Marina's 'White (Marlin) Lives Matter' shirts upset NAACP

OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) (WLS) -- An Ocean City marina is selling T-shirts featuring the phrases "White Lives Matter" and "Blue Lives Matter" to spread awareness - about the conservation of white and blue marlins.

The NAACP is not pleased about this.

White Marlin Marina worker George Lamplugh, who designed the shirts, says he means no offense, and that fishermen know a good joke when they see one.

The Worcester NAACP president Ivory Smith tells The Daily Times of Salisbury that the shirts could be interpreted as a mockery of the rallying cries for African-Americans and police officers.

Lamplugh says his shirts promote billfish conservation by featuring images of marlins on safe-release circle hooks, unlike Swagger Fishing, which sells "Kill Whitey" shirts and stickers promoting non-release white marlin fishing.