The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is holding a public hearing Monday on two proposed shellfish leases in Carteret County waters.
fisheries
Update: Blue crab harvest vote removed from agenda
The Marine Fisheries Commission was expected to consider adopting more restrictions on the commercial harvest of blue crabs, a move the N.C. Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition opposes, but the item has been removed from an updated agenda.
Seafood dealers reminded to switch software by year-end
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries reminds seafood dealers that they need to switch from the PC Trip Ticket Software Program to the new VESL software by the end of the year to report their transactions with fishermen.
State to host meetings for charter, for-hire businesses
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Marine Fisheries Division is hosting three meetings to cover relevant topics such as mandatory harvest reporting.
Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition to hold third meeting
The group formed in opposition to a proposed but failed shrimp-trawling ban is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Morehead City.
New fisheries reporting rules go into effect in a month
New reporting requirements for certain species of catch will go into effect Dec. 1 for recreational and commercial fishers.
NOAA urges boaters to slow down in seasonal whale areas
Operators of vessels 65 or longer must maintain speeds of 10 knots or slower through federal seasonal management areas for North Atlantic right whales.
Estuarine striped bass management changes meeting Nov. 5
NCDEQ’s Division of Marine Fisheries and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission staff have planned an informational meeting for 6 p.m. Nov. 5 in Washington on management changes for striped bass in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers.
Fisheries seeks comment on sheepshead management
Fisheries officials plan to implement management changes for sheepshead because of increased fishing pressure in recent years and are seeking public input on potential management strategies.
Henry Barksdale of Virginia lands state record almaco jack
Barksdale was fishing with Capt. Shaun Dunn out of Teach’s Lair Marina in Hatteras Village.
Committee to select candidates for Mid-Atlantic council
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee is set to pick candidates for the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council on Oct. 20.
DMF closes mobile-gear flounder harvest in southern waters
Flounder harvest closed Thursday for gill nets, gigs and other mobile gears in waters the southern part of the state because landings approached the quota sub-allocation for this gear and area category.
Blue crab populations decline after juvenile stage: Study
The blue crab population in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System is disappearing sometime between when juveniles leave their nursery habitats and before reaching sexual maturity, a recent study finds.
Seafood coalition proposes moving Fisheries to Agriculture
The new North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition’s held its second meeting last week, during which it laid out priorities that include transferring the Division of Marine Fisheries from the Department of Environmental Quality to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
State fisheries now accepting applications for committees
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is accepting applications through Oct. 24 for its various committees.
Coastal Habitat Protection Plan revisions to be discussed
The N.C. Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee’s Sept. 25 agenda includes discussing the proposed framework and timeline for the 2026 Coastal Habitat Protection Plan amendment.
