North Carolina senator introduces legislation to freeze new coastal fishing restrictions

Sen. Bobby Hanig has filed legislation to suspend any further state restrictions on coastal fishing and to bring back a legislative commission focused on seafood policy, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

Known as SB 977 and filed April 30 during the 2025 regular session, the bill carries the short title: “Moratorium on New Coastal Fishing Regulations.”

Below is an overview based on the actual bill text, with some explanation for clarity.

The measure would establish a sweeping moratorium on new or additional state regulatory limits for both commercial and recreational coastal fishing through Jan. 1, 2037. It would generally lock recreational regulations at Jan. 1, 2019, levels and stop quota reallocation between user groups. There are narrow, temporary exceptions for compliance with federal laws and emergency situations—both requiring written reasons and allowing judicial review in Wake County Superior Court. The legislation includes a requirement for biannual reports beginning Sept. 1, 2026, on implementation progress from a prior statewide fisheries study and allocates $10,000 in nonrecurring funds for this purpose, starting July 1, 2026. It would also permanently restore the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture, charged with examining and making policy recommendations for seafood and aquaculture issues.

Hanig has sponsored 62 additional bills in the 2025 regular session.

North Carolina legislation goes through a multi-phase process before becoming law. A legislator begins by filing a bill and it is then assigned to a committee for consideration. The proposal is required to be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber amends the bill after the other has passed it, both must agree on the final version. Once identical language is approved by both chambers, the bill goes to the governor, who has 10 days to sign, veto, or allow it to become law without signature—or 30 days if the legislature is out of session.

Find additional information about current bills and legislative measures here.

Hanig, a Republican, won election to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 and represents the 1st Senate district, taking over from former state senator Norman Sanderson.