Moratorium on New Coastal Fishing Regulations.

SB 1065 establishes a temporary pause on new rules that would restrict commercial and recreational fishing in North Carolina's coastal waters. This bill directly affects fishermen, charter operators, seafood dealers, and related businesses by preventing state agencies from reducing bag limits, shortening seasons, closing fishing areas, or adding new reporting and gear restrictions. The legislation also requires the state to restore recreational fishing regulations to the limits that were in place on January 1, 2019, and prohibits the reallocation of existing fishing quotas. These measures are designed to provide economic stability while a comprehensive study of the state's fisheries is completed and reviewed by the General Assembly.