Along North Carolina’s coast, shrimping isn’t just an industry — it’s a living tradition that sustains families, communities, and local economies. This summer, that legacy was tested when a proposed state ban on shrimp trawling — added quietly to an unrelated bill — threatened to halt the practice of dragging nets across the sea floor in the state’s sounds.
When word spread, coastal fishers mobilized and won a reprieve. Now, they’re organizing through the new Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition to make sure their perspectives shape future policy in Raleigh.
In this episode, host Nick Magrino speaks with coalition chair Bob Woodard and conservation advocate David Snead about how communities are working toward common ground: protecting clean waters, sustaining local livelihoods, and ensuring a seafood economy that endures. Together, they explore how data, dialogue, and shared stewardship could define the next chapter for North Carolina’s coast.
