Editor's Note:  We are reaching out to both Senator Michael Lee and the County Commissioners of New Hanover for a response.  We will publish their replies unedited if we receive them.

Anyone who has visited or lives in North Carolina knows that nothing beats our local shrimp. It is one of our crown jewels on the East Coast. Thousands of families rely on the local fishing and trawling industry along our coast. While commercial fishermen can trawl open waters, local shrimp boats trawl within one-half mile of the shore. Unfortunately, proposed legislation will put many of these local fishermen out of business. 

The original purpose of House Bill 442 was to restore recreational fishing for flounder and snapper, however a second part was added to the bill by the Senate last minute that would outright ban trawl fishing within one-half mile of the shoreline. This would kill many small businesses that rely on in-shore fishing and trawling. It would also impact other businesses that indirectly rely on these fishermen. 

This amendment was included days before the Senate Ag, Energy, and Environment was set to vote on it. The original bill sponsors were unaware of the bill changes. These sneaky tactics have been used time and time again in the Senate to slide in controversial legislation without deliberation, public input, or oversight. Oftentimes this is done to promote special interest groups and usually hurts small businesses. This move by the Senate leadership reminds me of the last session where the Senate tried to push a bad Casino bill into the budget at the last minute, leaving many House and Senate members in the dark. 

As Republicans, we’re supposed to be the party of transparency and of main street- putting the needs of our local communities ahead of corporate special interests. If a Democrat controlled Senate tried to sneak in an amendment to an existing bill that would ban an entire industry, we would be outraged.

On Tuesday morning, at least 1,000 commercial fishermen and supporters are going to Raleigh to express their opposition to this bill. We all need to do our part to support their efforts, whether sending an email to your Senator, making a phone call, or going to Raleigh tomorrow morning. 

Several coastal counties, including Carteret and Onslow, have voiced objections to the HB 442 amendment. Carteret County Board of Commissioners adopted this resolution last week opposing the amendment. As the Senate Ag committee meets tomorrow, I encourage the county commissioners in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender to adopt similar resolutions and to tell the Senate to vote no on this amendment. The livelihoods of thousands of coastal residents need your voice. 

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RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE TRAWL BAN AMENDMENT TO H.B. 442

WHEREAS, the shrimp trawling industry is a vital economic driver for Eastern North Carolina, supporting hundreds of commercial fishing families, seafood processors, and related businesses; and

WHEREAS, a proposed amendment to H.B. 442 seeks to ban shrimp trawling in all inside coastal waters and within one-half mile of the shoreline, which would devastate North Carolina's shrimp industry and threaten the livelihoods of local fishermen; and

WHEREAS, the North Carolina shrimp fishery is already one of the most heavily regulated in the nation, with measures in place to ensure sustainable harvests, including bycatch reduction devices, turtle excluder devices, and seasonal closures; and

WHEREAS, the sudden implementation of a sweeping trawl ban would harm coastal economies, increase reliance on imported seafood, and disregard the years of science-based management by the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission; and

WHEREAS, this amendment was introduced without sufficient stakeholder input, scientific review, or economic impact analysis, bypassing proper legislative deliberation, and threatens a deeply historic way of life and sustenance for many Down East families;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners strongly opposes the trawl ban amendment to H.B. 442 and urges the North Carolina Senate Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee to reject this harmful proposal;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board calls on all members of the Senate Committee and the General Assembly to engage with fishermen, scientists, and coastal leaders before advancing any measure that would cripple a historic and sustainable fishery:

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to Governor Josh Stein, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, House Speaker Destin Hall, the members of the Senate Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee, and all Carteret County legislative delegates.

By the Board of Commissioners this 23rd day of June, 2025.