Mike Blanton, 33 years old at the time of the interview, is a blue crab and gillnet fisherman in Elizabeth City, NC. Mike operates multiple vessels for different fisheries in the Albemarle Sound area. He started fishing as a teenager after taking a summer job at a crab house. After a decade in the military and government contracting, he returned to the coast to fish full-time. Mike attended North Carolina Sea Grant's Fish Camp program, and was recently appointed to the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission and to a proxy seat for the legislative appointee to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Scope and Content Note

In this interview with Mike Blanton discusses various aspects of the fishing industry, focusing on the challenges and changes that have impacted it, and the state of fish populations and the challenges faced by fisheries managers. The interview highlights the challenges faced by fishermen, particularly related to financial barriers and the impact of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on fishing practices. Mike also discusses the importance of marketing skills in the fishing industry and explains how regulations and fluctuations in crab populations have affected the market value of crabs in different regions. He also addresses the changing mentality of younger generations. Moreover, Blanton talks about his involvement in the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. He explains how his experience as a commercial fisherman and his willingness to advocate for all user groups led to his appointment to these commissions. He acknowledges the challenges of balancing his responsibilities as a commissioner, full-time fisherman, and a parent. Blanton emphasizes the importance of considering environmental factors in fisheries management and believes that understanding and addressing the environmental impact on fish stocks is crucial for effective fisheries management. He notes the focus on regulating fishermen without considering other factors that may be contributing to declining fish populations, such as climate change and habitat destruction.

Regarding his own future, Blanton talks about tightening regulations, limited access to federal waters fisheries, and the lack of opportunities for young owner-operators to enter federal fisheries. He mentions his interest in fisheries like shark, king mackerel, and tuna, but the difficulty in obtaining permits and the shrinking fleet make it challenging. Blanton believes that without changes and solutions, the future of commercial fishing looks uncertain.

"My mind essentially never leaves fisheries. I’m constantly talking about fisheries to somebody. It’s never the same conversation. It’s always something different. Then I have to go do it myself and make a living off of it. It makes it really challenging. It’s not something that’s prestigious. It’s something that you have to want to do. Yeah, it’s a huge responsibility. It’s not something you can take lightly... It requires young minds to be at the table, to sort of be there in a way to offer productive solutions, maybe, to the problems that have been identified."