An organization called the North Carolina Coastal Fisheries Reform Group is threatening to file suit against state regulators and six of North Carolina’s largest shrimp trawl companies in an effort to ban trawling in the sounds on the grounds it violates the federal Clean Water Act.
“We have tried every remedy possible to start reform talks with both the executive and legislative branches of North Carolina, and we were outright dismissed or completely ignored. They had their chance to discuss the issues.” group leader Joe Albea said in a press release Monday.
The Notice of Claim sent Monday begins a 60 day period where potential defendants are given time to either make changes to rules or demonstrate they are not in violation of the Clean Water Act.
According to NCCFRG’s legal counsel, James L. Conner, II, the disposal of millions of dead finfish bycatch into Pamlico Sound every shrimping season violates the Clean Water Act, and the behavior has been allowed and encouraged by the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Division of Marine Fisheries.
“We are going to take legal action against the State of North Carolina in federal court, and we intend to name leaders in the North Carolina commercial fishing industry as co-defendants, too.” said Albea, who co-hosts “Carolina Outdoor Journal”, a fishing show that airs on UNC-TV.
Parties named in the suit include the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, Trawler Christine Ann, Inc., Capt. Gaston, LLC., Trawler Capt. Alfred, Inc., The Trawler Blackbeard, Lady Samaira, Inc. and Ester Joy, Inc.
Several of the boats listed in the notice have home ports in Hyde County. Others are from Carteret and Craven counties.
“Look, the timing of this is crucial. We’re coming up on yet another shrimping season. Are we going to allow our coastal resource to be abused another year?” Albea said. “We say no, because we are desperately trying to preserve the resource for recreational and commercial fishing alike!”
Robert P. Crone, Sr., media specialist and member of NCCFRG is disappointed that their group has had to resort to
litigation. “We tried to talk with the politicians, yet they ignored us,” said Robert P. Crone, Sr., a media specialist and member of NCCFRG.
“But if they ignore our Notice of Claim, we will take it to the courts and this egregious large-scale dumping of bycatch will be exposed for all to witness,” Crone said. “And the citizens of North Carolina will not like what they see. That’s going to be hard to ignore.”
The state Division of Marine Fisheries confirmed to WRAL-TV Monday that it had received the notice, and a spokesman said officials are reviewing it.
