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 Chair. There are five statutorily required Advisory Committees that fall into two categories. The MFC Chair 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

Regional Advisory Committees

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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 ChairJanuary 1, 2025
Keith Bruno (Pamlico)January 1, 2026
Melissa Clark (Dare)January 1, 2025
Herman Dunbar (Pamlico)January 1, 2025
Carl Hacker (Dare)January 1, 2025
Jamie Lane (Martin)January 1, 2026
Allan Martin (Dare)January 1, 2026
Thomas Newman (Martin)January 1, 2027
Roger Rulifson (Pitt)January 1, 2025
Sara Winslow (Perquimans), ChairJanuary 1, 2026
Jonathan Worthington (Camden)January 1, 2026

DMF Committee Staff

Charlton Godwin 
Biologist Supervisor
Charlton.Godwin@deq.nc.gov 
252-381-6008
Capt. Daniel Ipock
Marine Patrol, Northeast District
252-515-5500
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, 2027
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), ChairJanuary 1, 2027
Kenneth Seigler (Onslow)January 1, 2026
Jeremy Skinner (Carteret)January 1, 2027
Tom Smith (Mecklenburg), Vice ChairJanuary 1, 2026
Tim Wilson (Brunswick)January 1, 2026
Michael Yates (Onslow)January 1, 2026

DMF Committee Staff

Tina Moore
Southern District Manager
252-515-5641
Chris Stewart
Biologist Supervisor
910-796-7370
Capt. Garland Yopp
Marine Patrol, Southern District
800-682-2632
Sgt. Ashley Bishop
Marine Patrol, Central District
252-515-5500

Standing Advisory Committees

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

Current Finfish AC Members

Advisors
Term Expiration Date
Jeff Buckel (Carteret)
January 1, 2025
Lewis Dunn (Wake)January 1, 2026
Brent Fulcher (Craven)
January 1, 2025
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 (Onslow)
January 1, 2027
Scott Whitley (Pitt)
January 1, 2025
Mike Blanton (Ex-officio), Vice ChairJune 30, 2024
Tom Roller (Ex-officio), Co-ChairJune 30, 2026

DMF Committee Staff

Jason Rock 
Biologist Supervisor
Jason.Rock@deq.nc.gov
252-515-5639
Sgt. Justin Lott 
Marine Patrol, Central District
Justin.Lott@deq.nc.gov 
252-515-5500

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
Nathan Hall (Carteret)
January 1, 2025
Scott Leahy (Carteret)January 1, 2027
Markham Parrish (Carteret)January 1, 2025
Lisa Rider (Onslow)January 1, 2026
Mark Sonder (Carteret)January 1, 2026
Dr. Doug Rader (Ex-officio), ChairJune 30, 2026
Sarah Gardner (Ex-officio), Vice-ChairJune 30, 2025

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 1, 2025
Jim Hardin (Pitt)January 1, 2025
Michael Hardison (Brunswick)January 1, 2027
Mike Marshall (Carteret)January 1, 2025
Bruce Morris (Carteret)January 1, 2026
Brian Shepard (Onslow)January 1, 2026
Ted Wilgis (New Hanover)January 1, 2025
Tim Willis (Carteret)January 1, 2027
Mike Blanton (Ex-officio) Co-ChairJune 30, 2024
Ryan Bethea (Ex-officio), Vice ChairJune 30, 2026
VacantVacant

DMF Committee Staff

Tina Moore
Southern District Manager
252-515-5641
Anne Deaton
Habitat Protection Section Chief
910-796-7311
Colonel Carter Witten
Marine Patrol
252-515-5551

Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committees

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To provide comments to the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee, please contact the Division staff at the email addresses provided below.

Current Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan AC Members

Joe Albea
Steven Brewster
Johnna Brooks
Dr. Jie Cao
Stuart Creighton
Doug Cross
Herman Wayne Dunbar
Matthew Littleton
Kevin Poole
James Reilly
Rick Sasser
Jeremy Skinner
Donald Willis

 

Division Staff

Lucas Pensinger
Species Lead
Lucas.Pensinger@deq.nc.gov
252-515-5636
Melinda Lambert
Species Lead
Melinda.Lambert@deq.nc.gov
252-473-5734

To provide comments to the Oyster/Clam Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee, please contact the Division staff at the email addresses provided below.

Current Oyster/Clam Fishery Management Plan AC Members

Rosanna J. Gusler
Barry Martee Hodowanic
Perry Allen McMahon
Brassai Marie Mustin
Thomas Edward Newman III
Brandon Joel Puckett
Abby Elizabeth Williams

 

Division Staff

Joe Facendola
Oyster Lead
Joe.Facendola@deq.nc.gov
910-796-7291
Bennett Paradis
Oyster Co-Lead
Bennett.Paradis@deq.nc.gov
252-515-5482
Jeff Dobbs
Hard Clam Lead
Jeffrey.Dobbs@deq.nc.gov
252-515-5640
Lorena de la Garza
Hard Clam Co-Lead
Lorena.delagarza@deq.nc.gov
252-423-5256

Other Committees

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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
VacantShellfish Aquaculture Expert

DMF Committee Staff

Position Vacant
MFC Executive Assistant for Commissions and Councils
252-515-5500
Phillip Reynolds
Legal Counsel
Special Deputy Attorney General
Department of Justice