House Bill 1113 extends and expands temporary moratoria on new shellfish cultivation leases and new water column leases for aquaculture in several coastal North Carolina areas. The bill lengthens the existing moratorium in the New Hanover County/Wrightsville Beach area from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2031, and extends the Bogue Sound moratorium from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2028. It also creates a new moratorium, effective July 1, 2026, on new shellfish leases in specified waters in parts of Pender and Onslow counties, including areas around Hampstead, Topsail Island, and the Onslow County line.
The bill specifies that the moratoria apply to applications for new leases submitted on or after the effective dates, and also to certain pending applications received by the Secretary but not granted as of July 1, 2019 for the earlier moratorium areas, and July 1, 2025 for the new Pender/Onslow area. It also appropriates $10,000 in nonrecurring General Fund money to the Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Marine Fisheries, for public education and notification related to the extension.
The bill’s impact on state law is to temporarily override the general shellfish leasing provisions in G.S. 113-202 and G.S. 113-202.1 for the affected coastal waters. In practical terms, it limits the Department of Environmental Quality’s ability to issue new shellfish cultivation and water column leases in the designated areas for the duration of the moratoria, while preserving the state’s broader leasing framework elsewhere.
The available legislative history shows no recorded votes or committee debate excerpts, so there is little direct evidence of controversy in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s structure, the likely sentiment is cautious or protective of coastal resource management, with support for extending restrictions in areas where shellfish leasing has already been limited. Any contention would likely center on balancing aquaculture expansion and private leasing opportunities against environmental, navigational, and local shoreline-use concerns in the affected counties.
HB1113 amends prior session laws to extend existing shellfish leasing moratoria in the New Hanover County area and Bogue Sound, and to impose a new temporary moratorium in specified waters of Pender and Onslow counties. It directly affects the Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Marine Fisheries, by restricting its authority to approve new shellfish cultivation leases and water column leases in the designated areas during the moratorium periods. The bill also appropriates $10,000 to support public education and notification about the changes.
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge directly. The bill’s committee substitute favorable status suggests it advanced with support in committee. Overall, the measure appears to reflect a generally protective or precautionary approach toward coastal shellfish leasing, with the apparent goal of maintaining temporary restrictions in sensitive areas rather than expanding aquaculture access.
The main policy tension likely involves shellfish growers and aquaculture interests versus coastal residents, environmental managers, and other waterway users who may favor continued limits on leasing. Extending and expanding moratoria can be seen as preserving water quality, navigation, and shoreline compatibility, but it also restricts new lease opportunities and may frustrate applicants with pending or future lease plans. The bill’s inclusion of specific geographic boundaries and treatment of pending applications indicates that the scope and duration of leasing restrictions are the likely points of contention.