North Carolina’s coastal environment is both remarkable and uniquely diverse. Home to the nation’s second-largest estuarine system—spanning more than 2 million acres—its intricate blend of inlets, shorelines, islands, and waterways forms a vibrant and dynamic coastal mosaic.

While the allure of white sand beaches and charming coastal communities draws millions in tourism revenue each year, the region’s true economic engine may well be its fisheries.

Consider a few newly released statistics from 2024 that highlight the economic influence of commercial and recreational fisheries along our coast:

Commercial Fishing

• 1,993 commercial fishermen reported selling 45 million pounds of fish and shellfish, with a dockside value of $83 million.

• Commercial fishing activity supported 4,873 full- or part-time jobs, producing an income impact of more than $116 million and a total sales impact of $279 million.

Recreational Fishing

• Coastal anglers took an estimated 18.5 million fishing trips, spending more than $3 billion on durable goods and trip expenditures.

• Recreational fishing activity supported 28,581 jobs, with an income impact of $1.3 billion and an output impact of $3.7 billion.

At face value, and even in reality, these numbers are impressive. Yet a deeper look reveals concerning downward trends. For example, jobs supported by recreational fishing have declined by 30% since 2014, while commercial fishing jobs have dropped by 42% over the same period.

The reasons behind the declines are multi-layered and dependent upon a host of biological and social factors, not to mention the inherent variation in the survey instruments. However, many of North Carolina’s most important and popular fish and shellfish species are either depleted or trending downward. It’s not hard to see that robust fisheries are the foundation of robust coastal economies.

Take southern flounder, for example. Beloved by anglers and restaurateurs alike, the species is currently listed as depleted (or overfished), with this year’s recreational harvest season reduced to just two weeks. Shortened seasons lead to fewer fishing trips, which in turn means fewer purchases of bait, ice, fuel, food, beverages, and other gear, as well as fewer restaurant visits and hotel stays.

Limited harvest opportunities for flounder, along with coastwide moratoriums on striped bass and river herring, are particularly troubling for our small coastal towns that depend on the seasonal economic boost. Developing solutions that will revitalize these fish populations, along with others like blue crab, weakfish, spot, and croaker, is