Dewey Hemilright, an Outer Banks commercial fisherman known both for his passion for the seafood industry and his criticisms of fisheries regulation, died Oct. 2, 2026, from complications after suffering a stroke in August. He was 59.
His celebration of life is at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Manteo First Assembly in Manteo. The full obituary as well as a place to share condolences and memories are on the Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks, website, which handled the arrangements.
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Born Feb. 20, 1967, Francis Duon “Dewey” Hemilright, Jr., of Kitty Hawk, owned and operated the fishing vessel Tar Baby out of Wanchese. He represented the state’s commercial fishing industry as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council for 11 years, seven of which as chairman for the council’s Highly Migratory Species Committee, North Carolina Fisheries Association, Blue Water Fishermen’s Association, NC Catch, and the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel, and International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, or ICCAT.
He was recognized with numerous awards for his commercial fishing advocacy, including the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which honored him in 2024 with the Ricks E Savage Award “given annually to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the management and conservation of fishery resources in the mid-Atlantic region.”
The N.C. Fisheries Association, posted on Facebook that, “Our industry has lost a valuable asset and we have lost a dear friend.” The organization described Hemilright as a “true advocate” for the commercial fishing industry. “Words cannot express the sorrow that we feel. Please keep his wife and family in your prayers.”
Abundant Seafood, a Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, advocacy group, posted on Instagram that Hemilright “did so much for our industry! Dewey was so dedicated to the fishery management process and ensuring fairness for commercial fishermen in the US. His depth of knowledge, his passion and his friendship cannot be replaced.”
He is survived by his wife, Sara Hallas Hemilright, education and outreach director for the North Carolina Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review. He was preceded in death by his parents.
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In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the North Carolina Fisheries Association through the website, https://ncfish.org/donate/, or by mail to N.C. Fisheries Association, P.O. Box 86, Morehead City, NC 28557.
