Press Releases

2022 fall recreational striped bass season will not open

The fall recreational striped bass season in the Albemarle Sound Management Area will not open in 2022 because a stock assessment update shows further harvest reductions are needed.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee to meet Oct. 11

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee will meet by web conference on Oct. 11 at 1 p.m.

State Issues Air Quality Permit to World Cat Greenville; Continues Compliance Investigation

The N.C. Division of Air Quality issued an air quality permit to World Cat Greenville, a fiberglass boat manufacturing facility in Pitt County. DAQ is continuing a compliance investigation after issuing the facility a Notice of Violation earlier this year.

REMINDER: Application Period for Fall 2022 Drinking Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Infrastructure Project Funding Closes at 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 30

The Division of Water Infrastructure’s application deadline for the Fall 2022 round of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure project funding is Sept. 30, 2022, no later than 5:00 p.m. All applications must be completely submitted and received via the Division’s online submittal portal by 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2022

Commercial flounder season closing statewide for mobile gears; trip limit established for pound nets in Northern Management Area

The commercial flounder season is closing for mobile gears in internal coastal waters statewide. Additionally, a flounder trip limit is established for the Pound Net Northern Management Area.

RELEASE: Secretary's Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board Meeting October 13

The Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board will hold its quarterly business meeting in-person on October 13 at 3 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend in-person or online.

Division of Marine Fisheries announces scoping period for striped mullet

The Division of Marine Fisheries is developing Amendment 2 to the N.C. Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The division will hold a public scoping period Sept. 26 to Oct. 7 to solicit public input on potential management strategies for the upcoming amendment and discuss stakeholder priorities. Scoping is the best opportunity for the public to inform the plan.

State officials announce availability of fiscal year 2022-2023 grants for beach, shoreline, and water management projects in CAMA counties

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management (DCM) is accepting applications for grants for local government planning and management projects for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Local governments in the 20-county coastal area are invited to apply for funding for projects that are anticipated to begin Dec. 1 and to be completed by June 2023.

Funds totaling more than $7.6 million distributed to eligible fishing stakeholders for Hurricane Florence relief

More than $7.6 million in federal financial relief is on its way to eligible members of fishing industries that sustained income losses or damages from Hurricane Florence.

DEQ approves permit to reduce PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has issued the discharge permit for a treatment system to remove PFAS compounds from contaminated groundwater on the Chemours Fayetteville Works Site. The treatment system is part of the larger barrier wall remediation project to substantially reduce PFAS entering the Cape Fear River and impacting downstream communities.