Press Releases

Itching to share your ideas on federal fisheries management? The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries encourages fishermen to attend one of four upcoming South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Lines of Communication meetings scheduled for North Carolina.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Onslow County at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. The hearing will be held in person at the Holly Ridge Community Center, 404 Sound Rd, Holly Ridge, NC 28445, and by web conference.

Chris Lee was formally pinned during a ceremony today as the new Colonel of the N.C. Marine Patrol, the top law enforcement officer at the Division of Marine Fisheries.

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 Jan. 14, 2026, at 3 p.m. via WebEx.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has extended the mechanical oyster harvest season in portions of Pamlico Sound as the result of adaptive management measures that included collaboration with stakeholders.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries announces a one-month striped bass season will open April 2026 for parts of the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers and their tributaries. The season will be open April 1–30 for both recreational and commercial fisheries.

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.

There’s more bluefish in the sea! As a result, the bag limit for recreationally caught bluefish will increase on Jan. 1 in North Carolina Coastal Fishing Waters and Joint Fishing Waters.

Today’s the day! Recreational fishermen must now report the harvest of Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Striped Bass, Weakfish and flounder, while those fishing commercially must report all harvest, even if that harvest is not sold. This requirement only applies to fish that are kept, not fish that are released.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Carteret County at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. The hearing will be held in-person at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 Hwy 70 W, Morehead City, and by Webex.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission held its quarterly business meeting this week, where members received key updates from the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries staff and took action on scheduled administrative items.

The NC Marine Fisheries Commission chairman has removed the presentation and scheduled vote pertaining to Blue Crab management options from this week’s commission meeting agenda. The Division of Marine Fisheries is sharing this agenda change so members of the public may adjust their plans, if needed.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Nov. 19-20 at the Holiday Inn Resort Lumina, 1706 N. Lumina Avenue, Wrightsville Beach, N.C. 28480. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold three meetings in the coming weeks to give members of the charter/for-hire community an opportunity to share their perspectives on challenges facing the industry.

New fishing reporting requirements are just a month away — beginning Dec. 1 — and North Carolina’s two fisheries management agencies continue efforts to get the word out, as the requirements impact both commercial and recreational fishermen.