I’m writing to you as a concerned constituent. While you work to tackle the many challenges that face our great state, I want to remind you that our shallow sounds and estuaries are in deep trouble. North Carolina is the only state on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts that still allows large-scale inshore bottom shrimp trawling in our juvenile fish nurseries. Every year, trawlers travel to North Carolina from other states where large-scale inshore bottom shrimp trawling is prohibited, invading our waters with heavy chains that drag nets across a sea floor already stripped bare from years of this destructive practice. Using these nets results in significant bycatch—unintended species that are caught, killed, and discarded in our waters. 80% of inshore shrimp trawling bycatch may include marine life such as southern flounder, grey trout, and blue crab. This practice destroys habitats and depletes our fisheries. Please prioritize this issue as you address the other challenges facing North Carolina. We must put an end to large-scale inshore bottom shrimp trawling as soon as possible to prevent further, irreversible damage to one of North Carolina’s most valuable resources. Thank you for considering this important issue. I look forward to seeing you take action on this matter during this year’s legislative session.

I’m writing to you as a concerned constituent. While you work to tackle the many challenges that face our great state, I want to remind you that our shallow sounds and estuaries are in deep trouble. North Carolina is the only state on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts that still allows large-scale inshore bottom shrimp trawling in our juvenile fish nurseries. Every year, trawlers travel to North Carolina from other states where large-scale inshore bottom shrimp trawling is prohibited, invading our waters with heavy chains that drag nets across a sea floor already stripped bare from years of this destructive practice. Using these nets results in significant bycatch—unintended species that are caught, killed, and discarded in our waters. 80% of inshore shrimp trawling bycatch may include marine life such as southern flounder, grey trout, and blue crab. This practice destroys habitats and depletes our fisheries. Please prioritize this issue as you address the other challenges facing North Carolina. We must put an end to large-scale inshore bottom shrimp trawling as soon as possible to prevent further, irreversible damage to one of North Carolina’s most valuable resources. Thank you for considering this important issue. I look forward to seeing you take action on this matter during this year’s legislative session.

I’m writing to you as a concerned constituent. While you work to tackle the many challenges that face our great state, I want to remind you that our shallow sounds and estuaries are in deep trouble. North Carolina is the only state on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts that still allows large-scale inshore bottom shrimp trawling in our juvenile fish nurseries. Every year, trawlers travel to North Carolina from other states where large-scale inshore bottom shrimp trawling is prohibited, invading our waters with heavy chains that drag nets across a sea floor already stripped bare from years of this destructive practice. Using these nets results in significant bycatch—unintended species that are caught, killed, and discarded in our waters. 80% of inshore shrimp trawling bycatch may include marine life such as southern flounder, grey trout, and blue crab. This practice destroys habitats and depletes our fisheries. Please prioritize this issue as you address the other challenges facing North Carolina. We must put an end to large-scale inshore bottom shrimp trawling as soon as possible to prevent further, irreversible damage to one of North Carolina’s most valuable resources. Thank you for considering this important issue. I look forward to seeing you take action on this matter during this year’s legislative session.