1997 North Carolina Fisheries Reform Act

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Barbara Garrity-Blake, Susan West

  • The Fisheries Reform Act is the most significant fisheries legislation in NC history. 

    In 1994, the NC General Assembly approved a moratorium on the sale of new commercial fishing licenses and established the 19-member Fisheries Moratorium Steering Committee to oversee study of the state's entire coastal fisheries management process and to recommend changes to improve that process.  The Moratorium Steering Committee included legislators, fisheries managers, scientists, commercial fishermen, and recreational fishermen. The committee commissioned six research studies and reviewed a broad range of issues, including fishing licenses, fishing gears, habitat protection, agency organization, and law enforcement.  The committee issued a draft report in late summer 1996, held 19 public meetings across the state, and adopted a final report in October 1996 that formed the basis for the Fisheries Reform Act.   Governor James B. Hunt signed the Act into law on August 14, 1997.

    The 1997 NC Fisheries Reform Act: An Oral History Perspective was made possible by the North Carolina Sea Grant Community Collaborative Research Grant Program.

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Interviewee Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Robert Lucas 1997 North Carolina Fisheries Reform Act

Robert "Bob" Lucas is a professional lawyer and former Chairman of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission who led efforts to pass the 1997 Fisheries Reform Act.  He has a deep-rooted passion for recreational fishing. His career in law began after a sustained interest in the legal field, which led him to pursue a formal education in law. Upon completing his studies, Lucas embarked on a legal career that saw him engage in various capacities within the legal system. His expertise and dedication to the profession earned him respect among his peers and clients.

 Mary Williford Selma, NC Carolina Coastal Voices
Sandy Semans Ross 1997 North Carolina Fisheries Reform Act

Sandy Semans Ross is a retired newspaper editor and freelance writer who has a deep connection with the coastal communities and seafood industry. Born in a coal mining town in West Virginia, Ross moved to coastal communities due to her father's Navy service, where she developed a love for seafood. Ross's professional career includes working as a newspaper editor and doing freelance work for various publications. She is also the Executive Director of Outer Banks Catch, an organization dedicated to promoting locally caught seafood and supporting the local fishing industry.

 Susan West Stumpy Point, NC Carolina Coastal Voices
Willy Phillips 1997 North Carolina Fisheries Reform Act

Willy Phillips is a seasoned professional in the commercial fishing industry, with a particular focus on crabbing. He has spent a significant portion of his life in fish houses and has been deeply involved in fisheries legislation. Phillips has been an advocate for the crab fishery and has worked towards the development of a crab management plan. He has also been a vocal critic of the commercial fishing industry, proposing a complete shutdown and rebuild of the industry in North Carolina.

 Barbara Garrity-Blake Columbia, NC Carolina Coastal Voices
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