Coast Guard, partner agencies medevac man with neck injury near Assateague Islan

BALTIMORE — Coast Guard and local partner agency personnel medevaced a man with a neck injury north of Assateague Island Monday morning. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region received a report stating a man jumped from his boat into shallow water and sustained a neck injury. The man was taken ashore by other […]

Coast Guard assists yacht taking on water near Elizabeth City, NC

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — The Coast Guard helped dewater a yacht that had run aground and was taking on water in the Pasquotank River near Elizabeth City, Sunday. A crew member aboard the 43-foot motor boat Eager Miss contacted Sector North Carolina watchstanders at approximately 4 p.m. to report the vessel carrying six adults and […]

Final Rule for Hogfish Management in Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters

KEY MESSAGE: NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule for hogfish in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). Hogfish in the Gulf of Mexico will be managed as a single population from the Texas/Mexico border to a line near Cape Sable, Florida A recent population assessment determined that the Gulf hogfish population is not undergoing overfishing (rate […]

Coast Guard urges vessel owners to comply with passenger-for-hire laws

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard Captain of the Port for North Carolina reminds vessel owners who transport passengers for hire, or are interested in this type of business operation, about the federal laws and regulations in place to ensure the safety of passengers, crews and the marine environment. A vessel operator must have proper […]

CHRIS OLIVER SELECTED AS NOAA FISHERIES ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR

New Gretna, NJ  –  Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the selection of Mr. Chris Oliver to serve as the Assistant Administrator (AA) for NOAA Fisheries on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.  The NOAA Fisheries AA position was one of President Trump’s appointments that was being most watched fishermen. Mr. Oliver takes control of the federal […]

State expands nationwide search for head of N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries

State expands nationwide search for head of N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries RALEIGH –  State environmental officials are reopening and expanding their nationwide search for a director for the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. The position is responsible for managing North Carolina’s marine and estuarine resources. The director manages 320 full-time, seasonal and temporary employees […]

Fishermen win big in Tagging Program drawing

 MOREHEAD CITY – Twelve lucky fishermen won $100 each in a recent N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Multi-Species Tagging Program yearly drawing.   The tagging program randomly selected tag numbers from more than 930 fish tags that were turned in by fishermen in 2016. Three tag numbers were drawn from each of the four species […]

RE: BLACK SEA BASS – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN – NORTH OF

 Braxton C. Davis, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Friday, April 7, 2017, the following restrictions will apply to the Atlantic Ocean commercial black sea bass fishery north of Cape Hatteras (35° 15.3’N. Latitude):   This proclamation sets the harvest periods and limits for the Atlantic Ocean commercial black […]

HELP END PILOT CATCH SHARE PROGRAM

 This week a decision will be made about whether to put our snapper-grouper fishery into the hands of private ownership or not.   The time to take action is now.   On Thursday, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will decide whether or not they will support the pilot catch share program Exempted Fishing Permit […]