Category: NC

Snapper Grouper Amendment 36

Proposed actions: The amendment contains actions to identify and protect spawning sites/aggregations for snapper grouper species and designate these areas as Spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs). Five areas were selected and include:     South Cape Lookout (5 square miles)(NC),     Devil’s Hole/Georgetown Hole (3.1 square miles)(SC),     Area 51 (2.99 square miles)(SC),     Area 53 […]

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 […]

Commercial fishermen reminded to renew their licenses

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding watermen they need to renew their commercial fishing licenses and permits by June 30 to continue fishing, or in some cases, keep their licenses.   All commercial fishing licenses expire on June 30 each year.   With Standard Commercial Fishing Licenses and Retired Standard […]

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 […]

Anglers may receive a survey from the Division of Marine Fisheries

MOREHEAD CITY – North Carolina recreational anglers holding a current Coastal Recreational Fishing License may receive a survey conducted by the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries in the coming months.   The survey is a follow up to a previously conducted data collection in 2009. It seeks information on the economic characteristics of coastal recreational […]

Coastal recreational fishermen hooked fewer fish in 2016

MOREHEAD CITY – Coastal recreational fishermen hooked fewer fish in 2016 than they did in 2015.   Anglers brought an estimated 8.5 million fish to the docks in 2016, a decrease of 18 percent from 2015.   The estimated weight of these landings inched up, increasing by 2 percent to 12.2 million pounds. Anglers also […]

Shrimp catches and sales soared, but overall commercial landings lower in 2016

MOREHEAD CITY – A warm autumn kept commercial fishermen catching and selling shrimp up to New Year’s Eve last year, boosting 2016 shrimp landings to the highest since the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Trip Ticket Program began in 1994.   But overall, the 60 million pounds of finfish and shellfish commercial fishermen caught and […]