Press Releases

Changes to two marine fisheries rules are now in effect. One of the rules pertains to tarpon and the other to the transfer of Standard and Retired Standard Commercial Fishing Licenses. Marine Fisheries Commission rule 15A NCAC 03M .0509, as now amended, prohibits the possession of tarpon and makes it illegal to gaff, spear, or puncture tarpon by any method other than hook and line.

The state Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board will meet on Monday, April 5, via WebEx, to continue discussion on PFAS toxicity testing.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting scheduled for this afternoon has been postponed.  

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will meet by web conference on Monday, March 22 at 11:00 a.m. to discuss two litigation cases. The CRC will receive information on Kastberg v. DCM, 20 EHR 03105 and consult with its attorney regarding Batson v. Coastal Resources Commission, COA No 21-110.  The meeting will be limited to these two agenda items. The second agenda item will be handled in closed session. The public may join the open session of the Commission by computer or phone.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) is awarding grants to 25 communities for technical assistance in risk assessment and resilience planning work. A total of $675,000 will be made available for completion of Phases 1 and 2 of the new NC Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP). DCM will contract directly with selected contractors to provide direct technical assistance services to localities.

The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management’s North Carolina Coastal Reserve and partners from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, N.C. State Parks, Bald Head Island Conservancy, N.C. Audubon, N.C. Aquariums, and National Park Service are recruiting volunteers to participate in the 2021 Terrapin Tally. Established in partnership with the Wildlife Commission, this citizen science project was created to collect population data to better understand the status of diamondback terrapins in the state.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will host a public hearing on Tuesday, April 13 on a draft permit modification for the Duke Energy Mayo Steam Electric Plant.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will host a digital public hearing on Monday, May 3 on a draft permit for Madison Asphalt LLC, a new drum-mix asphalt plant in Marshall, NC. 

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will host a digital public hearing on Monday, April 12 on a draft permit for Madison Asphalt LLC, a new drum-mix asphalt plant in Marshall, NC. 

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet by web conference on March 18 beginning at 1 p.m. The public may listen to the meeting by phone or listen and view presentations online. For the link and phone number to join the meeting go to the Marine Fisheries Commission March 2021 Meeting webpage. Members of the public may submit written comments to the commission in two ways: