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 All proclamations, including those no longer in effect, can be found on the Archived Proclamations page.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
FF Finfish proclamations that address commercial and recreational size and creel limits, seasons, areas, etc.
M Miscellaneous 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
PA Polluted 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)
PT Proclamations for pots that allow the use of crab, eel, fish, and shrimp pots in provisional pot areas not being used by long haul operations.
RS Proclamations closing research sanctuaries to all fishing equipment.
SF Shellfish proclamations addressing oysters, clams and scallops: hand and mechanical seasons, limits, areas, etc.
SS Shellfish 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.
SH Shrimp 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 Steve Poland, the Fisheries Management Section Chief, or call 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021. 

  • CRAB TRAWLING AND TAKING SHRIMP WITH NETS – ATLANTIC OCEAN AND SOUTHERN REGION
    SH-2-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., May 15, 2023
    Map Package

  • CRAB TRAWLING AND TAKING SHRIMP WITH NETS – ATLANTIC OCEAN AND SOUTHERN REGION – OPENING A PORTION OF NEW RIVER AND STUMP SOUND
    SH-8-2022
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Thursday, September 1, 2022
    Map Package

  • DESIGNATION OF DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN MANAGEMENT AREAS AND CRAB POT RESTRICTIONS
    PT-1-2021
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, March 1, 2021
    Approved Terrapin Bycatch Reduction Devices Flyer
    Map Package
     

  • DOLPHIN– RECREATIONAL VESSEL LIMIT – COASTAL FISHING WATERS
    FF-30-2022
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

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

  • FINFISH – AQUACULTURE OPERATIONS EXEMPTIONS
    FF-10-2022
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

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

  • FLOUNDER POUND NET SET - ESCAPE PANEL REQUIREMENTS
    M-34-2015
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, February 1, 2016

  • FLOUNDER – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS - ATLANTIC OCEAN
    FF-19-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., April 1, 2023

  • FLOUNDER – COMMERCIAL PURPOSES - INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS AND ATLANTIC OCEAN WATERS – CLOSES INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS
    FF-55-2022
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    6:00 P.M.  Friday October 28, 2022

  • FLOUNDER – RECREATIONAL PURPOSES - INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS AND ATLANTIC OCEAN WATERS - 2022 RECREATIONAL SEASON, SIZE AND HARVEST LIMITS
    FF-44-2022
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Thursday, September 1, 2022

  • GILL NET AND SEINE RESTRICTIONS: DEER AND SCHOOLHOUSE (ROCKY RUN) CREEKS IN CAPE CARTERET
    M-29-2013
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    8:30 P.M. Tuesday, October 1, 2013
    Map Package

  • GILL NET MAXIMUM SIZE: INTERNAL COASTAL FISHING WATERS
    M-1-2014
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M. Saturday, January 18, 2014

  • GILL NET RESTRICTIONS - INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS SOUTH OF MANAGEMENT UNIT A – MAINTAINS CLOSURE FOR SET GILL NETS WITH STRETCHED MESH LENGTH OF 4 INCHES THROUGH 6 ½ INCHES – REMOVES LARGE MESH SIZE ALLOWANCES IN GEAR EXEMPTIONS SECTION
    M-8-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Saturday, April 15, 2023

  • GILL NET RESTRICTIONS: ATLANTIC OCEAN WITHIN 100 YARDS OF THE SHORELINE
    M-8-2019
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

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

  • GILL NETS - NEWPORT RIVER
    M-35-2014
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    7:00 A.M. Monday, October 20, 2014
    Map Package

  • GILL NETS – ALBEMARLE SOUND AREA – MANAGEMENT UNIT A – IMPLEMENTS SMALL MESH GILL NET ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
    M-10-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    11:59 P.M., Sunday April 30, 2023
    Map Package