The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Coastal Management (DCM) hereby gives notice that public review and comment is invited on the below proposed federal action.
To ensure compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Act for an amendment to the existing Snapper-Grouper FMP for the South Atlantic Region, NOAA NMFS is requesting a Federal Consistency Determination. The State’s review of the submitted federal consistency determination request will determine if the proposed amendments are consistent with the enforceable policies of North Carolina’s Coastal Management Program. The proposed action would revise the recreational vessel limits for gag and black grouper and revise stowage requirements for on-demand black sea bass pots while transiting marine protected areas and spawning special management zones with snapper-grouper species onboard.
A more thorough description of the proposed federal actions may be examined in the Related Information section of this page.
Please submit written comments by August 5, 2025 to Federal Consistency Coordinator, 400 Commerce Avenue, Morehead City, NC 28557, or by email to DCMcomments@deq.nc.gov. Please put “Federal Consistency: NOAA NMFS Amendment 36” in the subject line. All comments will be considered in developing the state’s consistency response. Notice of the decision regarding this matter will be provided upon request.