In North Carolina, the red snapper and southern flounder fisheries are overfished and tightly regulated. But the legislature is now considering forcing open recreational fishing seasons for both species. The House passed a bill last week with mostly Republican support. Democratic Rep. Brian Turner voted against it, warning that it could make things worse.
"It puts us in danger of having a moratorium placed upon us because of this action. And I don't think that's anything that anybody in this room wants," he said.
The bill is now in the state Senate's hands.