Eastern Oyster Management Information

Eastern Oyster Annual Update

A stock assessment has not been completed due to data limitations. However, management of oysters in North Carolina has focused on extensive habitat enhancement and protection measures. Commercial landings of wild oysters from public bottom have been relatively unchanged since 2018 with hand harvest the biggest segment of the fishery. Annual landings of farmed oysters from private bottom have surpassed wild harvest since 2017 due to increasing aquaculture production. Amendment 5 to the Oyster Fishery Management Plan was approved in May 2025 with a three-tiered management strategy to balance the value of oysters as a fishery resource and essential habitat for oyster mechanical harvest management. For more information, contact Chris Stewart at Chris.Stewart@deq.nc.gov.