The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission adopted on June 6 temporary rules to implement mandatory harvest reporting required by a new state law…
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission adopted on June 6 temporary rules to implement mandatory harvest reporting required by a new state law.
The North Carolina General Assembly passed Session Law 2023-137 in the fall of 2023. Section 6 of this legislation 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. Department of Environmental Quality’s 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 becomes effective Dec. 1, 2024.
More information on this mandatory harvest reporting requirement can be found on the Division of Marine Fisheries website at www.deq.nc.gov/mandatory-harvest-reporting.
