Press Releases

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is hosting a virtual public meeting on June 22 at 5:30 p.m. to provide information about shellfish leases and Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas (SEAs) in and around Bogue Sound. The public meeting will also serve as an opportunity for interested stakeholders to provide feedback to the Division in its efforts to address issues related to shellfish leases.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries today announced that the 2022 recreational flounder season will open at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 and close at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in New Hanover County.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality announced the agency’s Action Strategy for PFAS today during an event in Wilmington. The DEQ Action Strategy for PFAS contains three priorities: protecting communities, protecting drinking water and cleaning up existing contamination.

The N. C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will meet June 8 at 1 p.m. by web conference. An additional agenda item has been added. The public may join the meeting by computer or phone.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified the first state record Graysby Grouper (Cephalopholis cruentata).

The Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) will hold a public hearing on July 21, 2022, on an application by Timbermill Wind, LLC, to construct a 189-megawatt wind energy facility in Chowan County.

Thirty-seven readopted fisheries rules become effective today, but most fishermen will see very little change.

An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in New Hanover County, where state recreational water quality officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is accepting public comments on a 2022 update to the DEQ Public Participation Plan. The Public Participation Plan includes best practices for community engagement, enhanced outreach methods and additional community resources. The Plan has been updated for 2022 as directed under Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 246.