Fisheries Management Proclamations

Proclamations are a tool used by the state to manage fisheries. They are public notices that suspend or implement rules affected by variable conditions. Proclamations can set certain fishing seasons and areas, harvest and gear limits, and conditions governing fisheries. Proclamation authority and proclamations are codified in rules. All proclamations, including those no longer in effect, can be found on the Archived Proclamations page.

Current Proclamations

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Maps Specified in Rule

Proclamation Categories
FFFinfish proclamations that address commercial and recreational size and creel limits, seasons, areas, etc.
MMiscellaneous proclamations covering gear restrictions (gill net, seine, pound net, etc.) not included in other proclamation categories, as well as permit requirements, and adaptive management measures implemented under the authority of fishery management plans
PAPolluted area proclamations that include temporary closures and re-openings to shellfish harvest as a result of bacteriological water quality, as well as changes in descriptions of permanently closed areas due to Sanitary Survey findings. (Polluted Area Proclamations have their own page)
PTProclamations for pots that allow the use of crab, eel, fish, and shrimp pots in provisional pot areas not being used by long haul operations.
RSProclamations closing research sanctuaries to all fishing equipment.
SFShellfish proclamations addressing oysters, clams and scallops: hand and mechanical seasons, limits, areas, etc.
SSShellfish sanitation proclamations (beginning in 2014) that establish the National Shellfish Sanitation Program requirements that mandate measures to control the temperature of oysters and clams after harvest; these measures reduce post-harvest growth of potentially hazardous, naturally occurring bacteria in these shellfish.
SHShrimp proclamations that open or close areas to shrimping and crab trawling, or require bycatch reduction devices.

Current Proclamations

This is an interactive list of the proclamations currently in effect. You may select the category of the proclamation and use the search feature to limit the proclamations to only those that include the selected key words. Sunrise/sunset times are found in the official NCDMF Sunrise/Sunset table. For questions regarding proclamations, email Jason Rock, the Fisheries Management Section Chief, or call 800-682-2632 or 252-515-5500

If the current proclamations are not displaying properly below, view it in a standalone browser window.

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  • CALICO SCALLOP – ATLANTIC OCEAN - CLOSURE
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., May 31, 2024

  • CHANNEL NETS – INTERNAL COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    effective at 12:01 A.M., May 15, 2024

  • COBIA - COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL – COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, January 1, 2024

  • CRAB SPAWNING SANCTUARY - GEAR AND HARVEST RESTRICTIONS – TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF RULES
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., June 20, 2024

  • CRAB TRAWLING AND TAKING SHRIMP WITH NETS – ATLANTIC OCEAN AND CENTRAL AND NORTHERN REGIONS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

     12:01 A.M., June 20, 2024
    Map Package

  • CRAB TRAWLING AND TAKING SHRIMP WITH NETS – ATLANTIC OCEAN AND SOUTHERN REGION
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., June 20, 2024
    Map Package

  • DOLPHIN– RECREATIONAL VESSEL LIMIT – COASTAL FISHING WATERS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, May 2, 2022

  • FINFISH – AQUACULTURE OPERATIONS EXEMPTIONS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., January 14, 2022

  • FLOUNDER – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS - ATLANTIC OCEAN
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., September 16, 2024

  • FLOUNDER – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS - ATLANTIC OCEAN
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., December 1, 2024

  • FLOUNDER – COMMERCIAL PURPOSES - INTERNAL COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS AND ATLANTIC OCEAN WATERS. MAINTAINS CLOSURE FOR INTERNAL COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M. Friday, October 25, 2024

  • FLOUNDER – RECREATIONAL – JOINT FISHING WATERS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:
  • GILL NET RESTRICTIONS - INTERNAL COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS SOUTH OF MANAGEMENT UNIT A – CLOSES ALL MANAGEMENT UNITS TO THE USE OF GILL NETS WITH STRETCHED MESH LENGTH OF 4 INCHES THROUGH 6 ½ INCHES
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    11:59 A.M., Tuesday, October 8, 2024

  • GILL NET RESTRICTIONS - JOINT FISHING WATERS – MAINTAINS WEEKEND GILL NET RESTRICTIONS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, January 1, 2024

  • GILL NET RESTRICTIONS: ATLANTIC OCEAN WITHIN 100 YARDS OF THE SHORELINE
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, April 22, 2019