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County commissioners pass resolution opposing proposed North Carolina blue crab limits
Summary
Beaufort County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution opposing draft rules from the Division of Marine Fisheries that would severely limit female crab harvests in key seasons; local seafood industry representatives said the rules lack peer-reviewed science.
Richard Newman, owner of County Road Seafood in Belle Haven and president of the North Carolina Blue Crab Association, addressed the board about proposed Division of Marine Fisheries rules that would restrict female blue crab harvests in certain months.
Newman said the division's recent stock assessments "failed their peer review" and that the proposed rules would, as he put it, "pretty well shut that industry down." He told the board that Hyde, Harrell (?), Dare and Washington counties had passed similar resolutions and asked Beaufort County to do the same. The board approved a resolution opposing the proposed regulations.
The resolution asks state decision-makers to reconsider the proposed restrictions and to provide science that meets peer-review standards before imposing new rules that local fishermen say would cut seasonal harvests dramatically.
Why it matters: Blue crab harvesting supports local businesses and processing plants. Industry representatives told commissioners that seasonal female-crab limits (including proposed zero-bushel windows for parts of the year and low daily limits at other times) would harm harvesters and processors.
Action: The board passed a county resolution opposing the proposed Division of Marine Fisheries rules; the board also indicated it will encourage neighboring counties and municipalities to consider similar action.
