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 All proclamations, including those no longer in effect, can be found on the Archived Proclamations page.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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  • MULLET – RECREATIONAL - COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS INCLUDING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN – TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF RULES
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., June 24, 2024

  • PERMIT REQUIREMENT - SHELLFISH LEASE RESTORATION PERMIT
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, April 12, 2021

  • PERMIT REQUIREMENT – COMMERCIAL - ESTUARINE FLOUNDER DEALER PERMIT -INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Wednesday, August 16, 2023

  • PERMIT REQUIREMENT – SHELLFISH RELOCATION PERMIT
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Saturday, May 6, 2023

  • PERMIT REQUIREMENT- GILL NETS INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, September 1, 2014

  • POTS - AMEND CRAB POT RESTRICTIONS IN ESTABLISHED DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN MANAGEMENT AREAS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:
  • POTS OPEN – PROVISIONAL POT AREAS IN INTERNAL COASTAL FISHING WATERS OF PAMLICO SOUND AND PAMLICO, BAY, AND NEUSE RIVERS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Saturday, June 8, 2024, until 11:59 P.M., Saturday, November 30, 2024
    Map Package

  • RED DRUM - COMMERCIAL – HARVEST RESTRICTIONS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Sunday, May 22, 2022

  • RESCINDED - SHELLFISH MANAGEMENT AREAS – PAMLICO SOUND
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., August 9

  • RESEARCH SANCTUARY- ATLANTIC OCEAN – DARE COUNTY – COASTAL AND HYDRAULICS LABORATORY, FIELD RESEARCH FACILITY
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., May 15, 2024
    Map Package

  • RESEARCH SANCTUARY- BACK SOUND – EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M, February 3, 2024
    Map Package

  • RESEARCH SANCTUARY- HEWLETT’S CREEK - UNC-WILMINGTON
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., January 29, 2024
    Map Package

  • RESEARCH SANCTUARY- MYRTLE GROVE SOUND - UNC-WILMINGTON
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., January 29, 2024
    Map Package

  • RULE SUSPENSION – COMMERCIAL LICENSE REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN A PERMIT TO TRANSPLANT PROHIBITED (POLLUTED) SHELLFISH
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Saturday, May 6, 2023

  • RULE SUSPENSION – FLOUNDER POUND NETS – INTERNAL COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS - ESCAPE PANEL REQUIREMENTS
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., April 19, 2024