Frequently Asked Questions about Mandatory Harvest Reporting
New harvest reporting requirements will impact recreational and commercial fishermen starting December 1, 2025.
State law will require any person who recreationally harvests Red Drum, flounder, Spotted Seatrout (speckled trout), Striped Bass and Weakfish (gray trout) to report that harvest to the NC Division of Marine Fisheries. This applies to Coastal Fishing Waters, Joint Fishing Waters and Inland Fishing Waters adjacent to Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters.
Additionally, it requires anyone holding a commercial fishing license, who is engaged in a commercial fishing operation, to report all fish harvested to DMF, regardless of sale.
Background
The N.C. General Assembly passed Session Law 2023-137, Section 6, which established the new mandatory harvest reporting requirements. DMF staff, in collaboration with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, are developing reporting methods that will be used to meet this mandate. The reporting system was funded through a one-time, $5 million allocation to DMF.
A one-year extension passed by the legislature will allow DMF and WRC to actively engage with stakeholders, not only to inform them about the requirements, but also to ensure that the reporting process and tool(s) are robust and user-friendly.
The State law enacting mandatory harvest reporting, required that the agencies adopt temporary rules to implement mandatory reporting.
The requirement to report harvest is not temporary, but this process allows the agencies to adopt regulations in time to meet a statutory deadline. The temporary rules will function as permanent rules until permanent rules are adopted.
This two-step process also provides an opportunity for the agencies to develop, implement, and try a reporting process and platform, then take the information gained from the initial phase of implementation to fine tune the requirements for the permanent rules.