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 All proclamations, including those no longer in effect, can be found on the Archived Proclamations page.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. 

  • SHRIMP TRAWL INCREASES MINIMUM TAIL BAG/COD END MESH SIZE, AND BYCATCH REDUCTION DEVICE AND TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICE REQUIREMENTS – ATLANTIC OCEAN
    SH-3-2022 (476.4 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M. July 1, 2022
    Map

  • SHRIMP TRAWL – MESH SIZES FOR TRAWL BODY AND TAIL BAG/COD END, BYCATCH REDUCTION DEVICE AND TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICE REQUIREMENTS – PAMLICO SOUND AND PORTIONS OF THE PAMLICO, BAY, AND NEUSE RIVERS – INTERNAL COASTAL FISHING WATERS
    SH-1-2022 (1.03 MB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., July 1, 2022
    Map

  • SHRIMP TRAWLBYCATCH REDUCTION DEVICE AND TURTLE EXCUDER DEVICE REQUIREMENTS-CROATAN AND ROANOKE SOUNDS, PORTIONS OF THE PAMLICO, BAY, AND NEUSE RIVERS, CORE SOUND AND SOUTH TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE LINE, AND SKIMMER TRAWLS STATEWIDE-INTERNAL COA
    SH-2-2022 (1.2 MB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M. July 1, 2022
    Map

  • SHRIMP – RECREATIONAL CAST NET HARVEST – COASTAL FISHING WATERS
    SH-4-2022 (241.2 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    5:01 P.M., Sunday, May 15, 2022

  • SNAPPER GROUPER COMPLEX – COMMERCIAL – RED SNAPPER AND BLUELINE TILEFISH – CLOSURE
    FF-45-2022 (676.95 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Wednesday, August 31, 2022 for red snapper
    12:01 A.M., Saturday, September 3, for blueline tilefish 

  • SNAPPER GROUPER COMPLEX – RECREATIONAL – RED SNAPPER – OPEN LIMITED SEASON
    FF-36-2022 (375.25 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Friday, July 8, 2022

  • SPANISH MACKEREL – COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL – COMMERCIAL HARVEST PERIOD WITH 500 POUND POSSESSION LIMIT
    FF-35-2022 (254.28 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Tuesday, June 21, 2022

  • SPINY DOGFISH – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS
    FF-61-2021 (289.93 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Friday, November 19, 2021

  • SPINY LOBSTER - COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL
    M-7-2022 (217.54 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Saturday, April 2, 2022

  • SPOT – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – CLOSURE
    FF-66-2021 (243.3 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Friday, December 10, 2021

  • SPOT – COMMERCIAL– COASTAL FISHING WATERS - CLOSURE
    FF-57-2022 (244.77 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Saturday, December 10, 2022

  • SPOT – HOOK AND LINE OR FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES – CREEL LIMITS
    FF-23-2021 (659.19 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

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

  • SPOTTED SEATROUT – COMMERCIAL- SEASON OPEN
    FF-24-2018 (168.59 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Friday, June 15, 2018
    Map Package

  • SPOTTED SEATROUT – RECREATIONAL - SEASON OPEN
    FF-23-2018 (166.47 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Friday, June 15, 2018

  • STOP NET BEACH SEINE FISHERY - ATLANTIC OCEAN – CARTERET COUNTY
    M-23-2022 (311.04 KB)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Saturday, October 15, 2022

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