The situation surrounding a recent shrimp-trawling petition is a contentious one, and there are a lot of issues at play.

If the Marine Fisheries Commission accepts the North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s petition, shrimpers will no longer be able to trawl between May 15 and Aug. 16. There will also be more restrictions on the hours shrimpers are allowed to trawl, and it will be banned altogether at nighttime.

NCWF officials say they are trying to decrease bycatch, which is when other fish get caught in shrimping nets, and preserve habitats for juvenile fish to keep their respective populations replenishing. However, for local shrimpers, these restrictions could spell disaster for how they make a living and how local economies run.

With these issues, it’s easy to categorize it into a recreation-versus-commercial battle: recreational fishermen and conservationists want to protect fish populations, but commercial shrimpers need to put food on the table.

However, the situation regarding this petition is not that simple.

As the Marine Fisheries Commission takes a look at the petition, it needs to consider all sides and take a look at the people, rather than the dollar signs, attached to the different facets of the fishing industry.

Should juvenile fish be protected to replenish the adult fish population? Absolutely. Do commercial shrimpers deserve a say in how they provide for their families? Of course.

The Fisheries Commission should tread lightly here and not make a decision based on lobbying factions. It should decide based on scientific facts and economic impact numbers, as well as support a solution that benefits all sides.

There is not one answer here. The Commission should consider each side and look at how its actions now will affect people and species in the future.

Make the wrong choice, and it’s not an easy fix. That’s why it’s important to make the right one.