The beach closings are only during the Piping Plover's nesting season - which just happens to coincide with the height of summer tourist season. If an environmentalist (aka. whacko) or ranger even sees a PP on an area of beach, they can (and do) close that section and usually the nearby vehicle ramps.
Summer tourists and fall fishermen have been co-existing with the PP quite nicely for years. Now all of a sudden it is a life or death issue? The PP has (and uses) 50+ miles of undeveloped national seashore immediately north of the Hatteras and Buxton areas. Yet a mile or two near the point and the few beach access ramps are somehow judged critical to the PP's survival.
I think not. I am 100% sure this is a concerted effort by the environmentalists to trash the tourism and fishing industries on the islands.
Marxism in the regime marches on.