Marine Fisheries Commission Advisory Committees

Overview

The MFC Advisory Committees provide insights and comments directly to the commission for consideration during their decision-making process. All advisors are appointed by the MFC Chairman and serve three-year terms. There are five statutorily required Advisory Committees that fall into two categories. The MFC Chairman also convenes committees to assist in the development of fishery management plans, and to deal with emerging issues as the commission deems necessary. To learn more about the Fishery Management Plan process and how you can get involved, watch this Fishery Management Plan presentation.

View the list of upcoming Advisory Committee meetings

Apply to Serve

The MFC is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and other interested parties to sit on various fisheries advisory committees. If you are interested in serving as an adviser, please complete the application below. The solicitation period occurs in the fall of each year, with new advisor terms beginning in January. 

Apply to Serve on an Advisory Committee

If you're having an issue with the application form above, please download the application form.

Marine Fisheries Commission Advisory Committees

Tab/Accordion Items

Member Requirements

Members of the Northern Regional Advisory Committee must reside within areas from the Virginia line south through Hyde and Pamlico counties and any counties to the West.

Current Northern Regional AC Members

Advisors (County of Residence)

Term Expiration Date

Everett Blake (Harnett), Vice Chair January 1, 2024
Keith Bruno (Pamlico) January 1, 2026
Melissa Clark (Dare) January 1, 2025
Herman Dunbar (Pamlico) January 1, 2025
Carl Hacker (Dare) January 1, 2025
Allan Martin (Dare) January 1, 2026
Thomas Newman (Martin) January 1, 2024
Roger Rulifson (Pitt) January 1, 2025
Jamie Lane (Martin) January 1, 2026
Sara Winslow (Perquimans), Chair January 1, 2026
Jonathan Worthington (Camden) January 1, 2026

DMF Committee Staff

Lee Paramore 
Northern District Manager
Lee.Paramore@deq.nc.gov
252-473-5734
Charlton Godwin 
Biologist Supervisor
Charlton.Godwin@deq.nc.gov 
252-381-6008
Capt. Daniel Ipock
Marine Patrol, Northeast District
252-726-7021
Capt. Christopher Lee
Marine Patrol, Northeast District
252-473-1233

Member Requirements

Members of the Southern Regional Advisory Committee must reside within areas from Carteret County south to the South Carolina line and any counties to the West.

Current Southern Regional AC Members

Advisors (County of Residence) Term Expiration Date
Samuel Boyce (New Hanover) January 1, 2024
Jason Fowler (Onslow) January 1, 2025
Jeff Harrell (Onslow) January 1, 2025
Pam Morris (Carteret) January 1, 2026
Truby Proctor (Carteret) January 1, 2026
Fred Scharf (New Hanover), Chair January 1, 2024
Kenneth Seigler (Onslow) January 1, 2026
Tom Smith (Mecklenburg) January 1, 2026
Tim Wilson (Brunswick) January 1, 2026
Michael Yates (Onslow) January 1, 2026

DMF Committee Staff

Tina Moore
Southern District Manager
252-808-8082
Chris Stewart
Biologist Supervisor
910-796-7370
Capt. Garland Yopp
Marine Patrol, Southern District
800-682-2632
Sgt. Ashley Bishop
Marine Patrol, Central District
252-726-7021

Statutorily required standing committee comprised of commissioners and advisers that consider matters related to finfish.

Current Finfish AC Members

Advisors
Term Expiration Date
Thomas Brewer (Carteret)
January 1, 2024
Jeff Buckel (Carteret)
January 1, 2025
Lewis Dunn (Wake) January 1, 2026
Brent Fulcher (Craven)
January 1, 2024
Christopher Hickman (Dare) January 1, 2026
Larry Lord (Carteret) January 1, 2026
David Mense (Wake) January 1, 2025
Allyn Powell (Carteret) January 1, 2025
Randy Proctor (Wake)
January 1, 2025
William Tarplee
January 1, 2024
Scott Whitley
January 1, 2024
Mike Blanton (Ex-officio), Vice Chair June 30, 2024
Sarah Gardner (Ex-officio), Co-Chair June 30, 2025
Tom Roller (Ex-officio), Co-Chair June 30, 2023

DMF Committee Staff

Lee Paramore  
North District Manager
Lee.Paramore@deq.nc.gov
252-473-5734 
Jason Rock 
Biologist Supervisor
Jason.Rock@deq.nc.gov
252-808-8091
Sgt. Justin Lott 
Marine Patrol, Central District
Justin.Lott@deq.nc.gov 
252-726-7021

Statutorily required standing committee comprised of commissioners and advisers that consider matters concerning habitat and water quality that may affect coastal fisheries resources.

Current Habitat and Water Quality AC Members

Advisors
Term Expiration Date
Jack Durham, Jr. (Wake) January 1, 2026
David Glenn (Carteret) January 1, 2026
Joel Fodrie (Carteret)
January 1, 2025
James Hall (Brunswick) January 1, 2025
Nathan Hall (Carteret)
January 1, 2025
Scott Leahy (Carteret) January 1, 2024
Markham Parrish (Carteret) January 2, 2025
Lisa Rider (Onslow) January 1, 2026
Mark Sonder (Carteret) January 1, 2026
Dr. Doug Rader (Ex-officio), Chair June 30, 2023
Vacant Vacant

DMF Committee Staff

Anne Deaton
Habitat Protection Section Chief
910-796-7215
Jimmy Harrison 
Fisheries Resource Specialist
James.Harrison@deq.nc.gov 
252-948-3835
Jason Parker
Marine Patrol
910-796-7229

Statutorily required standing committee comprised of commissioners and advisers that considers matters concerning oysters, clams, scallops and other molluscan shellfish, shrimp, and crabs.

Current Shellfish/Crustacean AC Members

Advisors
Term Expiration Date
Lauren Burch (Currituck) January 1, 2026
Mary Sue Hamann (Carteret) January 2, 2025
Jim Hardin (Pitt) January 1, 2025
Mike Marshall (Carteret) January 1, 2025
Bruce Morris (Carteret) January 1, 2026
Brian Shepard (Onslow) January 1, 2026
Ted Wilgis (New Hanover) January 2, 2025
Tim Willis (Carteret) January 1, 2024
Mike Blanton (Ex-officio) Co-Chair June 30, 2024
Doug Cross (Ex-officio), Vice Chair June 30, 2023
Vacant Vacant

DMF Committee Staff

Tina Moore
Southern District Manager
252-808-8082
Anne Deaton
Habitat Protection Section Chief
252-808-8063
Colonel Carter Witten
Marine Patrol
252-808-8130

Section 6 of the Support Shellfish Aquaculture Bill (S.L. 2019-37) requires the Chair of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (“MFC”) to appoint a three-member Shellfish Cultivation Lease Review Committee (SCLRC) to hear appeals of decisions of the Secretary regarding shellfish leases issued under G.S. 113-202 The SCLRC includes one MFC member who serves as the hearing officer, and two public members. One public member having expertise or other relevant experience in shellfish aquaculture, and the other public member having expertise or other relevant experience with respect to coastal property or property assessment.

Shellfish Cultivation Lease Review Committee Members

Advisors
Seat
Rob Bizzell (Chair) MFC Member
Steve Yuhasz  Coastal Property or Property Assessment Expert
Sammy Corbett Shellfish Aquaculture Expert

DMF Committee Staff

Lara Klibansky
MFC Executive Assistant for Commissions and Councils
Phillip Reynolds
Legal Counsel
Special Deputy Attorney General
Department of Justice