Commercial fishing industry deserves greater appreciation
North Carolina has over 10.5 million residents, many of whom love to eat seafood. North Carolinians who love local seafood might not know that the 4th Circuit of the US Court of Appeals recently rejected an attempt by some recreational charter fishermen and a former producer of a NC fishing show to make it illegal for NC shrimp trawlers to discard fish while fishing for shrimp and to catch shrimp with trawls in Pamlico Sound unless the fishermen had a permit from EPA or its state proxy. To the relief of commercial fishermen, the 4th Circuit ruled unanimously against the plaintiffs, noting their claims would have required recreational fishermen to get an environmental permit before releasing fish back to the water and would have substantial impacts on the public. The shrimpers waited three anxious years for the litigation to run its course and of course, incurring substantial legal fees to combat the claims. >>click to read<< 09:33
Texas has faced these same problems with the recreational users. Their belief is that More for me and none for thee is only solution. Yet it’s the recreational people who regularly violates the laws.