Jonathan Howell, who has served in various roles for more than 20 years in the Division of Coastal Management, will take the helm at the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries later this month.
fisheries
Oyster sanctuary effort attains big milestone; work continues
Water quality and fisheries advocates set a goal to build 500 acres of oyster sanctuary in North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound, a milestone reached in late August, but that does not mean the end of construction.
Fisheries fix: ‘If you can’t hatch them, you can’t catch them’
Guest opinion: Jess Hawkins spent 30 years working with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and helped develop and then implement recommendations of the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997. “I believe we have lost sight of one of the most important ideas behind that landmark legislation.”
Hemilright, 59, remembered for commercial fishing advocacy
Dewey Hemilright, longtime commercial fisherman and industry advocate, died Oct. 2, following complications related to a stroke he suffered in August.
Division seeks input on potential future oyster cultch sites
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries officials are asking for input on nine prospective sites for future oyster habitat enhancement projects.
Division requests red snapper carcass donations for research
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will collect red snapper carcasses from recreational fishermen during the 2026 federal recreational Red Snapper fishing season, held Oct. 9-11.
Commercial fishers ask NOAA to downlist Atlantic sturgeon
North Carolina fishermen want the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to reduce protections for endangered Atlantic sturgeon. Scientists say recovery isn’t so simple.
Registration open for Nov. 17-18 NC Coastal Conference
North Carolina Sea Grant’s biennial conference a “platform for engaging with like-minded participants and potential collaborators dedicated to the prosperity of our state’s coastal communities, environments, and economies.”
NOAA gets $64 million to build new lab; former staff ‘elated’
Dr. Bud Cross, a longtime director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s historic Beaufort Laboratory, says the recent announcement the a new facility would soon be built on Pivers Island came as “great news to all of us who have worked there.”
Fisheries to hold red drum scoping period through October
The monthlong scoping period is to give fishermen and other stakeholders an opportunity to share ideas on potential management strategies for the scheduled comprehensive review of the N.C. Red Drum Fishery Management Plan.
Volunteers needed to serve on fisheries advisory committees
The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission is looking to fill seats on the northern and southern advisory committees, and finfish, habitat and water quality, and shellfish/crustacean advisory committees.
DMF releases annual review of state-managed coastal species
DMF’s 2025 Fishery Management Plan Review offers a quick guide of scientific and management information for managed coastal species in the state.
EMC committee to hear draft habitat protection plan status
The Environmental Management Commission’s water quality committee is to hear the status of the 2026 draft update to the state’s long-term plan to protect and preserve habitats that support coastal fisheries.
Brock Davenport of Beaufort lands state record jolthead porgy
The Division of Marine Fisheries announced Thursday that Brock Davenport of Beaufort is the new state recordholder for his recent catch jolthead porgy.
Recreational fishermen reminded to report flounder harvest
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries officials are reminding recreational flounder anglers that they must report their harvest this year.
Fisheries ruling sets up likely yearslong state response
Now that a judge has ruled that the state has failed to rebuild and maintain healthy fish stocks and protect key habitats as required by law, fisheries officials must turn to the remedy phase, which is unclear at best.
