Dare County leads push for 19-county coastal fisheries coalition after HB 442 fight; commissioners approve county commercial ad funding

Dare County commissioners said they will convene a 19‑county coastal coalition to coordinate a legislative response after state action this month on House Bill 442, and the board voted to allocate county funds toward a commercial to promote local seafood and support fishermen.

Chairman Bob Woodard told the board he and other county representatives traveled to Raleigh to oppose amendments attached to HB 442 and that the experience convinced him to organize county leaders across the coast. “We will do every single thing humanly possible under our abilities and our powers to protect our families in Dare County that make a living fishing,” Woodard said.

The proposed North Carolina coastal counties fisheries coalition will invite each coastal county to designate a representative — the chair, county manager, or staff designee — and hold a first meeting at 1 p.m. Aug. 5 in Carteret County with a virtual option under consideration. Woodard said he has already sent letters to the 19 coastal counties and reported “a good majority” have signaled interest.

The board also discussed concerns raised by local fisheries advocates about state fisheries management. Woodard quoted a letter by Glenn Skinner, executive director of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, saying state fisheries management has left “much to be desired” and urging “collaborative, adaptive, and transparent management grounded in science, equity, and local knowledge.” Commissioner Carson Crieff and other commissioners emphasized rebuilding trust among fisheries scientists, managers and local fishing communities.

In a motion tied to that outreach work, the board approved a one‑time up to $15,000 allocation from contingency funds to produce two short commercials: one focused on Dare County’s fishing families and another to support the local chamber’s seafood festival marketing. The motion was amended so the county’s payment would be contingent on legal confirmation that the county may fund the chamber’s spot; the county’s own commercial was explicitly approved. The motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the coalition and the promotional effort aim to give coastal counties a unified voice in Raleigh, to coordinate scientific and economic information, and to counter messaging they consider harmful to commercial fisheries ahead of the legislature’s fall session.

What’s next: Woodard said a coalition meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5 in Carteret County; county staff will circulate a draft mission and representative list in advance. County leaders also said they are collecting economic and scientific data to support the coalition’s lobbying work.

Speakers quoted in this article are identified from the meeting record. Direct quotes are attributed to those speakers as recorded.