Press Releases

State fisheries authorities will close 2,450 acres of coastal waters to shellfish harvest tomorrow after they failed to meet required bacteriological standards.

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management recently announced the availability of $100,000 in grants to local governments in 20 coastal counties for projects during fiscal year 2017-2018.

N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Secretary Michael Regan requested today that a court allow the department to withdraw from an ongoing legal challenge to part of the federal Clean Power Plan.

The recreational flounder bag limit will decrease from six fish to four fish per person, per day in North Carolina waters beginning March 1.

The recreational size limit will remain at 15 inches.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on a proposed shellfish lease in Pamlico County at 6 p.m. March 2 at the Pamlico County Courthouse, 202 Main Street,

Bayboro.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on a proposed shellfish lease in Pender County at 6 p.m. March 9 at the Surf City Visitor Center, 102 N. Shore Drive, Surf City.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Hyde County at 6 p.m. March 1 at the Ocracoke Waterman’s Exhibit, Community

Square Dock, 278 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission on Thursday voted to grant a petition for rulemaking and begin drafting rules to implement it. If adopted, the rules will limit shrimp trawling in most North Carolina waters.

The rulemaking process is a lengthy one.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality is asking the public to weigh in on proposed draft closure plans for coal ash impoundments at four Duke Energy facilities deemed high priority by the state’s coal ash law.  

The state Division of Coastal Management wants to hear from local government officials about weather-related challenges following the damage from Hurricane Matthew.