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Committee approves bill to fund Georgia reef‑fish surveys with $10 endorsement
Summary
Lawmakers advanced House Bill 443, which authorizes a Georgia reef‑fish endorsement funded by a $10 resident/$20 nonresident endorsement to finance state surveys of reef and reef‑associated species, with proponents saying it will let Georgia manage fisheries on localized data rather than aggregated federal estimates.
The Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee voted to advance House Bill 443, which would authorize a state “reef/reef‑fish endorsement” funded by a small endorsement fee to support Georgia‑specific surveys of offshore reef fish.
Proponents, including retired fisheries biologist Bud Woodward and representatives of offshore fishing interests, told the committee that current federal survey data used to set seasonal closures and catch limits is aggregated across regions and, by their account, lacks statistical rigor for state‑level management. The bill would authorize an endorsement — described in testimony as $10 for Georgia residents and $20 for nonresidents — added to current fishing permits; proponents estimated the endorsement would raise about $250,000 per year to fund Georgia surveys.
Woodward and other witnesses said state‑funded, Georgia‑specific surveys could expand fishing opportunity because other Gulf states that conduct their own surveys have been able to increase season length. Committee questions clarified the definitions of “reef fish” and “migratory fish,” and witnesses described reef fish as species associated with bottom structure and man‑made reefs.
A motion to do pass was made and seconded; the chair called for a vote and the bill was reported as carried. The committee transcript does not include a roll‑call tally; the committee chair asked who would carry the bill in the Senate and indicated bill sponsors would coordinate to identify a Senate carrier.
