Topics Related to Marine Fisheries

MEDIA ADVISORY: Marine Fisheries Commission to meet May 25-26 in Beaufort

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person May 25-26 at the Beaufort Hotel, 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25 and at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 26.

The commission will hold in-person public comment sessions at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 and near the beginning of the meeting on Thursday, May 26. Public comment will not be taken through web conference.

The following information pertains to in-person public comment:

Shrimp Amendment 2 management measures implemented

New shrimp management measures will go into effect May 15 in North Carolina state waters. The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission approved the measures to reduce bycatch and protect habitat with the adoption of the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 at its February business meeting.

Division of Marine Fisheries to resume onboard observations of estuarine gill net fisheries May 1

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will resume onboard observations of estuarine gill net fisheries beginning May 1. Onboard observations will be the primary method with limited use of alternative platform observations primarily conducted by Marine Patrol officers.

Marine Fisheries asks anglers to help with data collection during cobia season

The recreational cobia fishing season will open May 1 in North Carolina waters, and the Division of Marine Fisheries is asking anglers for help with data collection.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Comment period opens, public hearing scheduled for marine fisheries joint rules

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is accepting public comment on proposed amendments and re-adoption of nine rules under a state-mandated periodic review schedule. The rules are proposed for readoption without changes and pertain to joint fishing waters that are managed jointly with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

A public hearing will be held by web conference on May 4 at 6 p.m. The public may join the meeting online; however, those who wish to comment during the hearing must register to speak by noon on the day of the hearing.

Recreational black sea bass season reopens May 15 North of Cape Hatteras with new regulations

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open May 15 in both federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras.

During the open season north of Cape Hatteras, the minimum size limit will be 13 inches total length (tip of the snout to the tip of the tail), and the bag limit will be 15 fish per person, per day. The season will close on Dec. 11.

FY 2023 Marine Fisheries license sales/renewal period begins April 18

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will begin renewing commercial fishing, seafood dealer, and for-hire licenses and permits on April 18.

REMINDER: Division of Marine Fisheries accepting applications for Hurricane Florence relief

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting applications for the Federally Funded Fishery Disaster Relief Program for Hurricane Florence.

Various readopted marine fisheries rules take effect today

Forty-three readopted fisheries rules become effective today, but fishermen will see very little change.

Commercial Fishing Resource Fund committees seek proposals for 2022 cycle

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Fund Committee and the Funding Committee for the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund will begin accepting applications on April 1 for the 2022 funding cycle from the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund.

The Commercial Fishing Resources Fund receives proceeds from the sale of Commercial Fishing Licenses and provides grants for projects for the development of sustainable commercial fishing in the state.