Opening of flounder season delayed to protect endangered sea turtles
By Sara Burrows, September 02, 2011
RALEIGH — The two main industries on Hatteras Island are tourism and fishing. Hurricane Irene recently wiped out the first, and sea-turtle regulations just wiped out the second, bringing commerce on the island to a grinding halt.
To protect endangered sea turtles, the federal government has banned large-mesh gill-net fishing in Pamlico Sound for more than a decade, with one exception. From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 each year, commercial fishermen are allowed to catch flounder using the nets, under the strict supervision of federal agents.
But this year the opening of flounder season has been delayed indefinitely to protect an increasing number of sea turtles in the sound that haven’t yet left for warmer waters.
Residents of Hatteras Island were especially looking forward to flounder season this year because Hurricane Irene temporarily has eliminated the only other source of income for most families – tourism.
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