A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to prohibit commercial fishing near artificial reefs within three nautical miles of the shoreline of brunswick county.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  As used in this section, the term "commercial fishing operation" has the same meaning as in G.S. 113‑168.
SECTION 1.(b)  The Division of Marine Fisheries shall mark all artificial reefs within three nautical miles of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline in that area east of a line beginning at a point onshore at the border between North Carolina and South Carolina at 33° 51.0667'N – 78° 32.5833'W; running southeasterly three nautical miles to a point offshore at 33° 48.8342'N – 78° 29.8494'W; and south of a line beginning at a point onshore at the border between Brunswick County and  New Hanover County at 33° 55.8833'N – 77° 56.2000'W; then running southeasterly three nautical miles to a point offshore at 33° 54.5735'N – 77° 52.7184'W with a readily identifiable artificial reef marking device.  The Division shall place the artificial reef marking device as near the center of the artificial reef as feasible.
SECTION 1.(c)  It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to engage in a commercial fishing operation within 1,000 yards of an artificial reef marking device placed by the Division of Marine Fisheries as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2008, and applies to all offenses committed on or after that date.