Press Releases

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open May 15 in both federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing by web conference on proposed shellfish leases in Pender County at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 18.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing by web conference on proposed shellfish leases in Onslow County at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 11.

The State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet Wednesday, April 14 at 9:00 a.m., remotely, via teleconference. The public may listen to the meeting online or by phone.

The N.C. Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee will meet by web conference at 1 p.m. April 20.

Brian Deanes is the Marine Patrol Officer of the Year for 2020, but when he first learned he was chosen he was a little surprised.

The recreational cobia fishing season will open May 1 in North Carolina waters with new private vessel limits.

Newly amended rules pertaining to coastal recreational water quality monitoring to protect the public health of swimmers go into effect today. The rules, readopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission in November 2020 under a state-mandated periodic review schedule, include changes to 15A NCAC 18A .3400. Rules .3401, .3402, .3403, and .3405:

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has assessed $199,379.16 in penalties in the recent enforcement actions against Chemours for failing to meet conditions of the Consent Order and violations related to the construction and installation of the required treatment measures at Old Outfall 002 and Seep C.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted today to amend the previously adopted sector allocations for Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan to gradually equalize allocations between the commercial and recreational fisheries.