Press Releases

CLARIFICATIONS: Marine Fisheries Commission, adopts preferred management options for southern flounder, delays sector allocation changes, finalizes shrimp management

The Southern Flounder Amendment is not yet finalized; the proposed spring ocean Gulf and summer flounder season will not take place this year.

Marine Fisheries Commission, adopts preferred management options for southern flounder, delays sector allocation changes, finalizes shrimp management

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission this week adopted a new schedule for changes to sector allocations for allowable harvest under Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. Otherwise, the commission adopted the Division of Marine Fisheries’ recommendations as its preferred management options for the draft amendment.

Division of Water Infrastructure to Hold First of Two Virtual Stakeholder Listening Sessions Friday, March 4 on ARPA Stormwater Funding Program

The Division of Water Infrastructure will hold the first of two listening sessions on Friday, March 4 to hear initial stakeholder input on the potential uses for the $82 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stormwater Funding.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Commercial Fishing Resource Funding Committees to meet March 3

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 March 3 at 3 p.m.

Main phone number for Division of Coastal Management Morehead City office changes

The main phone number for the Morehead City office of the N.C. Division of Coastal Management will change effective this afternoon.

Raleigh company recognized as Steward for commitment to reducing environmental impact

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality today recognized Ajinomoto Health and Nutrition North America, Inc. as an Environmental Steward for its commitment to superior environmental performance. The Steward designation is the highest designation available in the state’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI).

REMINDER: Marine Fisheries Commission to meet Feb. 23-25 in New Bern

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person Feb. 23-25 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel New Bern Riverfront, 100 Middle St, New Bern. The meeting also will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board’s Community Outreach Subcommittee to meet virtually February 22

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board subcommittee on community outreach will hold its meeting Tuesday, February 22, remotely via teleconference. Members of the public are welcome to participate online or by phone. Internet access is not required to attend the meeting.

Funds totaling more than $4.3 million distributed to eligible fishing stakeholders for COVID relief

More than $4.3 million in financial relief is on its way to eligible members of the fishing industries who sustained income losses from March to December of 2020 due to COVID-19. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries issued funds this week to 265 commercial fishermen and marine aquaculture operations, for-hire fishing operations, and seafood dealers and processors deemed eligible for relief from the federal North Carolina Consolidated Appropriations Act Fisheries Relief Program (CARES Act II). Payments were made in the following categories:

State issues denial of Wake Stone quarry modification

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) has denied a requested modification of Wake Stone Corporation's Permit 92-10