New harvest reporting requirements for recreational and commercial fisheries have been delayed by one year and will now become effective on Dec. 1, 2025.
Press Releases
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will collect Red Snapper carcasses from recreational fishermen during the July 12 Red Snapper mini-season.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold an in-person workshop July 15-17 with the Oyster/Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee to review draft Amendment 5 to the Eastern Oyster Fishery Management Plan and draft Amendment 3 to the Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan.
State recreational water quality officials today lifted a precautionary swimming advisory in Oak Island. The advisory was lifted because floodwaters have rescinded, and pumping has ceased.
Advisories against swimming were posted today in three locations in Dare County, where state recreational water quality officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.
State recreational water quality officials today advised beachgoers to be aware of the floodwaters being pumped to the ocean surf in Oak Island. Surfers and swimmers should avoid these sites.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are working cooperatively on an aggressive stocking plan to supplement recruitment of the Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River Striped Bass population that began in 2023.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Craven County at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 24. The hearing will be held in-person at Craven Community College (Havelock Campus), STEM Building, Room 134, 305 Cunningham Blvd, Havelock and by WebEx.
New commercial weekend closures and recreational possession limits for striped mullet will take effect Monday, June 24, to implement Amendment 2 to the Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan, adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission in May.
Coastal Recreational Fishing License fees will increase July 1. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC), which administers the recreational fishing license sales system for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), announced last week that it will increase hunting, fishing, trapping and activity licenses, permits, stamps and certifications
Changes to three Marine Fisheries Commission rules became effective today, but there will be no impact to fishermen because they simply codify existing practices or regulations already implemented by proclamation.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified three state record fish – a near world record size Yellowmouth Grouper, a White Grunt and an Almaco Jack.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Fund Committee and the Funding Committee for the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund are accepting proposals for the 2024 funding cycle.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is encouraging fishermen who plan to renew their licenses and permits in-person to do so as soon as possible, especially those who plan to go to the Manteo License Office.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Carteret County at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 17. The hearing will be held in-person at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City and by WebEx.