October 2018
Stories in this newsletter
Oldest state law enforcement agency
Marine Patrol:
A lifesaving force
Jason Parker:
Officer of the year
Why shellfishing closed and other fishing didn't
Artificial reef
construction continues
Reminder about incidental take permit requirements
From the director's desk
We tarry at our peril and so must continue to move forward, to seek not what divides, but what unites us all. The effects of Hurricane Florence will have both short and long-term impacts on the people of North Carolina.

North Carolina’s oldest state law enforcement agency
The N.C. Marine Patrol can trace its roots back to 1800s when the state legislature was just beginning to adopt laws to protect oysters, making it the oldest state law enforcement agency.

A lifesaving force
You know their names. You see them, sometimes daily, on the water and at fish houses. They help your gear meet state regulations, they check your ice boxes – and they help with search and rescues. When Hurricane Florence made landfall, the North Carolina Marine Patrol became a life-saving force.

Jason Parker: Marine Patrol Officer of the Year
Whether it’s investigating a fisheries violation, trying out new technologies or working with Marine Fisheries education exhibits, Jason Parker excels at his job as a N.C. Marine Patrol officer.

Why shellfish harvest closed and other fishing didn’t
Hurricane Florence dumped more than 30 inches of rain in parts of coastal North Carolina, causing unprecedented flooding that triggered septic malfunctions, overflowed sewer systems and flushed wildlife fecal waste into rivers and sounds.

Artificial Reef Program constructs new fish habitat
The Division of Marine Fisheries has been involved with the construction, permitting and monitoring of artificial reefs since the early 1970s.

A reminder about incidental take permit requirements
Now that fall gill net fishing season is underway, here are some reminders for commercial and recreational gill netters that fish in the internal coastal waters of North Carolina.