Saving Seafood

NORTH CAROLINA: Paradise found

February 5, 2020 — Many of today’s small family-owned businesses struggle to survive in the shadow of big-box stores and online giants. The commercial fishing industry is no exception. Faced with an onslaught of regulations, attacks from special interest groups and an ever-growing import market, family-owned fishing businesses face a unique set of obstacles.

Some are up to the challenge.

Founded by Wayne Dunbar in 1998, Paradise Shores Seafood in Merritt, N.C., is thriving in this hostile environment. The company is the epitome of a family-owned business that has grown into a successful operation handling a variety of fish, blue crabs, soft shell crabs, shrimp, oysters, and conchs.

“It’s a good life thanks to the good Lord, my special wife and our three sons,” says Wayne. “We are a group of people who work hard and love what we do.”

The Dunbars believe there is only one sure way to grow a business — hard work, and lots of it.

“Our business has grown, starting with one crab boat and one mullet boat, to four crab boats now and four fishing boats,” says Wayne. “The only way to survive in this business is to be willing to work many long hours a day and do whatever it takes.”

Read the full story at National Fisherman

NORTH CAROLINA: Offshore drilling suspended on NC coast, fishing industry has mixed reactions

April 29, 2019 — The Trump administration has put a suspension on plans to expand offshore drilling off the North Carolina coast, leading to mixed reactions from the state fishing industry.

Randy Robinson, a representative of Brunswick County on the N.C. Fisheries Association Board of Directors thinks that the presence of offshore drilling “isn’t necessarily a bad idea.“ He considers that offshore drilling could play a role in increasing the net amount of jobs for North Carolinians.

Additionally, Robinson blames the N.C. Wildlife Federation for causing more damage than offshore drilling would do. He explains that the organization’s push to reduce trawls and limit the length of nets for fishing shrimp has negatively affected commercial fishing across the state’s coast.

Read the full story at WECT

Lingering North Carolina Fisheries Association issues persist into 2019

January 25, 2019 — Captain George’s was the venue for the recent 2019 North Carolina Fisheries Association’s Annual Meeting, which addressed issues that included conflicts with special interest groups, shrimp trawl bans and aquaculture in the sounds.

The NCFA is the primary organization promoting, providing education and, in recent years, defending North Carolina’s commercial fishing industry.

NCFA board presided over an extensive agenda, discussing and taking comments from the dozen or so NCFA members attending on a wide range of legislative, regulatory and other issues the organization faces in 2019.

As board Chairman Brent Fulcher worked his way through the agenda, many of the same concerns facing the NCFA this year are the same, unresolved issues that were on the board’s plate five, 10, and even 20 years ago.

Primary among them were the continuing challenges of well-financed efforts of special interest groups claiming to represent recreational fishing interests.

For those who have followed these issues in the past, the actions of the Coastal Conservation Association, a national group with state chapters active in virtually every state, was once again behind several initiatives seen as a threat by the NCFA to their industry.

Read the full story at The Outer Banks Voice

North Carolina: Seafood Lobby Day hopes to bring change to coastal fishing industry

May 24, 2018 — CRYSTAL COAST, N.C. — Fishermen and seafood lobbying groups spent their Wednesday in Raleigh for North Carolina Seafood Lobby Day, talking to legislators about fishing laws.

On the Crystal Coast, commercial fishing is a huge driver of employment and the economy.

Local businesses on the coast are dependent on commercial fishing.

Marc Smith, the owner of Captain Jim’s Seafood said, “It actually employs quite a number of people in this area. And through time it’s been one generation after another.”

And lately, they say the industry has faced harsh regulation that makes it hard to do their jobs.

Wrenn Johnson, the owner of Atlantic Beach Seafood Market said, “We like to keep everything as local as possible. The shrimp and everything is the stuff that’s made here. We like to do local because we always have, and it gets tougher and tougher each year as more regulations come into play.”

Glenn Skinner is the executive irector of the North Carolina Fisheries Association. He said going to Raleigh gives local fishermen a chance to create change in the industry.

Read the full story at WNCT

 

North Carolina: Nearly 200 Fishermen Travel To Raleigh For Second Annual Seafood Lobby Day

May 23, 2018 — RALEIGH, N.C. — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

Today, commercial fishermen will forego a day working on the water and instead work the halls of the Legislative Building for the 2nd Annual Seafood Lobby Day. The event, coordinated by North Carolina Fisheries Association (NCFA), provides an opportunity for legislators to meet the individuals that provide fresh, NC-caught seafood to their communities across the state and to hear directly from commercial fishermen about the challenges they face. Nearly 200 fishermen from up and down the coast traveled to Raleigh for the event.

Glenn Skinner, a commercial fisherman from Carteret County and NCFA’s Executive Director, said, “Last year’s inaugural Seafood Lobby Day was a huge success – it was a great way to start a conversation between legislators and commercial fishermen. We’re hoping this year will build on those relationships and give more fishermen an opportunity to talk to legislators about the importance of the commercial fishing industry to coastal families and communities.”

Skinner added that NCFA members have a number of priority issues to discuss with legislators, most notably the NC Marine Fisheries Commission’s (NCMFC) lack of openness and transparency. “The decisions of the Marine Fisheries Commission have a massive impact on how commercial fishermen make a living, both in the short- and long-term. They deserve to have their voices heard, and a fair and equitable Commission is essential for that to happen.” Other important topics for discussion include fair regulation of fisheries and ensuring that sound, reliable science is used in fisheries management.

Commercial fishermen established the North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. in 1952 to serve fishing families by protecting their heritage and promoting seafood. To achieve this, the association actively lobbies local, state and federal policymakers on behalf of the industry and engages in many outreach and education projects.

View the release in its entirety here.

 

North Carolina Fisheries Association: Call to Equitable Fisheries Management

April 30, 2018 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:   

Letters need to be sent to the governor.

NCFA recently sent a letter to Governor Cooper requesting that he replace all 9 members of the Marine Fisheries Commission.

NCFA letter to Governor Cooper

We are asking YOU to also send a letter to the Governor! We really need to let him know that the commercial fishing community is serious about GETTING THE MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION FAIR AND EQUITABLE!

We can only do that with your help. If you click the link below you can print out a letter, then simply sign it and mail it. If you would rather do one in your own words, that’s even better, but keep it short and simple and ON MESSAGE!

If you have any questions, call Glenn Skinner at 252-646-7742 or Jerry Schill at 252-361-3015.

Letter to Governor Cooper for you to print, sign & send!

Here’s the address for mailing:

Governor Roy Cooper

20301 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-0301

Or by email: roy.cooper@nc.gov

 

North Carolina: Open meetings suit filed against Marine Fisheries Commission

April 3, 2018 — An advocacy group for the commercial fishing industry has filed a lawsuit against members of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission claiming they violated state open meeting laws and showed a lack of transparency and openness.

According to a press release from the N.C. Fisheries Association, State Auditor Beth Wood in February 2016 issued findings in connection with an audit of the Division of Marine Fisheries.

The group quoted the audit’s findings, saying “there have been open meetings laws violated by several members of the commission.”

“Four separate email chains dated January 14, 2015, September 8, 2015, July 20, 2015 and February 10, 2015 that occurred between Marine Fisheries Commission Members,” the auditor’s office stated. “In each instance, the Commission’s legal counsel, Philip Reynolds, stopped the email communication and reminded the commission members about open meeting laws.”

The North Carolina Fisheries Association notified regulators and legislators about the auditor’s findings in 2016.

Although warned, the association alleged the Marine Fisheries Commission continued violating the open meetings laws, culminating with the most recent meeting in Wrightsville Beach, in February 2018.

At that meeting, the commission voted 5-4 to recmmend that the General Assembly change the criteria for commercial fishing licenses, after overwhelming opposition by commercial fishermen, local governments and the public to any changes.

All of the commissioners representing the commercial industry voted against the measure.

Read the full story at the Outer Banks Voice

 

North Carolina Fisheries Association Files Lawsuit Against Marine Fisheries Commission

April 2, 2018 — SEAFOOD NEWS — The North Carolina Fisheries Association filed a lawsuit against the Marine Fisheries Commission last week, claiming that the commission violated open meeting laws and lacks transparency and openness.

The lawsuit stems back to 2015 when state auditor Beth Wood found that several members of the commission violated open meeting laws. Wood found four separate email chains from 2015 where the legal counsel for the Marine Fisheries Commission stopped email communication to remind commission members about “open meeting laws.” The North Carolina Fisheries Association notified regulators and legislators about the findings in 2016, and claim that the violations have continued into 2018.

“Open meeting violations by the Marine Fisheries Commission have been an ongoing problem that is well known to many in state government including regulators and legislators,” said North Caroline Fisheries Association Executive Director Glenn Skinner. “While many complain about it, nothing has been done to stop it. Anyone that believes in an open and transparent process should applaud the action we’ve taken. It’s sad that we have to resort to such measures.

This story originally appeared on Seafoodnews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

 

NC Fisheries Association Files Lawsuit Against Marine Fisheries Commission for Lack of Openness and Transparency

March 29, 2018 — MOREHEAD CITY, NC — The following was released by the NC Fisheries Association: 

NC Fisheries Association yesterday filed a lawsuit against the Marine Fisheries Commission for violating open meeting laws and an overall lack of transparency and openness.

In February 2016, North Carolina State Auditor, Beth Wood, issued findings in connection with an audit of the Division of Marine Fisheries. The audit findings included, “there have been open meetings laws violated by several members of the commission.” Also included in the auditor’s findings were, “four separate email chains dated January 14, 2015, September 8, 2015, July 20, 2015 and February 10, 2015 that occurred between Marine Fisheries Commission Members. In each instance, the Commission’s legal counsel, Philip Reynolds, stopped the email communication and reminded the commission members about open meeting laws.”

The North Carolina Fisheries Association notified regulators and legislators about the auditor’s findings in 2016. Although warned, NCFA alleges that the Marine Fisheries Commission continued violating the open meetings laws culminating with the most recent meeting in Wrightsville Beach, NC in February of 2018. The result was a 5-4 vote recommending the General Assembly change the criteria for commercial fishing licenses. The close vote came after overwhelming opposition to any changes and with all three commercial fishing commissioners voting against the measure.

“Open meeting violations by the Marine Fisheries Commission have been an ongoing problem that is well known to many in state government including regulators and legislators. While many complain about it, nothing has been done to stop it. Anyone that believes in an open and transparent process, should applaud the action we’ve taken. It’s sad that we have to resort to such measures,” said Glenn Skinner, NC Fisheries Association Executive Director.

NC Fisheries Association (NCFA) is a non-profit organization promoting sustainable fisheries Since 1952.

Commercial fishermen established the NCFA to serve fishing families by protecting their heritage and promoting seafood. To achieve this, NCFA actively lobbies local, state, and federal policymakers on behalf of the industry and engages in many outreach and education projects.

View the release in its entirety here.

 

Fishermen, environmentalists weigh potential impacts of offshore drilling

March 20, 2018 — BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. — As Brunswick County commissioners discuss offshore drilling at their meeting Monday night, at least one group you may not expect is not opposed to bringing it to North Carolina.

The North Carolina Fisheries Association represents the state’s commercial fishermen. In response to Governor Roy Cooper fighting to stop drilling off our coast, the group recently decided to keep their options open about offshore energy exploration.

“There’s been some comments made by the governor, how detrimental it would be to the commercial fishermen and everything, but we burn a lot of diesel and gas, so we’re not closed to the idea of looking at it,” said Doug Todd, the NCFA’s board director of District Seven, which includes Onslow, Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick Counties.

Todd understands the opposition’s opinion, but still wants the drilling explored.

“Always a chance of a spill or something occurring and I know they’re talking about fracturing, that type of situation, so I can see their point of view too,” Todd said. “We’re just taking the position, we’re leaving the door open.”

Brunswick Environmental Action Team’s Pete Key says offshore drilling is not worth the risk.

Read the full story at WWAY