Today at 10am, the people of Hatteras Island, surrounding county locals, visitors,  politicians, cameramen and reporters gathered at the corner of Highway 12 and Lighthouse Road in Buxton for a protest march against the unjust rules and regulations regarding recent beach closures. The overall consensus was frustration, confusion and misunderstanding to why such extreme regulations are put in place. New signs and new closings seem to be erecting at an alarming rate which will confuse tourists and locals on when and where they can access the beach. One new sign in particular is gaining a lot of attention as it states: “Shoreline Open to Restricted Pedestrian Access. Leave no footprints behind. Walk in water where footprints wash away. No Vehicles. No Pets. No Kites.” These new signs are posted in areas for “pre-nesting” sites where no current bird nests are spotted in these areas. All of this and more for birds that are not even on the endangered list. According to the new regulations, if a “piping plover” nest is spotted, 1,000 meters in every direction will be closed off. (The President doesn’t even get that much protection).

There are many reasons people are angry about this issue. Some of them are over the closures to ORV Access (off road vehicles), some are angry about the National Park Service and how they are handling predators by killing and trapping them in an inhumane manor, some about the lack of science and facts presented to make a fair case and some are upset over the fact that their opinions aren’t even given a chance. The one issue that probably stands on the highest ground is the fact that the Cape Hatteras National Seashore was granted by Congress as a “Recreational Area”. Simply put, every American has a right to access this land and enjoy it recreationally. Under the current rules and regulations put in place by the Audubon Society, National Park Service, Department of Interior and Defenders of Wildlife, Americans are shut out of these areas and will be arrested and fined if found trespassing on an area that was put aside for recreational use.

From what I gathered today, the people protesting are mostly mad about the lies, deception and corruption of government and private interest groups… and rightfully so. Some have even admitted that they are not opposed to “reasonable” regulations, however, ALL agree that what’s going on now and what seems to be the trend for the future does not make sense. There is sound evidence that this is effecting the Hatteras Island community, local and surrounding businesses and tourism. With the new ORV permit pass requirements in place ($120/year, $50/week, <no day pass offered!>), it will be interesting to see what kind of  feedback we get from tourists who have been visiting the Outer Banks for decades with the mindset of being able to have free and open access to America’s beaches.

With that said, we need your support. Please visit these sites below:

AT THE VERY LEAST, SIGN THIS PETITION

Outer Banks Preservation Association

North Carolina Beach Buggy Association

Wheat’s Eye on Hatteras Island – “An Ongoing Perspective of Hatteras Island” 

Island Free Press – “Hatteras and Ocracoke Island News”

Recent Article written from PilotOnline.com