The North Carolina Wildlife Commission has proposed a new law that would regulate private individuals who stock rivers, streams and other public waterways with fish.

The new law would directly impact the controversial trout fishing camp on the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County run by John McGrew. McGrew stocks the river with trout and feeds them in hopes of cultivating trophy-sized trout that would lure big-time fishermen to his camp. Local fishermen have expressed concern over the lack of oversight of McGrew’s stocking activity in the river. The fishing camp has also been the ire of many local fishermen who claim McGrew wants to privatize the section of river he stocks.

Private individuals would have to obtain permits specifying the type of fish, the number and the location of the stocking. Homeowners who stock ponds on their property with trout or goldfish could also be required to obtain permits, depending on whether the pond is self-contained or connected to creeks and streams. Cherokee Fish and Game, a fishery and stocking run by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on tribal land will not fall under the new regulation.

Mallory Martin, state fishery supervisor over the 23 western counties, said the Wildlife Commission has been concerned for several years that lack of oversight on private stocking could lead to the introduction of fish that are harmful to native species or carry diseases. Martin said “indiscriminate” stocking of more aggressive species could edge out endangered species and hurt entire aquatic ecosystems.

Martin said they do not know whether the permit program would require hiring additional wildlife officers.

“We don’t have a tracking system so we don’t really know what’s going on out there,” Martin said.

Such oversight is long-standing when it comes to terrestrial game species, Martin said.

“You can’t just turn out deer and turkeys all over the place,” Martin said.

The Wildlife Commission is holding public hearings around the state on the proposed change. The hearing for this region will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan .11, at Southwestern Community College auditorium in Sylva.