BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON AND MILES LAYTON
EDENTON — Tuesday, folks from coastal Carolina will travel to Raleigh to try to make their case against state House Bill 442 to ban shrimping in coastal waterways within a half mile of the Atlantic Coast that will have a major on commercial fisherman.
Whether in Edenton or the Chesapeake Bay, HB 442 has attracted attention of folks who are concerned about the proposed ban’s negative impact. People like Luke McFadden, a commercial fisherman who is a social media senstation, and Jay Fleming, a talented well-known photographer based in the Chesapeake Bay — thanks for the photos — have commented about how the proposed ban would affect fishermen across state lines.
‘If this goes into effect, they can say goodbye to me’
When Jesse Layden sells fresh seafood at the Edenton Farmers Market on Saturdays, there are long lines of customers buying bags of local produced shrimp and other fish caught in coastal waters.
Saturday, Layden was telling customers to enjoy the shrimp while it lasts because if the trawling ban becomes law, he may no longer be able to provide local products.
The future of North Carolina’s shrimping industry is in flux as two key bills — House Bill 442 and House Bill 441 — advance through the General Assembly. The legislation, aimed at curbing environmental damage from large-scale trawling in inshore waters, has sparked sharp division between conservation advocates and coastal businesses dependent on local seafood.
HB 442’s opponents warn that the passage of the bill, slated for a vote this week in the General Assembly, could cripple an already fragile coastal economy, shuttering small seafood businesses and severing consumer access to North Carolina-sourced shrimp and oysters.
“Our season generally starts around this time of year. … I’ve sold shrimp right on into almost Christmas before,” said Layden. He sources most of his product from Pamlico Sound, a prime area affected by the proposed ban.
Layden warned the legislation would devastate local supply chains.
“If people are eating shrimp that’s from North Carolina or oysters from North Carolina, there’s an 80% chance they’re coming from that area. If this goes into effect, they can say goodbye to me. It’ll have to come from somewhere — but it won’t be here.”
Layden added that oysters would also be impacted due to a simultaneous ban on dredging, noting,
“There’s nowhere else to get them in the state of North Carolina to amount to anything, to be worth getting.”
Shrimping Ban Would Have Far Reaching Effects
Luke McFadden is a first-generation commercial waterman based in Pasadena, Maryland, best known for crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay and sharing his life through social media. His content reveals the raw day-to-day: foul-ups, repairs, catches, and candid personality. He now boasts around 1.6 million to 1.7 million TikTok followers, plus hundreds of thousands on Instagram and YouTube. Luke, thanks for posting this video:
Jay Fleming, an acclaimed Chesapeake Bay photographer based in Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has dedicated his career to documenting the Bay’s watermen, wildlife, and vanishing island communities. Working full-time since 2015, his images are reshaping how the public understands this iconic estuary.
“I want to help consumers understand where their seafood comes from… but I also want to document something that’s changing,” a profile about Fleming notes in National Fisherman.
Fleming said HB 442 calls for the restricting of trawling to 1/2 mile offshore or further in the Atlantic Ocean. Inshore bodies of water like the Pamlico Sound would be off limits to shrimping. With approximately 70% of the state’s shrimp being harvested inshore, this would severely restrict access to the fishery for smaller boats. The bill has already passed in the NC senate and awaits voting in the house.
“I don’t live in North Carolina but through my photography work have connected with fishermen up and down the coast from Wanchese to Sneads Ferry,” he said. “I spent time in 2015 and 2022 documenting the shrimp industry for magazine assignments and a photo-book. From what I observed, the NC shrimp fishery is already stressed from less expensive foreign imports, tightening regulations and rising cost of operating. A dramatic change like this could be the end for many family businesses and our access to local shrimp. As I have seen at home on the Chesapeake, once these fisheries and ways of life are lost – they rarely come back.”
If you care about coastal communities and enjoy fresh seafood, Fleming said, read up and spread the word about how special interest sport fishing groups are lobbying for an end to shrimp trawling at www.nationalfisherman.com/gulf-south-atlantic/carolina-shrimp-trawl-banAl
For more information about Fleming’s great photography and workshops, see jayflemingphotography.com
HB 442: A Four-Year Moratorium on Inshore Shrimp Trawling
Passed by the North Carolina Senate on June 20, HB 442 would reestablish the flounder and rainbow trout recreational fishing seasons. In a last minute measure, an amendment creating a four-year moratorium on shrimp trawling in inshore waters and within a half-mile of the Atlantic coast was added. The moratorium, if enacted, would last from Dec. 1, 2025 through August 1, 2029.
Supporters argue the measure is necessary to protect marine habitats, particularly seagrass beds and juvenile fish populations, from damage caused by bottom trawls.
“It’s about long-term sustainability,” said one proponent during a committee hearing. “The bycatch numbers are too high, and the damage to habitat is clear.”
HB 441: Compensation for Affected Shrimpers
To mitigate economic hardship, House Bill 441 proposes creating a compensation fund for shrimpers displaced by HB 442’s restrictions. The fund would be administered by the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), though its scope and funding sources remain under negotiation.
Before the bill was reworked by the state Senate, the bill was to declare the loggerhead turtle as the state’s saltwater reptile. All language related to that measure was stripped from the bill. The bill’s original sponsors have sent letters to senators responsible for stripping the bill, to find out why their bill’s original intent, which was passed by the full House, was stricken.
Industry vs. Ecology
The debate has centered on whether the ecological gains justify the economic pain. Conservationists say the shrimping industry’s bycatch and habitat impact are unsustainable and threaten long-term fisheries health.
But commercial shrimpers and dealers say their practices are already regulated and sustainable, and that legislative changes should be based on data — not emotion or political pressure.
“I’ve been on both sides of it,” Layden said. “I understand the need for conservation. But you can’t just take away people’s livelihoods without giving them a viable alternative.”
Next Steps
HB 442 now heads back to the House for concurrence. If the House rejects the Senate’s version, a conference committee will be appointed to resolve differences. Meanwhile, HB 441 remains in committee, awaiting further fiscal analysis.
Local governments, seafood businesses, and advocacy groups continue to lobby both for and against the bills. They expect the House to take up HB 442 on Tuesday.
The outcome of these bills may define the future of North Carolina’s inshore fisheries. As lawmakers weigh ecological stewardship against economic survival, coastal communities are left holding their breath.
Bus loads of folks from the coast and Eastern NC are poised to travel Tueseday to Raleigh to talk legislators, convince them that this legislation is not the right path to tread.
“The proposed shrimp trawling ban would deal a devastating blow to the families, fishermen, and small businesses who have relied on our coastal waters for generations. This isn’t just about shrimp—it’s about jobs, heritage, and the very soul of our Eastern North Carolina way of life,” Rep. Ed Goodwin, R-Chowan, posted to social media.
“For decades, these waters have provided more than just food—they’ve built communities, supported families, and passed down a proud tradition from one generation to the next. I will not stand by while misguided policies threaten the livelihoods of our working watermen. I stand firmly with our coastal residents and will continue to fight for their voices, their values, and their future.”
Goodwin continued, “As it says in Psalm 107:23-24: ‘Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep.’ Let us pray for wisdom, protection, and strength for all those who make a living from these waters. May we honor their labor and protect their future.”
“God bless our coast, and God bless the people of District One.”
Last Word
Last word goes to John Nix, president of the North Carolina Federation of Republican Men, who posted this letter to social media.
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