Based on the current guidance to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, the division has cancelled the public listening stations at its offices in Morehead City and Wilmington; however, the public may listen to the meeting through a conference call line by dialing 919-420-1374. To avoid disrupting the meeting, members of the public are asked [...] Fishing |  Full Article

A new study will calculate the economic impacts of North Carolina’s commercial fishing industry. All active commercial fishermen — almost 2,500 individuals — are receiving a survey by mail as part of the research. Those who fill the survey out will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Completed surveys should be returned by March 20, 2020. Glenn [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Division of Marine Fisheries Director Steve Murphey has announced that the 2020 recreational flounder season will be Aug. 16 through Sept. 30 for internal and ocean waters of the state. The minimum size limit will remain at 15 inches total length, and the creel limit will remain at four fish per person per day during [...] Fishing |  Full Article

In 2018, U.S. fishermen landed 9.4 billion pounds of fish valued at $5.6 billion at ports around the nation—consistently high figures on par with recent years, which bring economic benefits up and down the seafood supply chain, according to an annual report released today by NOAA Fisheries. According to the Fisheries of the United States [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality has directed the Division of Marine Fisheries to conduct a thorough review of the regulations governing the use of small mesh gill nets in North Carolina fisheries. After decades of actions by numerous Marine Fisheries Commissions (MFC), the department, the division and federal agencies, the regulations have [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will hold their first quarterly meeting of 2020 on February 19-21 at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, and there are several big amendments on the agenda that are slated to be voted on and addressed. On Thursday, February 20, the meeting agenda calls for a vote on [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is seeking applicants for a new Shellfish Cultivation Lease Review Committee that will hear appeals of agency decisions regarding shellfish leases. The three-member committee, authorized by a new state law, will be appointed by the chair of the Marine Fisheries Commission and comprised of one commission member, who will serve as [...] Fishing |  Full Article

After hooking a fish, reeling it in from the sea floor and posing for a photo, there’s a fairly good chance a recreational fisher might release their catch back into the ocean. The chance of that fish’s survival is less clear. Rising numbers of released fish, combined with an uncertain likelihood of their survival, has [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen and scientists to advise them on various fisheries issues. Two regional advisory committees – Northern and Southern – review matters referred to them by the commission, such as draft fishery management plans, and recommend management strategies. Committees may also bring issues pertaining to [...] Fishing |  Full Article