Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) invites communities to apply through the end of May for Phases 3 and 4 of the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP). Phase 3 of the RCCP funds the engineering and design of a prioritized resilience project, and Phase 4 funds the implementation of a shovel-ready resilience project.

The North Carolina Mining Commission meeting planned for April. 16, 2024, has been cancelled.

An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Onslow County, where state officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

Fishermen purchasing or renewing fishing licenses or vessel registrations at Division of Marine Fisheries offices can now use their credit cards for payment.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission’s Water Quality Committee will hold a special meeting at 1 p.m. on April 9 in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh.

Eighty readopted marine fisheries rules become effective today, though these rules should have minimal impact on fishing practices. The rules pertain to standards for commercial shellfish sanitation and processing procedures, and most of the amendments simply codify existing practices or regulations already implemented via proclamation.

Three advisory committees of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in April to discuss a proposal to protect Submerged Aquatic Vegetation through shrimp trawl area closures. The meetings will be held in person and livestreamed on YouTube.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources is now accepting public comment on the proposed list of streams, rivers, reservoirs and other water bodies in North Carolina considered to be “impaired,” or that do not meet water quality standards, in 2024.  

The Division of Marine Fisheries license office in Wilmington will close at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday March 18.

Are you interested in learning more about southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) in North Carolina? Sign up to attend the North Carolina Southern Flounder Symposium.