Press Releases

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) is accepting applications for approximately $2.5 million in funding through Phases 3 and 4 of the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) to help coastal communities design and implement projects that strengthen local resilience to coastal hazards. Applications are due Nov. 10, 2026, by 5 p.m. 

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in Carteret County.

The Division of Marine Fisheries’ scoping period for Kingfishes (sea mullet) begins today, providing fishermen and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide input about stock and fishery issues, and share ideas on management strategies for the scheduled 5-year review of the N.C. Kingfishes Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

The Master Plan Update Committee of the State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet via teleconference on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The public may listen to the meeting online or by phone.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries recently established a new state record for Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus). David Ashman of Mohnton, Penn., caught the 85-pound fish on July 31 off of Hatteras. Ashman replaced the existing state record Cubera Snapper that weighed 58 pounds, 8 ounces, landed by Thomas Madsen in 2022.

Visitors to the Raleigh Regional Office of the NC Department of Environmental Quality will need to go to a new address beginning next week, as part of a larger series of changes to the department’s facilities.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding people to please report any sightings of Blue Land Crabs, Cardisoma guanhumi.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will collect flounder carcasses from recreational fishermen during the 2026 season, held Sept. 1-14 in joint and coastal waters. The carcasses will be used for research purposes.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission received a presentation on the draft Coastal Habitat Protection Plan 2026 Amendment, one of several agenda items during the board’s regular quarterly business meeting in Raleigh this week.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in Dare County.