Commercial Fishing Resource Fund

The Commercial Fishing Resource Fund receives money from an increase in commercial fishing license fees that took effect in 2015. The fund pays for observer coverage to fulfill the state’s obligations under incidental take permits for sea turtles and Atlantic sturgeon under the federal Endangered Species Act. Any additional money left in the fund is to be used for projects to develop and support sustainable commercial fishing in the state.

Spending for these projects must be approved by the Commercial Fishing Resource Funding Committee, which is made up of six commercial fishing representatives, and the Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Fishing Resource Fund Committee, comprised of members of the commission holding the three commercial fishing seats. View the following links to learn more.

N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund

Strategic Plan for the North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resource Fund

Administrative Procedures for Funding from the North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resource Fund

For more information, please contact William.Brantley@ncdenr.gov or call 252-808-8015.

Tab/Accordion Items

Information on future requests for proposals will be listed here as it becomes available.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Fund Committee and the Funding Committee for the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund will meet jointly at 6 p.m. on March 1.

Joint Meeting of the
Commercial Fishing Resource Funding Committees
March 1st @ 6:00 p.m.
Join the Meeting Online
Meeting Number (Access Code): 2434 403 9325
Meeting Password: 1234
Join by Phone: 415-655-0003
Submit Online Public Comment
(Comments must be received by the division by 4 p.m. Feb. 27)
Submit Mailed Comments to:
Mar. 1, 2023 CFRF Meeting Comments,
P.O Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557
(Comments must be received by the division by 4 p.m. Feb. 27)
Agenda