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WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WECT) - Tougher laws to protect sea turtles could be hurting local fishermen. 

 

From Emerald Isle to the South Carolina line, the NC Division of Marine Fisheries monitors how many sea turtles come in contact with commercial fishermen. If too many interactions occur, Marine Fisheries will shut down all gill net fishing for that area.

 

"We were concerned from seeing two live sea turtles on the first day of fishing," said Chris Batsavage, the protected resources section chief for the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. "If that trend continued, then we would quickly hit our allow number of sea turtle takes for the management unit down your way."

 

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