Fisheries Management Proclamations

Proclamations are a tool used by the state to manage fisheries. They are public notices that suspend or implement rules affected by variable conditions. Proclamations can set certain fishing seasons and areas, harvest and gear limits, and conditions governing fisheries. Proclamation authority and proclamations are codified in rules. All proclamations, including those no longer in effect, can be found on the Archived Proclamations page.

Current Proclamations

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Maps Specified in Rule

Proclamation Categories
FF Finfish proclamations that address commercial and recreational size and creel limits, seasons, areas, etc.
M Miscellaneous proclamations covering gear restrictions (gill net, seine, pound net, etc.) not included in other proclamation categories, as well as permit requirements, and adaptive management measures implemented under the authority of fishery management plans
PA Polluted area proclamations that include temporary closures and re-openings to shellfish harvest as a result of bacteriological water quality, as well as changes in descriptions of permanently closed areas due to Sanitary Survey findings. (Polluted Area Proclamations have their own page)
PT Proclamations for pots that allow the use of crab, eel, fish, and shrimp pots in provisional pot areas not being used by long haul operations.
RS Proclamations closing research sanctuaries to all fishing equipment.
SF Shellfish proclamations addressing oysters, clams and scallops: hand and mechanical seasons, limits, areas, etc.
SS Shellfish sanitation proclamations (beginning in 2014) that establish the National Shellfish Sanitation Program requirements that mandate measures to control the temperature of oysters and clams after harvest; these measures reduce post-harvest growth of potentially hazardous, naturally occurring bacteria in these shellfish.
SH Shrimp proclamations that open or close areas to shrimping and crab trawling, or require bycatch reduction devices.

Current Proclamations

This is an interactive list of the proclamations currently in effect. You may select the category of the proclamation and use the search feature to limit the proclamations to only those that include the selected key words. Sunrise/sunset times are found in the official NCDMF Sunrise/Sunset table. For questions regarding proclamations, email Steve Poland, the Fisheries Management Section Chief, or call 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021. 

  • 2001 CALICO SCALLOP SEASON
    SC-23-2001 (REVISED) (12.36 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    9:00 A.M., Saturday, February 17, 2001

  • 2022-2023 OYSTER HAND HARVEST RESTRICTIONS
    SF-5-2022 (332.82 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    sunrise, Saturday, October 15, 2022
    Map package

  • 2022-2023 OYSTER MECHANICAL HARVEST RESTRICTIONS
    SF-8-2022 (299.44 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    sunrise, Monday, November 14, 2022
    Map Package

  • 2022-2023 OYSTER MECHANICAL HARVEST RESTRICTIONS – CLOSURE OF THE BAYS IN PAMLICO SOUND
    SF-9-2022 (329.13 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    2:00 P.M., Friday, November 25, 2022
    Map Package

  • ATLANTIC CROAKER – COMMERCIAL - COASTAL FISHING WATERS – CLOSURE
    FF-58-2022 (247.74 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Friday, December 16, 2022

  • ATLANTIC CROAKER – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – CLOSURE
    FF-65-2021 (243.4 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Thursday, December 16, 2021

  • ATLANTIC CROAKER – HOOK AND LINE OR FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES – CREEL LIMITS
    FF-24-2021 (659.35 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Thursday, April 15, 2021

  • BLACK DRUM - RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL
    FF-73-2013 (8.04 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 1, 2014

  • BLACK SEA BASS – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN – NORTH OF CAPE HATTERAS
    FF-42-2022 (373.47 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., September 1, 2022

  • BLACK SEA BASS – RECREATIONAL PURPOSES – NORTH OF CAPE HATTERAS – 2022 RECREATIONAL SEASON, SIZE, AND CREEL LIMITS
    FF-23-2022 (296.29 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., May 15, 2022

  • BLUEFISH – COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
    FF-1-2022 (241.19 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., January 1, 2022

  • BLUEFISH – RECREATIONAL – Coastal Fishing Waters
    FF-31-2022 (368.11 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Sunday, May 1, 2022

  • CHANNEL NETS
    M-10-2007 (62.38 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    8:00 A.M., Friday, June 15, 2007

  • COBIA – RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL – COASTAL FISHING WATERS
    FF-29-2022 (297.34 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Tuesday, April 19, 2022

  • COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL SHARK HARVEST – SHORTFIN MAKO SHARK RETENTION LIMIT REDUCED TO ZERO
    FF-41-2022 (323.47 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, July 11, 2022

https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/rules-proclamations-and-size-and-bag-limits/fisheries-management-proclamations