Dare County, in partnership with Current TV, has released a new video highlighting the North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition, an organization comprised of 19 counties whose formation was spearheaded last year by Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard. The coalition works to protect the livelihoods of the state’s commercial fishermen, preserve coastal heritage and safeguard the economic vitality of working waterfronts. 

In the video, Woodard—who serves as Chairman of the North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition—shares impetus for the coalition’s establishment in August 2025, which was primarily in response to the challenges that emerged during the debate over House Bill 442, often referred to as “Shrimpgate.” This proposed legislation—which would have banned shrimp trawling in both inshore waters and within a half mile of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline, raised serious concerns across coastal North Carolina about the future of commercial fishing and the livelihoods that depend on it.

Woodard shares how he and several other Dare County officials—as well as numerous commercial fishermen and their families, local restaurateurs and supporters of the region’s centuries-old seafood industry—traveled to Raleigh in June 2025 to attend a rally in opposition of the controversial bill. Their efforts were successful, as House Bill 442 was ultimately defeated, showcasing the power of unified voices in exacting change and prompting Woodard to establish the North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition to further support and protect the state’s commercial fishing industry.

By bringing coastal counties together—and ensuring these communities speak with one unified voice when policies and legislation impacting the commercial fishing industry are under consideration by lawmakers—the coalition works to strengthen coordination among coastal governments, advocate for balanced fisheries management, and ensure that the perspectives of working waterfronts and commercial fishermen across the state are clearly represented.

In addition to Chairman Woodard, the video features an interview with Dare County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Steve House. House—who also serves as chairman of both the Oregon Inlet Task Force and Dare County Commission for Working Watermen—offers valuable insight into the issues facing the region’s commercial fishing industry. 

Additional perspectives are provided by Dare County Commissioner Mary Ellon Ballance, a member of both the Dare County Waterways Commission and Dare County Commission for Working Watermen, as well as coalition consultant Jess Hawkins, former Chief of Fisheries Management for the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. Together, these key contributors bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise and perspective to help strengthen the coalition’s ongoing efforts and enrich its discussions.

For more information about the North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition, visit DareNC.gov/Fisheries. To view the video on Dare County’s YouTube channel, go to YouTube.com/DareCounty.