N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission to Meet in Kitty Hawk

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The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will hold a two-day public meeting on February 18-19 in Kitty Hawk. The commission is scheduled to vote on selecting a preferred management option for Atlantic bonito and approving the initial determination of rules for the state-mandated periodic review of existing regulations.

Why it matters

The commission's decisions on Atlantic bonito management and rule review will impact commercial and recreational fishing in North Carolina. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed, allowing residents to stay informed and provide input on these important fisheries issues.

The details

During the meeting, the commission will consider proposed options for managing Atlantic bonito and vote on a preferred option that will lead to the formal rulemaking process. The commission will also review all of its existing rules and approve the initial determination that they are necessary, which will then open a public comment period before potential rule readoption.

• The meeting will be held on February 18-19, 2026.
• The public comment sessions will be at 6 p.m. on February 18 and 9 a.m. on February 19.

What’s next

After the commission approves the initial rule determinations, a public comment period will be held from March 2 to May 1, 2026 before potential rule readoption.