Reorganizing the Dare County Commission for Working Watermen will take some more time.

Dare County Commissioner Steve House reported during commissioner’s business about a meeting held Oct. 8 at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Building in Rodanthe.

At that meeting, House read the 2008 local act, titled “An Act to Create a Commission to Protect and Enhance the Commercial Fishing Industry in Dare County, North Carolina.” House led the discussion.

The small group discussed the composition of the commission.

Previously, specific commission seats were assigned to watermen who fished with a certain gear, like trawl or gill netter.

By consensus, the October 8 group agreed commission membership should be watermen geographically spread across Dare County.

Other suggestions for membership included a fish house dealer and possibly a recreation fisherman and/or family members and spouses.

At the meeting and again at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Oct. 15, House suggested a non-voting seat for a scientist.

At the board meeting, House moved to appoint watermen from Hatteras Island (2), Wanchese (2) and mainland (1) to the commission.

However, House withdrew his motion so that he could present a formal motion addressing any changes that may be needed in the underlying act and a slate of members.

Interested applicants for the Dare County Commission for Working Watermen can download and fill out an application online at darenc.com. Click the button for government and then select Advisory Boards and Commissions.

House appealed to watermen to apply for commission membership. “We need your voices.”