Press Releases

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is hosting a virtual public meeting on June 22 at 5:30 p.m. to provide information about shellfish leases and Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas (SEAs) in and around Bogue Sound. The public meeting will also serve as an opportunity for interested stakeholders to provide feedback to the Division in its efforts to address issues related to shellfish leases.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries today announced that the 2022 recreational flounder season will open at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 and close at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified the first state record Graysby Grouper (Cephalopholis cruentata).

Thirty-seven readopted fisheries rules become effective today, but most fishermen will see very little change.

The Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding fishermen to complete and return their commercial and for-hire license and permit renewals for fiscal year 2023 without delay.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted to approve the Division of Marine Fisheries’ recommendations for Amendment 2 to the Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan as its preferred management options. Final action on the amendment is scheduled for August.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person May 25-26 at the Beaufort Hotel, 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25 and at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 26.

New shrimp management measures will go into effect May 15 in North Carolina state waters. The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission approved the measures to reduce bycatch and protect habitat with the adoption of the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 at its February business meeting.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will resume onboard observations of estuarine gill net fisheries beginning May 1. Onboard observations will be the primary method with limited use of alternative platform observations primarily conducted by Marine Patrol officers.

The recreational cobia fishing season will open May 1 in North Carolina waters, and the Division of Marine Fisheries is asking anglers for help with data collection.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is accepting public comment on proposed amendments and re-adoption of nine rules under a state-mandated periodic review schedule. The rules are proposed for readoption without changes and pertain to joint fishing waters that are managed jointly with the N.C.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will begin renewing commercial fishing, seafood dealer, and for-hire licenses and permits on April 18.

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open May 15 in both federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting applications for the Federally Funded Fishery Disaster Relief Program for Hurricane Florence.

Forty-three readopted fisheries rules become effective today, but fishermen will see very little change.