"Among fish species traditionally targeted by the public, chronic overexploitation has led to precipitous declines in annual harvest. Since 1997, harvest of southern flounder, a North Carolina seafood staple, is down by 81%, spot by 85%, croaker by 88% and weakfish (grey trout) by a shocking 97%. Striped bass (77%) and bluefish (63%) are also in decline. Recent efforts by the state to drastically limit the total harvest of southern flounder-caused by state managers allowing 33 years of commercial overharvest-have resulted in severe restrictions on public access to that stock. "North Carolina's fishing heritage is at stake, and without meaningful reform, these trends may be irreversible," said CCA Chairman Bert Owens."
Personally, I respect commercial fisherman as a whole. But it appears something is going wrong.
Personally, I respect commercial fisherman as a whole. But it appears something is going wrong.