Press Releases

Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee to meet May 27

The N.C. Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee will meet by web conference from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, May 27.

Marine Fisheries to reopen some waters to non-exempted gill net use

On May 25, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will reopen some internal fishing waters to gill nets managed under the State’s Endangered Species Act Section 10 Incidental Take Permit (ITP).

REMINDER: DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson to join staff, officials and conservation partners to mark transfer of Topsail Beach property to Division of Coastal Management on May 19

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s (NCDEQ) Division of Coastal Management (DCM), in partnership with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, will host a public event to mark the transfer of The Topsail Nature Preserve to state management.  A ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks by NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson, state, local officials and conservation partners will be part of a brief speaking program and self-guided tour of the site.

Marine Fisheries Commission begins rulemaking for Atlantic Bonito

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) this week voted to begin the rulemaking process for a five-fish recreational bag limit for Atlantic Bonito.

DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson to join staff, officials and conservation partners to mark transfer of Topsail Beach property to Division of Coastal Management on May 19

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s (NCDEQ) Division of Coastal Management (DCM), in partnership with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, will host a public event to mark the transfer of The Topsail Nature Preserve to state management.  A ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks by NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson, state, local officials and conservation partners will be part of a brief speaking program and self-guided tour of the site.

N.C. Coastal Management to conduct training for local permit officers

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) will conduct a spring training workshop May 20-21 in Swansboro for local permit officers in the central and southern regions of its 20 coastal county service area.

New resource available to answer Red Snapper season questions

Have questions about the upcoming Red Snapper season? The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has answers in an FAQ list on its Red Snapper Season webpage.

N. C. Coastal Resources Commission Science Panel to meet May 27

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) Science Panel will meet May 27 at the Courtyard New Bern Riverfront in New Bern to continue discussion of the proposed report on hardened coastal structures. The in-person meeting begins at noon.

Draft Cape Fear River Basin plan available for public comment through Aug. 4

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR) is accepting public comment through Aug. 4 on the draft 2026 basin plan for Cape Fear River Basin, the most populous and largest river basin contained entirely within the state. 

Coastal Reserve to hold Spring local advisory committee meetings

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold Spring local advisory committee meetings May 11-June 15 for the following reserve sites. All meetings are open to the public.