Saving Seafood

  • Home
  • News
    • Alerts
    • Conservation & Environment
    • Council Actions
    • Economic Impact
    • Enforcement
    • International & Trade
    • Law
    • Management & Regulation
    • Regulations
    • Nutrition
    • Opinion
    • Other News
    • Safety
    • Science
    • State and Local
  • News by Region
    • New England
    • Mid-Atlantic
    • South Atlantic
    • Gulf of Mexico
    • Pacific
    • North Pacific
    • Western Pacific
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Fishing Terms Glossary

NORTH CAROLINA: New Leader for Marine Fisheries Sought

March 10, 2017 — A search is underway by state environment officials for a new director for the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

Braxton Davis has been serving in the role for the last 11 months, as well as serving as the director of the Division of Coastal Management. The divisions had separate directors before April, when Davis was appointed to head both.

The Department of Environmental Quality cites the Davis’ workload as the reason for finding a new lead for DMF.

“Braxton has been an outstanding leader for our agency and has served admirably as the chief for these two divisions for almost a year,” said Michael Regan, secretary for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. “Braxton and I and our leadership team have discussed the workload of managing two divisions, and we all agree that oversight of both divisions is more than one person can handle in a long-term situation.”

Read the full story at Coastal Review Online

Frustrated fishermen meet with new North Carolina fisheries director

August 11, 2016 — MANTEO, N.C. — About 50 exasperated, even angry, commercial fishermen gathered Monday to meet the new director of the North Carolina agency that governs how these watermen make a living.

They came to the Dare County offices from towns east and west of the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds, ranging from Hatteras Village to Elizabeth City. They came to voice frustrations and ask questions about what they believe are unfair and arbitrary regulations that shrink their livelihood.

Southern flounder harvest restrictions and sea turtle conservation efforts were sore points.

Sea turtles are best with “taters and onions,” said Sharon Peele Kennedy, a member of the Board of Directors for NC Catch, a group that advocates for local fishing and seafood.

This fight is old for fishermen on the Outer Banks, but their opponent has a new face: Braxton Davis, who in April became director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and the Division of Coastal Management after the last director resigned.

In his new job, the watermen demanded he at least listen, tell the truth and be willing to make what they call common-sense changes in the rules that prevent them from setting their nets.

For the most part, the men spoke in thick coastal accents, each carried a three-day growth of beard, and had arms and faces weathered and brown. A few women in the audience were equally adamant about the cause. The language was occasionally salty.

But they came with data, documents and experience to buttress their arguments.

“We are the science,” a veteran waterman said. “We’re your biggest environmentalists.”

Read the full story at the Virginian-Pilot

North Carolina Marine Fisheries Director to meet with area fishermen

July 20, 2016 — Dr. Braxton Davis, the newly appointed director of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Division, will be on the Outer Banks on Monday, Aug. 8 for an open meeting with interested recreational and commercial fishermen from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Dare County Administration Building in Manteo.

North Carolina Watermen United invited Davis with the intention of introducing the new director to some of the fishermen from this part of the state.

Read the full story at the Outer Banks Sentinel

N.C. Marine Fisheries Director to meet with area fishermen

July 20, 2016 — Dr. Braxton Davis, the newly appointed director of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Division, will be on the Outer Banks on Monday, Aug. 8 for an open meeting with interested recreational and commercial fishermen from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Dare County Administration Building in Manteo.

North Carolina Watermen United invited Davis with the intention of introducing the new director to some of the fishermen from this part of the state.

Davis was appointed Marine Fisheries Division director in mid-April by N.C. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Donald van der Vaart. Currently Davis also is director of the state’s Division of Coastal Management. He began his tenure in September 2011 after serving as policy director for the South Carolina coastal program. He holds a Doctorate in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island, a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences from Florida International University and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia.

Read the full story at the Outer Banks Sentinel

Recent Headlines

  • Judge allows lawsuit challenging Trump’s wind energy ban to proceed
  • “Shrimp Fraud” Allegations Are Rocking the Restaurant World. We Talked to the Company Blowing the Whistle.
  • Scientists warn that the ocean is growing greener at poles
  • NOAA awards $95 million contract to upgrade fisheries survey vessel
  • Fishing council to ask Trump to lift fishing ban in Papahanaumokuakea
  • The ocean is changing colors, researchers say. Here’s what it means.
  • NORTH CAROLINA: New bill to protect waterways would ‘destroy’ shrimp industry in North Carolina, critics warn
  • NORTH CAROLINA: Restaurateur rips NC bill HB 442: ‘Slitting the throats of the commercial fishing industry

Most Popular Topics

Alaska Aquaculture ASMFC Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission BOEM California China Climate change Coronavirus COVID-19 Donald Trump groundfish Gulf of Maine Gulf of Mexico Hawaii Illegal fishing IUU fishing Lobster Maine Massachusetts Mid-Atlantic National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NEFMC New Bedford New England New England Fishery Management Council New Jersey New York NMFS NOAA NOAA Fisheries North Atlantic right whales North Carolina North Pacific offshore energy Offshore wind Pacific right whales Salmon South Atlantic Western Pacific Whales wind energy Wind Farms

Daily Updates & Alerts

Enter your email address to receive daily updates and alerts:
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Tweets by @savingseafood

Copyright © 2025 Saving Seafood · WordPress Web Design by Jessee Productions