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 All proclamations, including those no longer in effect, can be found on the Archived Proclamations page.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. 

  • RESCINDED - BLUE CRAB FMP AMENDMENT 3 MANAGEMENT MEASURES
    M-1-2021 (RESCINDED)
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Friday, May 5, 2023 

  • RESCINDED – REVISED CRAB SPAWNING SANCTUARY BOUNDARIES FOR DRUM INLET AND BARDEN INLET, DESIGNATION OF CRAB SPAWNING SANCTUARIES, AND GEAR AND CRAB HARVEST RESTRICTIONS WITHIN CRAB SPAWNING SANCTUARIES
    M-12-2022(RESCINDED)_Blue Crab Amendment 3 Crab Spawning Sanctuaries_-RESCINDED-Final.pdf
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Friday, May 5, 2023
    Map Package

  • RESEARCH SANCTUARY- ATLANTIC OCEAN – DARE COUNTY – COASTAL AND HYDRAULICS LABORATORY, FIELD RESEARCH FACILITY
    RS-3-2022
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:00 A.M., April 15, 2022
    Map

  • RESEARCH SANCTUARY- ATLANTIC OCEAN – DARE COUNTY – COASTAL AND HYDRAULICS LABORATORY, FIELD RESEARCH FACILITY
    RS-3-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:00 A.M., May 7, 2023
    Map Package

  • RESEARCH SANCTUARY- BACK SOUND – EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
    RS-4-2022
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M, July 21, 2022
    Map Package

  • RESEARCH SANCTUARY- HEWLETT’S CREEK - UNC-WILMINGTON
    RS-1-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., January 22, 2023
    Map Package

  • RESEARCH SANCTUARY- MYRTLE GROVE SOUND - UNC-WILMINGTON
    RS-2-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., January 22, 2023
    Map Package

  • RULE SUSPENSION - BLUE CRAB FMP AMENDMENT 3 MANAGEMENT MEASURES
    M-1-2021
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Friday, January 1, 2021

  • RULE SUSPENSION – COMMERCIAL LICENSE REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN A PERMIT TO TRANSPLANT PROHIBITED (POLLUTED) SHELLFISH
    M-11-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

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

  • RULE SUSPENSION – GILL NET RESTRICTIONS - INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS SOUTH OF MANAGEMENT UNIT A FOR GILL NETS WITH A STRETCHED MESH LENGTH LESS THAN 4 INCHES AND ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GILL NETS WITH A STRETCHED MESH LENGTH LESS THAN 5 INCHES – REDUCES
    M-9-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    5:00 P.M., Friday, April 28, 2023

  • RULE SUSPENSION – GILL NET RESTRICTIONS - INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS SOUTH OF MANAGEMENT UNIT A FOR GILL NETS WITH A STRETCHED MESH LENGTH LESS THAN 4 INCHES AND ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GILL NETS WITH A STRETCHED MESH LENGTH LESS THAN 5 INCHES –CLOSES MA
    M-13-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    5:00 P.M., Friday, May 26, 2023

  • RULE SUSPENSION – GILL NET RESTRICTIONS - INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS SOUTH OF MANAGEMENT UNIT A FOR GILL NETS WITH A STRETCHED MESH LENGTH LESS THAN 4 INCHES AND ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GILL NETS WITH A STRETCHED MESH LENGTH LESS THAN 5 INCHES –OPENS MAN
    M-12-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    5:00 P.M., Monday, May 8, 2023

  • RULE SUSPENSION – REVISED CRAB SPAWNING SANCTUARY BOUNDARIES FOR DRUM INLET AND BARDEN INLET, DESIGNATION OF CRAB SPAWNING SANCTUARIES, AND GEAR AND CRAB HARVEST RESTRICTIONS WITHIN CRAB SPAWNING SANCTUARIES
    M-12-2022
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    5:01 P.M., Sunday, May 15, 2022
    Map Package

  • SCUP - COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS - ATLANTIC OCEAN- NORTH OF CAPE HATTERAS – OPENING OF SUMMER HARVEST PERIOD
    FF-23-2023
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Monday, May 1, 2023

  • SCUP - COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS - ATLANTIC OCEAN- NORTH OF CAPE HATTERAS – OPENING OF WINTER II HARVEST PERIOD
    FF-47-2022
    Issued Date:
    Effective Date:

    12:01 A.M., Saturday, October 1, 2022