LITTLE RIVER, S.C. — April 20, 2015 — Monday, local fisherman voiced their concerns over The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's proposed expansion on prohibited federal fishing zones off the South Carolina coast.
The organization, run by the federal government, protects endangered Atlantic fish species from North Carolina to Florida.
Some local fisherman walked out during the meeting after they heard the areas and methods proposed to protect snapper and grouper species off the coast.
"Council is considering closing some pretty substantial economically important areas of fishing ground off the shore here,” said Chris Conklin.
Conklin is a local representative for the management council.
He says the group now considers three possibilities a one square mile, a 3.1 square mile, and a 13 square mile protected zone off the Georgetown Coast.
Conklin, a fisherman himself in Murrells Inlet, realizes the possibilities of closing this area.
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