Fishing hooked by state politics
Published March 3, 2016
Editorial by Wilmington Star-News, March 3, 2016.
Nothing seems to escape the long reach of politics these days. Sometimes all the bickering and jockeying for position makes us want to escape politics and just go fishing.
Oops! Looks like we are too late. Saltwater fishing in North Carolina is the latest pursuit to be gobbled up by political gamesmanship -- hook, line and sinker.
Like with most political issues, the bottom line on recent fishery controversies really comes down to money. And in this case, money is represented by Southern Flounder.
Groups promoting recreational fishing and conservation have been in a heated battle with the N.C. Fisheries Association, other commercial fishing interests and some state legislators.
The recreational anglers and conservation groups say North Carolina's Southern Flounder are being wiped out by commercial fishing. They want state marines fisheries regulators to tighten limits on the catch.
Commercial fishermen say stocks are fine and that their opponents are using bad data to overstate any problems.
The controversy has been bubbling over like a skillet of hot oil waiting for breaded flounder or hushpuppies. State legislators have gotten involved, warning against any new regulations on the flounder catch. Then on Monday, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Director Louis Daniel abruptly resigned.
Although an interim director has been named, it's bad news that Marine Fisheries is a bit rudderless at this critical time. We hope that Gov. Pat McCrory acts quickly to find a permanent leader who is an expert in managing marine fisheries and also can manage people -- in this, the feuding sides in this fishing contest.
We do not want to see our flounder stocks overfished. At the same time, we recognize that any new rules may take money out of the pockets of commercial fishermen.
The most important piece of the puzzle, it seems, is having good data on which to base decisions. Of course, in politics, “good data” often means data that support my side.
Marines Fisheries must determine the best possible source for data and stick with it.
The state also needs to keep looking skeptically at the use of gill nets, which have been blamed for a decline in many variety of fish. North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast that allows broad use of gill nets in inshore waters. South Carolina banned gill nets and Georgia severely restricts their use. What do our neighbors to the south know that we don't?
It would be best, too, if the Honorables did not try to run interference and apply political and other pressure to an agency that has its hands full with angry fishermen from both sides of the issue.
There have been plenty of success stories of fisheries being restored. But it will take persistence and, yes, political will. And as with many politicized coastal issues, those qualities are not an easy fish to land.
Some key players
NC Marine Fisheries Commission: Regulatory panel made up of nine public representatives appointed by governor.
Coastal Conservation Association NC
A nonprofit advocacy group representing sport and recreational fishermen. CCANC has been engaged in a long-standing, often bitter feud with the commercial fishing industry over a variety of fisheries including striped bass, drum and flounder.
North Carolina Fisheries Association
A nonprofit advocacy group representing the commercial fishing industry.
