The Outer Banks are no strangers to maritime protest, but a recent development has taken the cake – or rather, the fishing rod. A group of local anglers, led by Dave Harding, has come up with a creative solution to protest fishing regulations that they claim are discriminatory and unfair.

A Rare Opportunity

In April, bluefin tuna made an unexpected appearance near Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, giving shore-based anglers a chance to catch these massive fish. However, their luck was short-lived, as federal regulators from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stepped in to put a damper on the festivities.

The regulation in question requires all vessels, not all persons, that fish for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species to have a vessel permit. This seemingly minor wording distinction effectively bars anyone without access to a boat from participating in the bluefin fishery, even when the fish swim within casting distance of shore.

Harding’s Response

Dave Harding, a representative for the pier-fishing advocacy group Fishing Piers, has come up with a rather… creative solution to the problem. He has registered his inflatable dinosaur, which he’s named “TunaSauras,” as an official North Carolina vessel and obtained the required permit for catching highly migratory species like bluefin tuna.

“An insane law demands an insane protest,” declared Harding, as he proudly displayed his inflatable dinosaur float.

Access Discrimination

Harding argues that the regulation is a form of access discrimination, which he claims is both economic and unfair. He believes that the requirement for a vessel permit effectively bars anyone without access to a boat from participating in the bluefin fishery, even when the fish swim within casting distance of shore.

• He cites examples of shore-based anglers who are unable to afford or do not wish to purchase a boat, yet are being unfairly excluded from the opportunity to catch bluefin tuna.
• The economic impact of the regulation is also a concern, as it disproportionately affects small businesses and individuals who rely on fishing as their primary source of income.

A Petition Gains Momentum

Harding has invited other anglers to join him in a protest, with a petition circulating to call for changes to the regulations that many see as unfairly excluding shore-based fishermen from participating in the bluefin fishery. The protest is planned for Saturday, with the inflatable dinosaurs making an appearance.

A Symbol of Hope

Harding’s inflatable dinosaur, “TunaSauras,” has become a symbol of hope for the local fishing community. It represents a desire to challenge the status quo and fight for the right to fish from the shore. “This is access discrimination; this is economic discrimination,” Harding explains.