Press Releases

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Public hearing scheduled for proposed shellfish leases in Dare County

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Dare County at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. The hearing will be held in-person at the Dare County Government Center, 926 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo and by Webex.

New Endangered Species Act Section 10 Incidental Take Permit issued by National Marine Fisheries Service for Sea Turtles and Sturgeon

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has received a new Endangered Species Act Section 10 Incidental Take Permit (ITP) from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The ITP authorizes a limited number of incidental takes of sea turtles and sturgeon in internal Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters for estuarine gill net fisheries with the exceptions of runaround/strike/drop and drift gill nets.

Habitat and Water Quality Committee to meet Oct. 16

The Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Oct.16 at 6 p.m. at the Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office. Also, the meeting will be livestreamed to YouTube.

Marine Fisheries Commission seeks advisers

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and other interested parties to sit on various fisheries advisory committees.

Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee to meet Oct. 17

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee will meet at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office conference room on Oct. 17 at 6 p.m.

Comment period opens, public hearing scheduled for eight marine fisheries rules

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is accepting public comment on eight proposed rules pertaining to the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, false albacore management and pot marking requirements. A public hearing will be held by web conference on Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. A listening station will be established at the NCDEQ Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office at 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City.

Public comment opens for draft Spotted Seatrout amendment

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting public comment on the Draft Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Amendment 1.

Commercial striped mullet weekend closures will change October 1

The current Saturday and Sunday commercial harvest closure for striped mullet will change to a Saturday through Monday closure beginning Oct. 1 and continue through Dec. 31. The change implements a management strategy in Amendment 2 to the Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan, adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission in May 2024.

Division of Marine Fisheries revises gill net management unit boundaries, gear definitions

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has revised the boundaries for estuarine gill net management areas and updated gear definitions in anticipation that a new Incidental Take Permit (ITP) may be issued during the upcoming commercial flounder season.

Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee to meet

The N.C. Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, Sept. 23 at the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Washington Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Highway 17, Washington, NC 27889 and by web conference.

Division of Marine Fisheries plans dye study training in Carolina Beach

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries, in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will conduct dye study training in the Cape Fear River, beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The dye, which may cause the water to appear reddish or pinkish in a portion of the river, will be released from the Carolina Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant for a 12-hour period, beginning in the early morning.

Marine Fisheries Commission advisory committees to meet in September

Three advisory committees of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet this month to discuss adaptive management in the blue crab fishery. The meetings will be held in person and livestreamed on YouTube.

Commercial Fishing Resource Funding Committees to meet Sept. 12

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Fund Committee and the Funding Committee for the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund will meet jointly on Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. The meeting will be held at the N.C.

Marine Fisheries Commission asks to reopen Southern Flounder Plan; Fisheries Director aligns flounder regulations with Wildlife rules in Joint Fishing Waters

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) wants to look at ways to allow more recreational access to flounder fishing in the future.

From Sound to Satellite: New Red Drum Tagging Study Launches in Pamlico Sound

As North Carolina’s state saltwater fish, the Red Drum is not only a popular target for anglers but also a species of significant economic importance. While annual data supports these claims, several key questions remain unanswered: Where do Red Drum spawn? How far do they travel? How often do they pass through the ocean inlets, and do they head north to Virginia or make their way beyond South Carolina?