Article, the term “conviction” has the same meaning assigned to it in G.S. 113-171.
5. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall order the surrender of any license or permit issued under this Article to a person whose licensing privileges have been forfeited under G.S. 15A-1331.1 for the period specified by the court.
6. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person during a period of suspension or revocation under the terms of this Article:
   1. To engage in any activity licensed in this Article without the appropriate license or permit;
   2. Knowingly to make any application for a license or permit to which he is not entitled;
   3. Knowingly to make any false, fraudulent, or misleading statement in applying for a license or permit under this Article;
   4. To counterfeit, alter, or falsify any application, license, or permit under this Article;
   5. Knowingly to retain and use any license or permit which has been ordered revoked or suspended under the terms of this Article; or
   6. Willfully to circumvent the terms of suspension or revocation in any manner whatsoever.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1973, c. 1262, s. 18; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1981, c. 424, s. 2; 1987, c. 827, s. 98; 1993, c. 539, s. 858; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 20, s. 4; c. 24, s. 14(c); 1998-225, s. 3.10; 2012-194, s. 45(d).

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2012-194, s. 45(d), effective July 17, 2012, substituted “G.S. 15A-1331.1” for “G.S. 15A-1331A” in subsection (a4).

§§ 113-278 through 113-280.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 113-281. Definitions.

In addition to the definitions in Article 12 of this Chapter, the following definitions apply in this Article:

1. Entry Permit. — The permit described in G.S. 113-283.
2. Posted Property. — Registered property that is posted in substantial compliance with G.S. 113-282(d).
3. Registered Property. — Property that has been accepted for registration by the Wildlife Resources Commission as provided in G.S. 113-282, and has not been deleted from registration.
4. Registrant. — A current applicant of record for a tract of registered property.

History. 1981, c. 854, s. 1.

Local Modification.

(As to Article 21A) Union: 2019-62, ss. 1-4.

§ 113-282. Registration and posting of property.

1. A person who controls the hunting, fishing, or hunting and fishing rights to a tract of property and wishes to register it under this Article must apply to the Wildlife Resources Commission in accordance with this section.
2. The registration application must contain:
   1. A statement under oath by the applicant that he has the right to control hunting or fishing, or both, on the tract of property to be registered. If the applicant is not a landholder, he must file a copy of his lease or other document granting him control of hunting, fishing, or hunting and fishing rights on the tract.
   2. Three copies of a description of the tract that will allow law-enforcement officers to determine in the field, and prove in court, whether an individual is within the boundaries of the tract. This description may take the form of a map, plat, aerial photograph showing boundaries, diagram keyed to known landmarks, or any other document or description that graphically demarks the boundaries with sufficient accuracy for use by officers in court and in the field. Any amendment of the boundaries of a registered tract must be accomplished by a new registration application meeting the requirements of this subsection.
   3. An agreement by the applicant to post the tract in accordance with the requirements of this section and to make a continuing effort to maintain posted notices for the tract.
   4. An agreement by the applicant to issue or cause issuance of an entry permit to all individuals to whom he or his authorized agent gives permission to hunt or fish on the tract. The applicant must file the name and signature of any agent authorized by him to issue the entry permit, and a registrant must amend his application to rescind the agent’s authority and to substitute or add an authorized agent.
   5. A fee of ten dollars ($10.00) to cover the administrative costs of processing the registration application.
3. The Executive Director must examine any submitted application to determine whether the requirements of subsection (b) have been fully met. If he determines that these requirements have been met and if his inquiries of persons with knowledge of the locality of the tract corroborate the truthfulness and accuracy of the information in the application, he must register the tract of property and notify the registrant of his action. Registration consists of filing the application in a central registry open to the public with an indication whether the property is registered as to hunting, fishing, or both. Upon registration, the Executive Director must send, for the information of protectors and other law-enforcement officers, the two duplicate copies of the description of the tract as follows: (i) to the sheriff of the county in which the tract is located, or to the chief of the county police department if such a department is the primary agency enforcing the criminal laws in a county; and (ii) to an appropriate protector stationed in the area where the tract is located. The Executive Director must also furnish officers with copies of the signatures of registrants and their authorized agents and other pertinent information for enforcement of this Article.
4. A registrant must post his registered property as soon as practicable after receiving notice that the tract was accepted for registration. Posted notices must measure at least 120 square inches; contain the word “POSTED” in letters at least three inches high; state that the property is registered with the Wildlife Resources Commission and that hunting or fishing, or both, are prohibited without an entry permit; and set out the name and address and, if feasible, the telephone number of the person to contact for an entry permit. At least one notice must be conspicuously posted on the registered property not more than 200 yards apart close to and along the boundaries. In any event at least one notice must be placed on each side of the registered property, one at each corner, and one at each point of entry. A point of entry is where a roadway, trail, path, or other way likely to be used by entering sportsmen leads into the tract. If registered property is posted only with respect to fishing, it is sufficient if the notices prohibit fishing without permission, and are posted at intervals of not more than 200 yards along the stream or shoreline and at points of entry likely to be used by fishermen. Notices posted along the boundaries of a tract must face in the direction that they will be most likely seen by persons entering the tract. Notices posted along a stream or shoreline must face in the direction that they will most likely be seen by anyone intending to fish. With respect to any particular hunter or fisherman, or person who has entered to hunt or fish, there is substantial compliance with this subsection, notwithstanding that one or more of the required notices may be absent, illegible, or improperly placed, if any notice is or has been reasonably visible to him while he was within or approaching the registered tract.
5. If a registrant loses his proprietary interest or his control of the hunting, fishing, or hunting and fishing rights as to which he has registered the property, he must within 20 days notify the Executive Director. If a new person who controls those rights wishes to continue the registration of the tract, he must make application under the terms of subsection (b), except that no copies of the tract’s description need be filed if there is no change of boundaries. When the Executive Director receives the notice under this subsection, or otherwise learns that a registrant has lost his proprietary control of the applicable hunting, fishing, or hunting and fishing rights, and there is no pending application to continue registration of the tract, the Executive Director must immediately delete registration of the tract, notify the presently responsible landholder, and require him to remove any remaining posted notices.
6. A person who controls the hunting, fishing, or hunting and fishing rights to registered property may apply to the Wildlife Resources Commission in writing to delete the registration of the tract. If he is not the registrant, he must satisfy the Executive Director of his present right to control the applicable hunting and fishing rights. If he is the registrant, his statement that he still controls the applicable rights on the tract is sufficient unless the Executive Director has reason to require further evidence on this point. Upon determination that an application to delete is proper, the Executive Director must immediately delete registration of the tract, notify the presently responsible landholder, and require him to remove any remaining posted notices.
7. Any law-enforcement officer or any employee of the Wildlife Resources Commission who determines that a registrant has failed to keep registered property posted in compliance with subsection (d) must so notify the registrant or his agent. If within a reasonable time after notice the registrant fails to take steps to post or repost the tract, or if without regard to notice a registrant is inexcusably or repeatedly negligent in failing to keep the tract properly posted, the Executive Director must immediately delete registration of the tract, notify the presently responsible landholder, and require him to remove any remaining posted notices.
8. A landholder’s failure to cause the removal of all posted signs within a reasonable time after receipt of notice that the tract has been deleted from registration is a misdemeanor punishable as provided in G.S. 113-135.

History. 1981, c. 854, s. 1.

§ 113-283. Entry permits furnished by Wildlife Resources Commission.

1. Upon registration of property, the Executive Director must furnish the registrant with a reasonable number of standardized permit forms to be carried by individuals given permission to hunt or fish on the registered property. The Executive Director must establish a procedure for resupplying registrants with entry permits for their registered property as needed.
2. To be valid, the entry permit must be issued and dated within the previous 12 months and signed by the registrant or an authorized agent whose signature is on file with the Wildlife Resources Commission.

History. 1981, c. 854, s. 1.

§ 113-284. Affirmative duty of sportsmen to determine if property is registered and posted.

Every individual who enters the property of another to hunt or fish without first having obtained permission from an authorized person in control of hunting and fishing rights or his agent is under a duty to look for posted notices. In the apparent absence of such notices, the individual intending to enter is nevertheless under a duty to determine if practicable whether the property is registered under the terms of this Article.

History. 1981, c. 854, s. 1.

§ 113-285. Hunting or fishing on registered property of another without permission.

1. No one may hunt or fish, or enter to hunt or fish, on the registered and posted property of another without having in possession a valid entry permit issued to him.
2. No one may hunt or fish, or enter to hunt or fish, on the registered property of another without having in possession a valid entry permit issued to him if he has reason to know the property had been posted.
3. A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable as provided in G.S. 113-135.

History. 1981, c. 854, s. 1.

§ 113-286. Removal, destruction, or mutilation of posted notices.

Unauthorized removal, destruction, or mutilation of posted notices on registered property is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

History. 1981, c. 854, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 859; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

§ 113-287. General provisions pertaining to enforcement of Article.

1. If property is registered, the original or a true copy of the application and all supporting items are admissible in evidence. The registrant’s affidavit that he has the right to control hunting, fishing, or hunting and fishing on the registered property constitutes prima facie evidence of the facts so asserted. The description filed with the application constitutes prima facie evidence of the boundaries of the registered property.
2. If an individual hunts or fishes, or enters to hunt or fish, on registered property that is or had been posted, any registrant or his agent, any landholder of that property, and any protector or other law-enforcement officer may request that the individual produce a valid entry permit.
3. In addition to protectors, it is the duty of sheriffs and their deputies, county police officers, and other law-enforcement officers with general enforcement jurisdiction to investigate reported violations of this Article and to initiate prosecutions when they determine that violations have occurred.
4. Any entry permit issued to an individual does not substitute for any required hunting or fishing license.

History. 1981, c. 854, s. 1.

§§ 113-288, 113-289.

Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 113-290. Unlawful use of firearms.

It is unlawful for any person, while hunting or taking wild animals or wild birds as those terms are defined in G.S. 113-129 and G.S. 113-130, to discharge a firearm:

1. Carelessly and heedlessly in wanton disregard for the safety of others; or
2. Without due caution or circumspection, and in a manner so as to endanger any person or property;

and resulting in property damage or bodily injury.

History. 1991, c. 748, s. 1.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2015-144, s. 4(b), provides: “The Wildlife Resources Commission shall review the provisions of Article 21B of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes that provide for the suspension of hunting privileges upon conviction of criminally negligent hunting and determine whether those provisions should be amended or expanded to provide increased protection to the public from negligent or reckless hunting. In developing its findings, the Wildlife Resources Commission shall consult with organized hunting clubs and propose recommendations to address individuals who repeatedly violate club rules and regulations. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall also consult with public interest groups in developing its findings. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the 2015 General Assembly when it reconvenes in 2016.”

§ 113-290.1. Penalties.

1. A person who violates the provisions of this Article is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as follows:
   1. If property damage only results from the unlawful activity, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and the court shall order the payment of restitution to the property owner;
   2. If bodily injury not leading to the disfigurement or total or partial permanent disability of another person results from the unlawful activity, a Class 1 misdemeanor; if property damage also results from the unlawful activity, the court shall order the payment of restitution to the property owner;
   3. If bodily injury leading to the disfigurement or total or partial permanent disability of another person results from the unlawful activity, a Class 1 misdemeanor; if property damage also results from the unlawful activity, the court shall order the payment of restitution to the property owner;
   4. If death results from the unlawful activity, a Class 1 misdemeanor; if property damage also results from the unlawful activity, the court shall order the payment of restitution to the property owner.
2. The fact that a person was impaired at the time of a violation of this Article shall be an aggravating factor and the court shall impose an additional fine and/or imprisonment in accordance with (a)(2) above in cases not resulting in bodily injury and in accordance with (a)(4) above in cases resulting in bodily injury. For purposes of this section, “impaired” means being under the influence of an impairing substance, or having consumed sufficient alcohol so that the person has, at any relevant time after the offense, an alcohol concentration of .10 or above.
3. In addition to the penalties provided in (a), upon conviction of a violation of this Article, the Wildlife Resources Commission shall suspend all hunting privileges of:
   1. A person convicted under (a)(1) for one year;
   2. A person convicted under (a)(2) for three years; and
   3. A person convicted under (a)(3) or (a)(4) for five years.
4. A person convicted of hunting or taking wild animals or wild birds while his hunting license is suspended under this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, and shall have all hunting privileges suspended for an additional five years. The person shall not be issued another hunting license until he has satisfactorily completed the hunter safety course established in G.S. 113-270.1A.
5. This Article shall be enforced by law enforcement officers of the Wildlife Resources Commission, by sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, and by peace officers with general subject matter jurisdiction.
6. A violation of this Article resulting in the death of another person constitutes a separate and distinct offense from, and is not a lesser included offense of, the crime of involuntary manslaughter.

History. 1991, c. 748, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, ss. 860, 861; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).

§ 113-291. General restrictions.

Except as specifically permitted in this Subchapter or in rules made under the authority of this Subchapter, no person may take, possess, buy, sell, or transport any wildlife — whether dead or alive, in whole or in part. Nor may any person take, possess, buy, sell, or transport any nests or eggs of wild birds except as so permitted. No person may take, possess, buy, sell, or transport any wildlife resources in violation of the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.

History. 1965, c. 957, s. 2; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 98.

Local Modification.

(As to Article 22) Davidson: 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 852, s. 1; Davie: 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 929, s. 1.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2015-263, s. 35(b), provides: “The Wildlife Resources Commission shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety no later than March 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, on the number of complaints received against Commission law enforcement officers, the subject matter of the complaints, and the geographic areas in which the complaints were filed.” Session Laws 2021-160, s. 3, effective September 20, 2021, repealed Session Laws 2015-263, s. 35(b).

§ 113-291.1. Manner of taking wild animals and wild birds.

1. Except as otherwise provided, game may only be taken between a half hour before sunrise and a half hour after sunset and only by one or a combination of the following methods:
   1. With a rifle, except that rifles may not be used in taking wild turkeys.
   2. With a shotgun not larger than number 10 gauge.
   3. With a bow and arrow of a type prescribed in the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
   4. With the use of dogs.
   5. By means of falconry.
2. No wild animals or wild birds may be taken:
   1. From or with the use of any vehicle; vessel, other than one manually propelled; airplane; or other conveyance except that the use of vehicles and vessels is authorized:
      1. As hunting stands, subject to the following limitations. No wild animal or wild bird may be taken from any vessel under sail, under power, or with the engine running or while still in motion from such propulsion. No wild animal or wild bird may be taken from any vehicle if it is in motion, the engine is running, or the passenger area of the vehicle is occupied. The prohibition of occupying the passenger area of a vehicle does not apply to a disabled individual whose mobility is restricted.
      2. For transportation incidental to the taking.
   2. With the use or aid of any artificial light, net, trap, snare, electronic or recorded animal or bird call, or fire, except as may be otherwise provided by statute[;] provided, however, that the Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules prescribing seasons and the manner of taking of wild animals and wild birds with the use of artificial light and electronic calls. No wild birds may be taken with the use or aid of salt, grain, fruit, or other bait. No black bear may be taken with the use or aid of any salt, salt lick, grain, fruit, honey, sugar-based material, animal parts or products, or other bait, except as provided by the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. However, no rule established by the Wildlife Resources Commission shall allow for the taking of a black bear with the use and aid of bear bait attractants, including scented sprays, aerosols, scent balls, and scent powders, and no rule established by the Wildlife Resources Commission shall allow for the taking of a black bear while it is consuming bait. No wild turkey may knowingly be taken from within 300 yards of any place in which bait has been placed until the expiration of 10 days after the bait has been consumed or otherwise removed. The taking of wild animals and wild birds with poisons, drugs, explosives, and electricity is governed by G.S. 113-261, G.S. 113-262, and Article 22A of this Subchapter.Upon finding that the placement of processed food products in areas frequented by black bears is detrimental to the health of individual black bears or is attracting and holding black bears in an area to the extent that the natural pattern of movement and distribution of black bears is disrupted and bears’ vulnerability to mortality factors, including hunting, is increased to a level that causes concern for the population, the Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the placement of those products and prescribe time limits during which hunting is prohibited in areas where those products have been placed.Any person who is convicted of unlawfully taking bear with the use or aid of any type of bait as provided by this subsection or by rules adopted pursuant to this subsection is punishable as provided by G.S. 113-294(c1).
3. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person taking wildlife to have in his possession any:
   1. Repealed by Session Laws 2013-369, s. 23, effective October 1, 2013.
   2. Weapon of mass death and destruction as defined in G.S. 14-288.8, other than a suppressor or other device designed to muffle or minimize the report of a firearm or short-barreled rifle that is lawfully possessed by a person in compliance with 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53 §§ 5801-5871.The Wildlife Resources Commission may prohibit individuals training dogs or taking particular species from carrying axes, saws, tree-climbing equipment, and other implements that may facilitate the unlawful taking of wildlife, except tree-climbing equipment may be carried and used by persons lawfully taking raccoons and opossums during open season.
4. In accordance with governing rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission imposing further restrictions that may be necessary, hunters may conduct field trials with dogs in areas and at times authorized with the use of approved weapons and ammunition. The Wildlife Resources Commission may authorize organized retriever field trials, utilizing domestically raised waterfowl and game birds, to be held under its permit.
5. Except in areas closed to protect sensitive wildlife populations, and subject to conditions and restrictions contained in rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission, hunters may train dogs during the closed season:
   1. With the use of weapons and ammunition approved by the Wildlife Resources Commission;
   2. If reasonable control is exercised to prevent the dogs from running unsupervised at large and from killing wild animals and wild  birds;
   3. On land owned or leased by the dog trainer or upon which the person has written permission to train dogs; and
   4. Using domestically raised waterfowl and game birds, provided the birds are marked and sources are documented as required by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
6. Raccoons and opossum may be taken at night with dogs during seasons set by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission with the use of artificial lights of a type designed or commonly used to aid in taking raccoon and opossum. No conveyance may be used in taking any raccoon or opossum at night, but incidental transportation of hunters and dogs to and from the site of hunting is permitted. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule prescribe restrictions respecting the taking of frogs, or other creatures not classified as wildlife which may be found in areas frequented by game, with the use of an artificial light, and may regulate the shining of lights at night in areas frequented by deer as provided in subsection (e1).
7. After hearing sufficient evidence and finding as a fact that an area frequented by deer is subject to substantial unlawful night deer hunting or that residents in the area have been greatly inconvenienced by persons shining lights on deer, the Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule prohibit the intentional sweeping of that area with lights, or the intentional shining of lights on deer, during the period either:
   1. From 11:00 p.m. until one-half hour before sunrise; or
   2. From one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise.
8. If the Wildlife Resources Commission has enacted a rule under the authority of subsection (e1) prohibiting the shining of lights from 11:00 p.m. until one-half hour before sunrise in any county or area of a county, the Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized, without holding an additional public hearing, to extend the applicability of that rule to the period one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise upon receipt of a resolution from the board of commissioners of the county requesting extension of the period.
9. To keep North Carolina provisions respecting migratory game birds in substantial conformity with applicable federal law and rules, the Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule, or as provided in subsection (f1) of this section, expand or modify provisions of this Article if necessary to achieve such conformity, including allowing the use of electronic calls. In particular, the Commission may prohibit the use of rifles, unplugged shotguns, live decoys, and sinkboxes in the taking of migratory game birds; vary shooting hours; adopt specific distances, not less than 300 yards, hunters must maintain from areas that have been baited, and fix the number of days afterwards during which it is still unlawful to take migratory game birds in the area; and adopt similar provisions with regard to the use of live decoys. In the absence of rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission to the contrary, the rules of the United States Department of the Interior prohibiting the use of rifles, unplugged shotguns, toxic shot and sinkboxes in taking migratory game birds in North Carolina shall apply, and any violation of such federal rules is unlawful.
10. The Commission is authorized to issue proclamations to allow the use of electronic calls or unplugged shotguns to achieve substantial conformity with applicable federal law and rules established by the United States Department of Interior or any successor agency. The Commission may delegate this authority to the Executive Director. Each proclamation shall state the hour and date upon which it becomes effective and shall be issued at least 48 hours prior to the effective date and time. A permanent file of the text of all proclamations shall be maintained in the office of the Executive Director. Certified copies of proclamations are entitled to judicial notice in any civil or criminal proceeding.The Executive Director shall make a reasonable effort to give notice of the terms of any proclamation to persons who may be affected by it. This effort shall include press releases to communications media, posting of notices at boating access areas and other places where persons affected may gather, personal communication by agents of the Wildlife Resources Commission, and other measures designed to reach persons who may be affected. Proclamations under this subsection shall remain in force until rescinded following the same procedure established for enactment.
11. If a season is open permitting such method of taking for the species in question, a hunter may take rabbits, squirrels, opossum, raccoons, fur-bearing animals, and nongame animals and birds open to hunting with a pistol. In addition, a hunter or trapper lawfully taking a wild animal or wild bird by another lawful method may use a knife, pistol, or other swift method of killing the animal or bird taken. The Wildlife Resources Commission may, however, restrict or prohibit the carrying of firearms during special seasons or in special areas reserved for the taking of wildlife with primitive weapons or other restricted methods.
12. The Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule prescribe the types of handguns and handgun ammunition that may be used in taking big game animals other than wild turkey. During the regular gun seasons for taking bear, deer and wild boar these animals may be taken with types of handguns and handgun ammunition that shall be approved for such use by the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. The Commission shall not provide any special season for the exclusive use of handguns in taking wildlife.
13. In the interests of enhancing the enjoyment of sportsmen, and if consistent with conservation objectives, the Wildlife Resources Commission may by rule relax requirements of this section on controlled shooting preserves and in other highly controlled situations.
14. The intentional destruction or substantial impairment of wildlife nesting or breeding areas or other purposeful acts to render them unfit is unlawful. These prohibitions include cutting down den trees, shooting into nests of wild animals or birds, and despoliation of dens, nests, or rookeries.
15. It is unlawful to take deer swimming or in water above the knees of the deer.
16. If a hunter kills or wounds a big game animal during the hunting hours authorized by subsection (a) of this section, the hunter may use a portable light source and a single dog on a leash to assist the hunter in retrieving the dead or wounded big game animal, and may dispatch a wounded big game animal using only a .22-caliber rimfire pistol, archery equipment, or a handgun otherwise legal for that hunting season. Pursuit and retrieval under this subsection may occur between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and 11:00 p.m. if necessary, but such pursuit and retrieval may not be accomplished using a motorized vehicle.For purposes of this section, the term “dispatch” means the quick and humane killing of a wounded animal to prevent further suffering through infection, starvation, or other distress in the wild.

Fur-bearing animals may be taken at any time during open trapping season with traps authorized under G.S. 113-291.6 and as otherwise authorized pursuant to this subsection, and rabbits may be box-trapped in accordance with rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules prescribing the manner of taking wild birds and wild animals not classified as game. Use of pistols in taking wildlife is governed by subsection (g). The Wildlife Resources Commission may prescribe the manner of taking wild animals and wild birds on game lands and public hunting grounds.

Before adopting this rule, the Wildlife Resources Commission must propose it at a public hearing in the area to be closed and seek the reactions of the local inhabitants. The rule must exempt necessary shining of lights by landholders, motorists engaged in normal travel on the highway, and campers and others legitimately in the area, who are not attempting to attract wildlife. This subsection does not limit the right of hunters to take raccoon and opossum with dogs lawfully at night with a light under the terms of subsection (e).

History. C.S., s. 2124; 1935, c. 486, s. 20; 1939, c. 235, s. 1; 1949, c. 1205, s. 3; 1955, c. 104; 1959, cc. 207, 500; 1961, c. 1182; 1963, c. 381; c. 697, ss. 1, 31/2; 1967, c. 858, s. 1; c. 1149, s. 1.5; 1969, cc. 75, 140; 1971, c. 439, ss. 1-3; c. 899, s. 1; 1973, c. 1096; c. 1262, s. 18; 1975, c. 669; 1977, c. 493; 1979, c. 830, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1285, ss. 4-6; 1983, c. 137, ss. 1, 2; c. 492; 1985, c. 360; c. 554, ss. 1, 2; 1987, cc. 97, 134, 827, s. 98; 1993, c. 539, s. 862; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1995, c. 64, s. 1; 1999-120, s. 1; 2003-160, s. 1; 2005-76, ss. 1, 2; 2005-298, s. 1; 2007-401, s. 6; 2009-221, ss. 2, 3; 2011-22, s. 1; 2011-369, s. 4; 2013-283, s. 12; 2013-369, s. 23; 2015-195, s. 8; 2019-204, s. 11.

Local Modification.

Alamance: 1981, c. 410; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1180; Beaufort: 1997-132, s. 7; 1999-86, s. 1; 2001-19, s. 1; Davidson: 1981, c. 410; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1180; Hyde: 1997-132, s. 7; 1999-86, s. 1; 2001-19, s. 1; Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan and Wilkes: 1981, c. 410; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1180.

Editor’s Note.

Session Laws 2005-76, s. 3, provides: “At its first meeting after this act becomes law, the Wildlife Resources Commission shall initiate rule making to implement provisions of this act to regulate dog training. Until the rules become effective, persons may participate in dog training activities for retrievers and bird dogs as permitted by G.S. 113-291.1(d1), as amended by this act, using shotguns and nontoxic shot of #4 size or smaller and using only domestically propagated waterfowl and game birds that have been obtained and marked as currently set forth in 15A NCAC 10B .0114.”

Session Laws 2005-298, s. 1, effective October 1, 2005, regarding baiting of black bears provides that the Wildlife Resources Commission may make findings and adopt rules on or after the date the act becomes law [August 22, 2005].

Session Laws 2013-369, s. 28, makes the amendments to this section by Session Laws 2013-369, s. 23, which added subsection (e), effective October 1, 2013, applicable to offenses committed on or after that date, and provides: “Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act remain applicable to those prosecutions.”

Session Laws 2014-120, s. 60, is a severability clause.

Effect of Amendments.

Session Laws 2005-76, ss. 1 and 2, effective June 7, 2005, substituted “waterfowl and game birds” for “pheasants or waterfowl” near the end of subsection (d); and rewrote subsection (d1).

Session Laws 2005-298, s. 1, effective October 1, 2005, but the Wildlife Resources Commission may make findings and adopt rules on and after the date this act becomes law [August 22, 2005], in subdivision (b)(2), inserted “black” preceding “bear” in the next-to-last sentence in the first paragraph, added the second paragraph, and rewrote the last paragraph.

Session Laws 2007-401, s. 6, effective October 1, 2007, and applicable to acts committed on or after that date, substituted “conformity, including allowing the use of electronic calls” for “conformity” at the end of the first sentence of subsection (f).

Session Laws 2009-221, ss. 2 and 3, effective July 1, 2009, in the first sentence of subsection (f), substituted “migratory game birds” for “migratory birds” and inserted “or as provided in subsection (f1) of this section”; and added subsection (f1).

Session Laws 2011-22, s. 1, effective October 1, 2011, added subsection (k).

Session Laws 2011-369, s. 4, effective October 1, 2011, and applicable to acts that occur on or after that date, in subdivision (b)(2), in the first paragraph, substituted “that the Wil