Outer Banks commercial fisherman and longtime industry advocate Dewey Hemilright died Oct. 2 from complications following a stroke he suffered in August. He was 59.

According to Coastal Review, Francis Duon “Dewey” Hemilright Jr., of Kitty Hawk, N.C., spent decades on the water and at the fisheries management table, becoming a prominent voice for commercial fishermen in North Carolina and beyond.

Hemilright owned and operated the fishing vessel Tar Baby out of Wanchese and served for 11 years on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. During his tenure, he spent seven years as chairman of the council’s Highly Migratory Species Committee.

His advocacy extended across numerous industry and management organizations, including the North Carolina Fisheries Association, Blue Water Fishermen’s Association, NC Catch, Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel, and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

In 2024, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council presented Hemilright with its Ricks E. Savage Award, which recognizes exceptional contributions to the management and conservation of fishery resources in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Following his death, the North Carolina Fisheries Association remembered Hemilright as a “true advocate” for commercial fishing.

“Our industry has lost a valuable asset, and we have lost a dear friend,” the association said.

Abundant Seafood also remembered Hemilright for his dedication to fisheries management and commercial fishermen, saying his “depth of knowledge, his passion and his friendship cannot be replaced.”

Hemilright is survived by his wife, Sara Hallas Hemilright. A celebration of life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Manteo First Assembly in Manteo, N.C.

In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that donations be made in his memory to the North Carolina Fisheries Association.