Mandatory Harvest Reporting

• Beginning December 1, 2024, any person who recreationally harvests the following species is required to report that harvest to the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF):
  • Red Drum
  • Flounder
  • Spotted Seatrout
  • Striped Bass
  • Weakfish
• Beginning December 1, 2024, anyone holding a commercial fishing license who is engaged in a commercial fishing operation is required to report all fish harvested to DMF, regardless of sale.

• The N.C. General Assembly passed Session Law 2023-137 in October 2023, which requires harvest reporting.
• The Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission are required to adopt rules to implement reporting requirements. 

• Both recreational and commercial fishermen.
• Recreational fishers must report all harvest of the following five species to the DMF:
  • Red Drum
  • Flounder
  • Spotted Seatrout
  • Weakfish
  • Striped Bass
• Commercial fishermen will continue to report sales using the existing trip ticket program. They will now also be required to report their personal consumption harvest through a seafood dealer, as well.
  • Seafood dealers will record this harvest on the trip ticket using the personal consumption disposition codes.
  • Seafood dealers who do not have the appropriate dealer license category will be allowed to write trip tickets for commercial fishermen who are harvesting catch for personal consumption by using the personal consumption disposition codes.

No. The requirements apply to fish harvested from coastal fishing waters, joint fishing waters and inland fishing waters adjacent to coastal or joint fishing waters. In other words, the requirements apply in the coastal and joint fishing waters under the authority of the Marine Fisheries Commission and joint fishing waters and any inland fishing waters connecting to coastal or joint fishing waters under the authority of the Wildlife Resources Commission.

• Recreational fishers will be required to report:
  • Fishing license number, or first and last name and zip code of residence.
  • Date of harvest.
  • Number of each of the five species you caught and kept.
  • Area where the fish were harvested.
  • Type of gear used (e.g., hook and line or gig).
  • You will not need to report fish you did not keep.
• Commercial fishermen will be required to report:
  • All fish harvested, regardless of sale.
  • This includes finfish, shellfish and crustaceans.

• Recreational fishers
  • Scan a QR code or navigate to the following URL: www.ncmarinefisheries.net.
  • You’ll use a web-based reporting system to enter your information easily and quickly.
• Commercial fishermen
  • Continue to report sales using the trip ticket program and report any personal consumption to a seafood dealer.

You will go to the DMF website (www.ncmarinefisheries.net) and print a report card prior to your trip. If you need to report your harvest, you’ll use the report card to record your information. You will then have until midnight the day following harvest to submit your information electronically.

Recreational fishers

Harvest must be reported either electronically or on a paper report card at the time harvest is complete.

• If fishing from a boat, this is when the fish reach the shore/dock.
• If shore based, this is once you are no longer engaged in fishing.

Commercial fishermen

Harvest must be taken and unloaded at a seafood dealer within 48 hours of landing to be reported, even for fish that are not sold.

• Required harvest reporting of the five species will not replace MRIP.
• MRIP is still the best available scientific method of collecting recreational fishing information in a representative manner, and North Carolina will continue to participate in this nationally recognized data collection partnership.
• Recreational anglers are strongly encouraged to participate in MRIP interviews, which continue to be a critical component of how our fisheries are managed.

Marine Patrol and Wildlife Enforcement Officers will enforce Mandatory Harvest Reporting during their regular patrols. The law phases in enforcement over a period of three years.

• First phase – Effective December 1, 2024, a verbal warning will be issued for failure to report harvest.
• Second phase – Effective December 1, 2025, a warning ticket will be issued for failure to report harvest.
• Third phase – Effective December 1, 2026, failure to report harvest will be an infraction with a $35 fine. These infractions count towards suspension of fishing licenses and permits.