Press Releases

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will collect Red Snapper carcasses from recreational fishermen during the 2025 mini-season, held July 11-12. The carcasses will be used for research purposes.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in Carteret County.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will meet July 9-10 in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh. Members of the public may attend in-person or join the meeting by computer or phone. 

Do you have questions about new management measures passed in the Oyster and Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan amendments? The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries staff have developed flyers and frequently asked questions webpages to answer those questions. Click the image below to view an expanded flyer.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office are urging the public to act responsibly during the upcoming July Fourth holiday at the Masonboro Island Reserve, a research reserve and dedicated state nature preserve. In preparation for the holiday, the state coastal agency and the sheriff’s office are working together to provide public safety resources and increase public awareness of responsible visitor behavior on the island.

Amid summer’s high temperatures, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Resources (DWR) reminds the public to avoid contact with discolored water that could indicate the presence of an algal bloom.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record for Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana).

The North Carolina Mining Commission and its rules committee are scheduled to hold meetings this month, which will be available to the public in Raleigh or online.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries recently established a new state record for the Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis).