Drawing a Line in the Mud: North Carolina’s Shrimp Trawling Crisis

Each year, hundreds of millions of fish are killed as collateral damage from large-scale, inshore bottom shrimp trawling in North Carolina’s estuaries. Let that sink in. While other Atlantic and Gulf states have taken action to phase out this kind of outdated gear in their most sensitive nursery areas, North Carolina stands alone in allowing it to continue. Dragging heavy trawl nets through North Carolina’s sounds doesn’t just catch shrimp—it destroys the very building blocks of our coastal ecosystem and puts our fisheries in deeper jeopardy with every pass. Now, natural resource advocates from all walks of life are drawing a “line in the mud”.

This isn’t a niche issue. It’s not about choosing shrimp over sportfish. It’s about the future of North Carolina’s coastal economy, habitat, and way of life. The majority of species killed in shrimp trawl bycatch—Southern Flounder, weakfish, croaker, spot, and blue crab—are already in serious trouble. They’re being scooped up before they can spawn or before anglers can target them. The result is a growing number of collapsed or collapsing fisheries in state waters, drastically impacting angling experiences for NC recreational and commercial fishermen. For every pound of shrimp harvested, more than four pounds of juvenile fish and other marine life are discarded. That’s not just wasteful—it’s unsustainable.

Recreational fishing in North Carolina is a powerhouse, driving billions of dollars in economic activity and supporting local businesses from coastal tackle shops to inland hotels. But that engine runs on one thing: healthy fish populations. And when your nursery grounds are being scraped clean, there’s no fuel left in the tank. What’s worse, many of these trawl boats aren’t even from North Carolina. They come from out of state to take advantage of weak protections, further depleting local resources while leaving the ecological and economic costs behind.

Meanwhile, viable alternatives exist. Offshore shrimping remains a productive, sustainable option that doesn’t come at the expense of juvenile finfish or critical estuarine habitat. Alternative, sustainable shrimp harvesting methods, including skimmer trawls, channel nets, shrimp pounds, and cast nets, exist and can preserve the ecological balance of North Carolina’s estuarine systems while supporting local shrimping industries. The real question is no longer whether we can change—it’s whether we will. Because every year we delay, the damage gets worse. Seagrass beds are smothered, juvenile fish are lost by the millions, and the window to rebuild what’s been broken closes just a little more.

ASGA is proud to amplify the fight being led by North Carolina’s courageous coastal advocates calling for an end to large-scale inshore bottom trawling. This is about common-sense conservation rooted in science and driven by people who care—fishermen, business owners, scientists, and residents who understand that what’s happening now is not sustainable. Protecting our estuaries isn’t a radical idea, even though individuals connected to the commercial shrimp industry have made extreme responses to this campaign. Even in the face of adversity, conservation momentum is building. In a major step forward, the North Carolina State Senate voted overwhelmingly to support new regulations to prohibit large-scale, inshore bottom shrimp trawling. The bill passed its second reading 41–4 and cleared its third reading with a 39–2 vote earlier today. These results show that decision-makers are beginning to listen to the science, to the economic reality, and to the voices who know we can’t keep managing our estuaries like they’re disposable. We commend the NC Senate for taking decisive and resounding action.

But this fight isn’t over. Now, we call on the NC House to follow suit. As this bill moves forward, it’s critical that the chorus of support continues to grow. If you fish, live, work, or care about the health of North Carolina’s coast, now is the time to speak up.

Non-Resident Supporters:

You can contact the North Carolina Speaker of the House’s office and urge the House to take action. Call Speaker Destin Hall at (919) 733‑3451 or email Destin.Hall@ncleg.gov and urge the House to advance the bill.

North Carolina Residents:

Contact your legislator and urge them to advance this Bill! You can utilize this resource from the North Carolina Wildlife Federation for an easy portal to contact your representative.

This decision does not just affect North Carolina residents. Fish do not recognize state lines, and the burden of this industry’s impact is felt north and south of these prolific inshore waters. The future of North Carolina’s fisheries depends on the choices we make right now—let’s choose recovery, resilience, and a coast worth passing down.