Press Releases

Precautionary swimming advisory issued for ocean area in Oak Island where floodwater pumping has occurred

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.

State coastal commission to meet in New Bern June 15

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission will meet June 15 at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, 203 South Front Street, New Bern. A public input and comment period is scheduled for noon. At the chair’s discretion, comments may be limited to three minutes per person. The meeting is open to the public.

Marine Fisheries Commission acts to end overfishing of striped mullet

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission acted today approving supplemental management measures to address overfishing of striped mullet in state waters.

New Recreational slot limit implemented for striped bass caught in the ocean

A new slot limit for recreationally-caught striped bass will go into effect June 1 in North Carolina ocean waters to comply with action taken by the Atlantic State’s Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board.

REMINDER: DEQ accepting public comments on Animal Waste Management General Permits through June 5

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will receive public comment through June 5 as part of the renewal process for six Animal Feeding Operations General Permits. 

Application period opens June 1 for Coastal Reserve local advisory committees

The application period opens June 1 for N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve local advisory committees. Community members are needed for each of the Coastal Reserve’s ten sites: Bird Island Reserve, Bald Head Woods Reserve, Zeke’s Island Reserve, Masonboro Island Reserve, Permuda Island Reserve, Rachel Carson Reserve, Buxton Woods Reserve, Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, Currituck Banks Reserve, and Emily and Preyer Buckridge Reserve.

DAQ to Hold Public Hearing on Draft Air Quality Permit for Natural Gas Facility to be Co-located with Sampson County Landfill

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality is accepting public comment and will hold a public hearing on the draft Title V air quality permit for Sapphire Renewable Natural Gas, a new facility in Sampson County.

State certifies Mangrove Snapper as new state record

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record Mangrove Snapper, or gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus).

MEDIA ADVISORY: Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee to meet

The N.C. Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 31 by web conference.

Countdown begins to Division of Marine Fisheries’ Bicentennial Jamboree

Three weeks from Saturday, on June 10, the campus at the Morehead City Headquarters Office will transform into a celebration of 200 years of state marine fisheries management and conservation in North Carolina.