Why this petition matters
Having been both a commercial and recreational fisherman in North Carolina for over 40 years, I have personally witnessed the devastating erosion of our fisheries. What we are experiencing today is not a natural disaster—it is a manufactured crisis caused by chronic mismanagement, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and a lack of accountability within the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC).

"We the People" own these public trust resources. Accessing them is not a mere privilege; it is a fundamental right safeguarded by our state constitution. Yet, drastic and unexpected season closures—especially in our historic flounder fishery—are taking food off the tables of working families, crushing coastal tourism, and pushing a multi-generational way of life to the brink of extinction.

To ensure the survival of our marine ecosystems, protect our coastal economies, and restore fairness to the water, we demand immediate, structural reform. We call upon our state leadership to enact the following changes:

• Merge the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC): Streamline management, eliminate wasteful bureaucratic silos, and bring a unified, data-driven approach to conserving aquatic life under a single, highly respected agency.
  Transition to Transparent, Real-Time Data Collection: We demand an immediate end to quota allocations based on flawed, lagging data and controversial phone/mail surveys. Our fisheries must be managed using modernized, verified, and transparent data collection methods that both commercial and recreational stakeholders can actually trust.
• Establish a Democratically Elected, Balanced Oversight Board: Replace the current politically appointed system with an oversight board whose members are elected every four years. To ensure fair, balanced decision-making, this board must be composed equally of commercial fishing stakeholders, recreational fishing stakeholders, and independent, third-party scientists.
  Accountability in Leadership: Demand the removal of current DMF Director Kathy Rawls due to a distinct dereliction of duty highlighted by the ongoing fisheries crisis. New leadership is vital to execute the transparent, operational changes required to restore trust with the fishing community.
  Defend Our Cultural Heritage Against Special Interests: We reject heavy-handed management policies driven by wealthy, out-of-state environmental NGOs and political lobbying groups looking to restrict public water access. Our marine resources should be managed by North Carolinians, for North Carolinians.
  North Carolina’s marine heritage belongs to all of us—from traditional flounder giggers and commercial fleets to weekend recreational anglers. Restructuring our fisheries management is the only way to ensure our seasons are managed effectively, fairly, and sustainably for generations to come.

Sign this petition to demand accountability, defend your right to fish, and save North Carolina's fishing future!