MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are accepting public comments on temporary rules to implement mandatory harvest reporting requirements passed by the N.C. General Assembly in Session Law 2023-137, Section 6. The comment period will close at 5 p.m. May 20, 2024. Members of the public may submit comments in any of the following ways:
Marine Fisheries Commission Rules
Wildlife Resources Commission Rule
Through an online form
By mail to:
N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rules Comments P.O. Box 769 Morehead City, N.C. 28557
Rulemaking Coordinator N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission 1701 Mail Service Center Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1700
Emailed to regulations@ncwildlife.org (include name, county and state of residence in e-mail)
At a combined agency public hearing to be held virtually on May 1, 2024, at 6 p.m. Pre-registration is required:
Pre-register for Public Hearing Join by phone: Toll Free 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 160 805 6277
The new mandatory reporting law requires that any person who recreationally harvests Red Drum, Flounder, Spotted Seatrout (speckled trout), Striped Bass and Weakfish (gray trout) must report that harvest to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). Additionally, it requires anyone holding a commercial fishing license who is engaged in a commercial fishing operation to report all fish harvested to DMF, regardless of sale. The requirement starts Dec. 1, 2024, and applies to Coastal Fishing Waters, Joint Fishing Waters and Inland Fishing Waters adjacent to Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters.
More information on this mandatory reporting requirement can be found on the DMF website at https://www.deq.nc.gov/mandatory-harvest-reporting
DMF Contact: Patricia Smith Phone: 252-515-5500
WRC Contact: Fairley Mahlum Phone: 919-707-0180