The North Carolina state House declined to act Wednesday on legislation that would ban shrimp trawling in sounds and with 0.5 miles of shore, a victory for commercial fishermen who mounted a week of protects at the state capitol.
“The trawl ban has been defeated,” the North Carolina Fisheries Association announced in an email to supporters, shortly after Republican lawmakers emerged from a caucus meeting around 3 p.m.
“After a long two weeks of emails, calls, one on one conversations, and driving to Raleigh we have come together and defeated the trawl ban!” the announcement read. “Thank you all again for coming out and standing together to support each other! We could not have done this without your support in this tremendous David vs. Goliath battle!”
House Bill 442, originally drafted in the lower House of the legislature to set fishing seasons for southern flounder and red snapper, was amended June 18 and passed by the state Senate to include the trawl prohibition.
That ignited intense protests from shrimp fishermen and supporters, who suspected the Coastal Conservation Association of using the amendment as a vehicle.
“But then in the 11th hour they threw in this amendment. It’s the CCA,” Ryan Speckman, owner of Locals Seafood in Raleigh, told National Fisherman. “They want to get rid of commercial fishing.”
Republican Rep. Mitchell Setzer, the House speaker pro tempore, told the News & Observer newspaper the measure would not be taken up this week before lawmakers leave the statehouse on break.
