Weekly Update: May 18, 2026

NCFA Now on YouTube

The North Carolina Fisheries Association is expanding its outreach efforts with a new social media campaign focused on informing the public, sharing facts about our fisheries, and giving a voice to North Carolina’s fishing communities.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be releasing videos, graphics, historical content, fishery updates, and educational posts covering important issues affecting our coast — from fisheries management and conservation to seafood production, working waterfronts, and the people behind the industry.

This campaign is about making sure accurate information reaches more people and helping the public better understand the challenges facing our fishing communities and the importance of maintaining access to sustainable, local seafood.

We encourage all members, supporters, and subscribers to follow along, share our content, and help amplify the message.

Be sure to watch, follow, subscribe, and engage with our pages as new content is released.

Together, we can help ensure the voice of North Carolina’s fishing communities continues to be heard.

Click the NCFA YouTube Channel Below

Bonito Rulemaking and Sheephead Concerns

MFC Meeting Recap

The Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) met last week in New Bern. There were a lot of moving parts at this meeting, discussing upcoming stock assessments on southern flounder and blue crab as well as Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) updates on red drum and kingfishes.

The only vote during this meeting pertained to Atlantic bonito management. The MFC approved with a simple majority (vote was 5-2-2) for notice of text to begin the rulemaking process for a 5-fish recreational bag limit as well as granting the director of DMF proclamation authority, with prior MFC consent, to implement future management measures.

This new rule will be posted in the N.C. Register in August and will then be subject to a 60-day comment period and a public hearing.

Issues from Commissioners at the end of the meeting brought up a discussion of anglers catching more mature sheepshead. They requested the DMF come back with more information so they can further evaluate “the situation”. Stay tuned.

Blue Crab Stock Assessment Listening Session

The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will be holding a webinar focusing on the development of the blue crab stock assessment. This webinar will focus on their stock assessment processes and will also give the public opportunity to give feedback on the progress and process.

Blue Crab Stock Assessment Webinar

Thursday, May 28

6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Register for Webinar

Listening Location

N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries

Central District Office

5285 Highway 70 West

Morehead City, NC 28557

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments please reach out.

Thomas Newman

Fisheries Liaison

thomasnewman@ncfish.org