Carteret County sheriff heads to state legislation on shrimp trawl ban

RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN) - Driving from Beaufort to Raleigh, Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck says he’s making the trip to the capital to speak on behalf of his constituents on the shrimp trawling ban that passed in the Senate, which he says could devastate his county.

“What’s going to happen to all those people who are put out of jobs? What are they going to do?” says Sheriff Buck. “These are decent law-abiding citizens, hardworking people. The last time I checked, the elected officials ought to be trying to support hardworking people. Not try to put them out of business.

The Senate voted in favor of the House Bill 442 with the shrimp trawling ban in a 41 to 4 vote last week.

Many are in favor of the ban, like Tm Gestwicki with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, because he says, ”This is an emotional issue for many. But the facts are clear. Large-scale, inshore bottom shrimp trawling kills hundreds of millions of juvenile fish and destroys vital seafloor habitats each year."

But even some representatives say they want to see more studies before making a final decision.

“Our North Carolina Collaboratory is conducting a study,” says NC House representative (D) Maria Cervania, which will provide updated information on marine life habitats, the impacts of shrimp trawling, and other relevant data that Cervania states will be available soon.

“That report is supposed to come out by June 30, and we’re hoping to wait for that information first before we make any decisions at all,” says Cervania.