September 12, 2013 — MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — A second public hearing in Carteret County on the issue of critical habitat designation for the loggerhead sea turtles was a repeat of the first.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Services has proposed related rules that would designate areas along the North Carolina coast as critical habitat for the loggerhead sea turtle, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Approximately 100 people showed up at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City for last month’s public hearing on the proposed “on land” designation and did the same Tuesday night in opposition to the “in the water” proposal.
More than 20 people spoke against the proposal saying the critical habitat designation is unnecessary regulation they fear will impact shoreline and near-shore projects such as dredging, beach nourishment, fishing activity and water access projects when federal permitting, funding or other activity is involved.
“It’s one thing after another after another after another,” said Atlantic Beach resident Robert Freeman.
Read the full story at the Jacksonville Daily News