Press Releases

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.

North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) and Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (DA&CS) are alerting citizens who recently purchased aquarium plants. Specifically, moss balls, an aquatic plant used in home aquariums, were found to be contaminated with an invasive and potentially destructive, fresh water species called zebra mussels.

The main phone number for the Elizabeth City office of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has changed.

New recreational bag limits for spot and Atlantic croaker will take effect April 15, and commercial spot and Atlantic croaker seasons will close beginning in December.