NCWF Applauds North Carolina Senate for Advancing Critical Legislation to Protect Our Juvenile Fish – HB442
The North Carolina Senate resoundingly voted to pass House Bill 442, progressing historic legislation to prohibit large-scale, inshore bottom shrimp trawling in our estuaries.
North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) commends the North Carolina Senate for its decisive action in advancing House Bill 442. This landmark legislation would prohibit large-scale, inshore bottom shrimp trawling in North Carolina’s juvenile fish nurseries. The Senate passed the legislation with a resounding 39-2 vote. The organization now urges the North Carolina House of Representatives to swiftly pass this critical protection measure.
“The North Carolina Senate has taken a bold and necessary step to protect our state’s precious public trust resources on the coast,” said Tim Gestwicki, CEO of NCWF. “We thank them for demonstrating their commitment to preserving North Carolina’s marine habitats for current and future generations and urge their colleagues in the House to follow suit.”
Large-scale, inshore bottom shrimp trawling has long been recognized as one of the most destructive fishing practices in coastal waters. The practice drags heavy nets and chains along the seafloor, stripping it of natural habitats, including seagrass meadows, oyster beds, soft corals, and sponges. This indiscriminate shrimping method results in significant bycatch, the unintended capture of non-target species. For every one pound of shrimp harvested, more than four pounds of bycatch are wasted.
Each year hundreds of millions of valuable fish are needlessly killed due to large-scale, inshore bottom shrimp trawling. An estimated 80% of inshore bottom trawling bycatch includes essential juvenile fish like Southern Flounder, weakfish, spot, croaker, and blue crab. These fish are unable to mature and spawn, which contributes to the collapse of North Carolina fisheries, negatively impacting the state’s economy.
HB442 would establish clear protections for North Carolina’s inshore waters while allowing sustainable fishing practices to continue. The legislation represents a balanced approach, prioritizing scientific evidence to preserve long-term ecosystem health and the economic benefits that healthy coastal waters provide to North Carolina’s tourism and fishing industries.
NCWF calls on members of the North Carolina House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s leadership and pass HB442 without delay.
Contact your legislator today, urging them to support HB442 and join every other shrimping state in prohibiting large-scale, inshore bottom shrimp trawling.