The Clean Water Act and the state's wetland protection statute have slowed the state's wetland loss rate, but wetlands in coastal states such as Florida continue to be lost to development at a higher rate than is occurring in inland states, particularly in the southeast United States. Consistent, long term protection for wetlands at the Federal, state, and local level is essential for protection of the fish habitats and fisheries that are so important to Florida economy. Brady, S.J. and Flather C. H., 1994. Changes in wetlands on nonfederal rural land of the conterminous United States from 1982 to 1987. Carteret County Economic Development Council Inc., 1992.
Commercial fishing remains significant in county's economy.
Chambers, J.R., 1992. Coastal degradation and fish population losses. In Stroud, ed. Stemming the Tide of Coastal Fish Habitat Loss. Wetlands Losses in the United States 1780's to 1980's.