To be clear, the meeting tonight is regarding a temporary rule that closes the 2024 recreational flounder season, not a rule that would ban inshore trawling. An inshore trawling ban would have to go through the Legislature and be supported by Republicans, which is highly unlikely.
edit:
For commercial fishermen like Thomas Smith, who works in the Pamlico Sound, shrimp trawling is essential for their livelihood. "Most of our income comes between July and November while working on inshore waters," says Smith. He said that keeping shrimp trawling operations only in the ocean would only be viable for about two months each year, potentially devastating his business. “It would put me out of business,” he adds.
GOOD.