September 13, 2013 — BAYBORO, N.C. — Sean McKeon has been speaking on behalf of commercial fishermen in North Carolina for 8½ years. But he said the industry’s financial difficulties have forced him to resign effective Sept. 20 as president of the N.C. Fisheries Association.
Mr. McKeon’s decision to step down has been discussed by the association for about a year. He said Thursday that due to a recent downsizing in the association, a new board of directors is going to be elected at the association’s annual meeting in mid-October, this time without a full-time president position.
Mr. McKeon said the reason for this downsizing is the financial difficulties commercial fishermen and the fishing industry in North Carolina are facing.
“The regulatory burden has crippled the industry,” he said. “With the closing of Oregon Inlet, we lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The resources aren’t what they used to be. I hate to use the term ‘perfect storm,’ but it’s been a combination of many things, like the regulations and people getting out of the industry.”
Mr. McKeon has been a frequent face at many meetings of fishing regulatory bodies, such as the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission, the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. At these meetings, he’s often said tightening commercial regulations – such as shorter seasons, gear restrictions and reduced trip limits – have been forcing people out of commercial fishing.
Read the full story at the Carteret County News-Times