Press Releases

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries wants to remind the public to report any cold stunned spotted seatrout they may see in North Carolina coastal waters.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will begin accepting public comment Dec. 18, 2023 on proposed management to address sustainable harvest in the striped mullet fishery. The public comment period will close Jan. 17, 2024.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has received more than $3 million dollars as one of 109 grants announced by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NOAA in November. Additionally, DEQ’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) was awarded more than $89,000.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Pender County at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31. The hearing will be held in-person at the Surf City Municipal Complex, Council Chambers, 214 Florence Way, Hampstead, and by WebEx.

The Division of Marine Fisheries license office in Manteo will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 22, reopening on Monday Nov. 27. 

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently established a new state record for Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana).

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission today took a further step toward recovery of the striped mullet fishery, voting to send the Draft Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 for public and advisory committee review.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Hyde County at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18. The hearing will be held in-person at the Hyde County Government Center, 30 Oyster Creek Road, Swan Quarter and by WebEx.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold an in-person public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Pamlico County at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20 at the Pamlico County Courthouse, Courtroom, 202 Main Street, Bayboro.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Carteret County at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. 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.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board will meet by teleconference at 10 a.m. Nov. 13. The board will consider one license application that was tabled at the Oct. 25 meeting.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person Nov. 15-17 at the Islander Hotel and Resort, 102 Islander Dr., Emerald Isle. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Fund Committee and the Funding Committee for the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund will meet jointly by web conference on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m.

An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Beaufort County, where state officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee will meet in person and by web conference on Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. The in-person meeting will be held at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters Office, 3441 Arendell Street, Morehead City, in the Second Floor Conference Room.