Press Releases

More than $5.2 million in financial assistance is on its way to eligible members of the fishing industries who sustained income losses in the spring of 2020 due to COVID-19.

The fish are biting, and the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding anglers that they can donate their fish carcasses to science.

Newly amended rules pertaining to special secondary nursery areas will go into effect Saturday, May 1.

When Kathy Rawls becomes the new director of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries on May 1, she will have plenty of experience to draw on. Rawls has been with the Division for more than 25 years, the past seven as the Fisheries Management section chief.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will make several changes to its Saltwater Fishing Tournament criteria, effective May 1.

The Division of Marine Fisheries will begin mailing renewal packets for fiscal year 2022 commercial and for-hire fishing licenses and permits this week and is asking fishermen to complete and return the applications without delay.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing by web conference on proposed shellfish leases in Brunswick County at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 25.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing by web conference on proposed shellfish leases in Pender County at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 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 will hold a public hearing by web conference on proposed shellfish leases in Onslow County at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 11.

The N.C. Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee will meet by web conference at 1 p.m. April 20.

Brian Deanes is the Marine Patrol Officer of the Year for 2020, but when he first learned he was chosen he was a little surprised.

The recreational cobia fishing season will open May 1 in North Carolina waters with new private vessel limits.

Newly amended rules pertaining to coastal recreational water quality monitoring to protect the public health of swimmers go into effect today.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted today to amend the previously adopted sector allocations for Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan to gradually equalize allocations between the commercial and recreational fisheries.