Mandatory Harvest Reporting - Commercial
Beginning December 1, 2025, commercial fishermen in North Carolina must report the harvest of all finfish, shellfish, and crustaceans to the Division of Marine Fisheries, as required by state law. This includes every thing that is sold, as well as everything kept for personal consumption or otherwise not sold.
How to Report
All commercial harvest — sold and unsold — must be reported through the Trip Ticket Program using a licensed seafood dealer.
- If the catch is sold, the dealer reports it as usual.
- If the catch is not sold (for example, kept for personal consumption), the fisherman still reports through a dealer, who issues a trip ticket using an "unsold harvest" disposition code.
When to Report
Harvest must be unloaded at a seafood dealer within 48 hours of landing.
Enforcement
Session Law 2023-137 includes the following phased-in approach for enforcement
| Date Range | Enforcement Phase |
|---|---|
| Dec. 1, 2025 – Nov. 30, 2026 | Verbal warnings for non-reporting |
| Dec. 1, 2026 – Nov. 30, 2027 | Written warnings for non-reporting |
| Dec. 1, 2027 and beyond | Infractions may result in a $35 fine and repeated violations may affect license eligibility * |
| *It's important to note that the infraction and resulting $35 fine will also include associated court costs. | |
Questions
If you're a commercial fisherman or a seafood dealer who has questions about reporting, please email HarvestReporting@deq.nc.gov or call 252-515-5515.
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