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The Board of Beaufort County Commissioners passed a resolution on Monday opposing an amendment to House Bill 442 that prohibits shrimp trawling within one-half mile from shores of the Atlantic Ocean, various sounds (including the Pamlico Sound) and estuarine waters. 

The resolution was approved by a straw vote. County commissioners will vote to formally ratify the resolution at their next meeting on July Monday, 7. 

When it was introduced in March, House Bill 442 extended flounder and red snapper fishing seasons from May 15 to Nov. 15 until Aug. 1, 2029. In previous years, North Carolina had a limited flounder season. Last year, flounder season lasted four days, Sept. 1, 2, 7, and 8. There was a daily limit of one fish and a minimum size limit of 15 inches, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.  

On June 17, an amendment was added that would prevent shrimp trawling within one-half mile from shore. The commissioners’ resolution says this could “devastate North Carolina’s shrimp industry and threaten the livelihoods of local fishermen.” 

According to the North Carolina Local Food Council, “Historically, 75 percent of North Carolina shrimp are harvested in internal waters, with 25 percent coming from the Atlantic Ocean, mainly off our southern coast.” 

In 2023, 6.6 million pounds of shrimp were harvested in North Carolina, a commercial fisherman landings review from the North Carolina Marine Fisheries shows. 

Those who oppose inshore bottom trawling, like the environmental conservation-focused North Carolina Wildlife Federation, say it is a “destructive, unsustainable fishing method that has a lasting effect on our environment,” the federation’s website says. They say the methods trawlers use are destroying “underwater landscapes” as well as the sounds, estuaries and fish populations. 

“80 percent of bottom shrimp trawling bycatch consists of valuable species like Southern Flounder, weakfish, spot, croaker and blue crab,” the federation says.

NC Catch is an organization whose mission is to promote the state fishing industry, support local fishermen and educate the public about buying local seafood. They say the trawling disturbance is similar to harsh winter storms with short-term impacts and that trawling disturbance can “stimulate and increase in population numbers of bottom invertebrates.” 

“In some cases, such as over reefs or other structured sea bottom, trawls and the doors that are used to spread the net can be harmful. Trawl effects depend on the design, intensity of use, and location used. On soft, muddy bottom or sandy/muddy bottom, like what is found in most of Pamlico Sound, shrimp trawls and their doors are not highly destructive. Shrimp trawl effects on the bottom found in most of Pamlico Sound have been described by scientists as similar to harsh winter storms with short-term impacts. Scientists have found that trawling disturbance can stimulate an increase in population numbers of bottom invertebrates. However, predators of those invertebrates were more common in areas not open to trawling.”

In response to finfish and blue crabs being caught in trawling nets, NC Catch explained, 

“Trawls are often designed to be selective for certain-sized fish/shellfish by modifying the mesh size (size of material in the tailbag or body), modifying the design (fish top-water or bottom), and speed of tow (slower speeds select for slower swimming creatures or smaller organisms). The most common organisms caught in shrimp trawls are shrimp, small fish, crabs, and jellyfish. Larger, adult fish and fast-swimming fish most often escape or avoid the shrimp trawl. Shrimp trawls in North Carolina are required to use finfish excluders to allow small fish to escape. As much as 70% of the juvenile finfish are excluded with these devices. Shrimp trawls are also required to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) to allow sea turtles to escape. TED’s can also exclude significant amounts of juvenile finfish.” 

Beaufort County isn’t the only coastal county that opposes House Bill 442. Onslow County shared a letter with Senator Michael Lazzara and Representatives Wyatt Gable, Phil Shephard, Carson Smith. 

The letter reads, “The North Carolina shrimp fishery is already among the most heavily regulated in the nation. Stringent rules govern gear types, bycatch reduction, area closures, and seasonal limitations — all based on years of scientific study and oversight by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. These regulations have been implemented with care to balance environmental sustainability and economic viability. However, this proposed ban disregards that careful balance and moves forward without the comprehensive input of key stakeholders — namely, the commercial fishing communities who would bear the brunt of its impact.” 

It goes on to say that shrimping is not just a job in eastern North Carolina. It is a “cultural tradition, generational livelihood and vital part of our coastal economy.” 

The bill, with the trawling amendment, passed in the Senate 41-4 on June 18 and again at 39-2 on June 19. Senator Bob Brinson (R-Beaufort, Craven, Lenoir) voted against the bill both times, because of the amendment. Senator Norman Sanderson was the other opposing vote. Representative Keith Kidwell will vote no on House Bill 442 as long as the amendment on shrimp trawling remains, he told the Daily News. “If the trawler ban stays in, I’m a no,” Kidwell said. 

House Bill 441, introduced by Representatives Kidwell, Frank Iler, Ed Goodwin and Ted Davis, Jr., would establish the Shrimp Trawl Transition Payment Program. The program would give annual payments to shrimpers through Oct. 1, 2028. The goal of the payments is to help shrimpers “ease into” the trawling ban, Senator Brent Jackson, R-Sampson, told Raleigh news outlets. Shrimpers receiving annual payments would be required to have a commercial fishing license with verifiable landings (the number of fish or weight of fish caught) between Jan. 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025. The bill also temporarily increases fees for various coastal fishing licenses. House Bill 441 only becomes effective if House Bill 442 is enacted, the bill states. 

The House previously voted on House Bill 442 on May 7, before the amendment was added. The House discussed the bill on Tuesday, June 24. Protests were held at the state capitol in Raleigh on Monday and Tuesday, according to Raleigh news outlets. “Save NC Shrimp: Shrimp Day at the Legislature was held on Tuesday by N.C. Catch, N.C. Watermen United, Carteret County Fisherman’s Association, Ocracoke Seafood Co., Carteret Catch and their supporters, CoastalReview.org reported.