It's the height of commercial flounder season along the North Carolina Coast, but gillnet fishing boats have been banned from heading out. That's because a large number of sea turtles are still swimming in those areas.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries has temporarily closed areas in four Northeastern sounds and southern coastal waters to the fisheries. The agency was uncomfortable with the number of interactions fishing boats were having with endangered sea turtles since September.

The state’s incidental take permit allows a limited number of interactions with sea turtles in various areas. If an area reaches that limit, the fishery is shut down for the rest of the season. (The season runs September through August.)

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