Topics Related to Marine Fisheries

Pamlico County Shellfish Lease Hearing - March 24, 2026

March 24, 2026, 6pm - 7pm

This hearing was held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
 

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries held a public hearing on a proposed shellfish bottom and water column lease in Pamlico County on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the Pamlico County Courthouse, 202 Main St, Bayboro, NC 28515. The hearing concerned the proposed shellfish lease application listed below.
 

Hyde County Shellfish Lease Hearing - March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026, 6pm - 7pm
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries held a public hearing on proposed shellfish bottom and water column leases in Hyde County on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at the Hyde County Courthouse, 40 Oyster Creek Rd, Swan Quarter, NC 27885.

Spring Gulf Flounder season opens March 9

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will open a two-week, spring recreational Gulf Flounder season in ocean waters off the central and southeastern parts of coastal North Carolina.

Rotational harvest cultch sites remain open for mechanical oyster harvest in the Pamlico Sound

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries reminds commercial fishermen and the public that rotational harvest cultch sites in the Pamlico Sound remain open to mechanical oyster harvest, although the season has now closed in all other mechanical oyster harvest management areas.

Marine Fisheries Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board to meet

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board will meet at 10:30 a.m. on April 15 by teleconference. The board will consider license applications that are deemed complete and submitted by April 1.

Marine Fisheries Commission to meet Feb. 18-19 in Kitty Hawk

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Feb. 18-19 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 5353 N. Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Waters to close to commercial and recreational Spotted Seatrout harvest

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will close all Coastal and Joint fishing waters in North Carolina to both commercial and recreational Spotted Seatrout harvest at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, due to widespread cold stun events.

North Carolina “Lines of Communication” meetings postponed

Due to the forecasted winter storm, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has postponed the Lines of Communication meetings that were scheduled for next week in Winnabow, Morehead City, Hatteras, and Manteo.

Fisheries division asks public to report cold stunned trout

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries wants to remind the public to report any cold stunned spotted seatrout they may see in North Carolina coastal waters.

Sheepshead regulations to change March 1

Sheepshead regulations will change for both recreational and commercial fisheries beginning March 1. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is implementing changes because of increases in sheepshead harvest, particularly juvenile fish, in recent years.