On Thursday, the Southern Shrimp Alliance sent a letter to leaders of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Speaker of the House Destin Hall and Minority Leader Rep. Robert Reives, D-Chatham, voicing their opposition to legislation, which prohibits shrimp trawling within half a mile of the North Carolina shoreline.
“The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is proud of its long history of providing leadership in defending North Carolina’s and all American shrimp fishermen, processors and associated shoreside enterprises that are facing this onslaught of shrimp imports, and so we ask you and your Members to please consider that the enactment of this legislation will only serve to further reduce the production by American fishermen of wholesome and sustainable wild shrimp and replace it with illegal and unfairly traded shrimp imports in the US market,” reads the letter.
The letter is signed by the executive director, John Williams.
“Throughout its 23-year history, SSA has also engaged extensively in applying the best available science to shrimp fishery management, including habitat and protected resource conservation; often partnering with state and federal authorities in protected species and habitat conservation data collection and research that has rendered the American shrimp fishery the most sustainable in the world,” continues the letter. “Rather than support this legislation, we ask you and your members to consider instead taking the thoughtful and deliberate science-based approach to managing North Carolina’s shrimp fishery that has, in our experience, been so rewarding to marine resources and habitats, our industry, and all stakeholders.”
The alliance also argues that the legislation opposes President Donald Trump’s executive order, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, which was signed on April 17.
“It is the policy of the United States to promote the productive harvest of our seafood resources; unburden our commercial fishermen from costly and inefficient regulation; combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and protect our seafood markets from the unfair trade practices of foreign nations,” reads the order.
This piece of legislation (HB 442) has faced significant controversy and opposition from lawmakers, including Sen. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck; and members of the public, who have argued that it would essentially shut down North Carolina’s shrimping industry and put many hardworking North Carolinians out of work.
Sen. Dave Craven, R-Randolph, introduced an amendment to the original bill on June 17 that added the shrimp-trawling prohibition.
“Taking or attempting to take shrimp using a trawl net in any coastal fishing waters other than areas of the Atlantic Ocean located more than one-half mile from the shoreline” would be prohibited and a Class A1 misdemeanor, according to the amended legislation.
HB 441, however, establishes a payment program for commercial fishermen who reported shrimp sales caught between Jan. 1, 2023, and June 30, 2025. It would also increase the fees for coastal fishing licenses.
HB 442’s original draft faced less controversy, as it expands the fishing season for flounder and red snapper in North Carolina. These sections remain intact in the amended version of the bill.
The bill was passed by the Senate on June 19 and sent to the House.
The post Southern Shrimp Alliance opposes shrimp trawling prohibition first appeared on Carolina Journal.