Bay scallop season now open in Core Sound (2022)

2022 scallop season is open through March 31

North Carolina Marine Fisheries opened the 2022 season for commercial and recreational bay scallop harvesting in Core Sound from 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 24, 2022 through 4 p.m. on March 31, 2022 on Monday and Wednesdays. These are the only waters currently open to bay scallop harvesting.

Below is information from NCDMF’s proclamation:

A. MEANS AND METHODS

1. Scallops may be taken by hand, with hand rakes, hand tongs, dip nets and scoops from public bottom.
2. Scallops may be taken from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on harvest days.
3. It is unlawful to transfer scallops from the catching vessel to any other vessel or transport scallops by any vessel other than the vessel from which they are harvested.
4. It is unlawful to possess commercial and recreational limits of scallops aboard the same vessel.
5. It is unlawful to use or possess a dredge onboard while taking scallops from public bottom.

B. HARVEST DAYS

Scallop harvest will be allowed Monday and Wednesday of each week except as provided in

Section II.D. below.

C. COMMERCIAL HARVEST LIMITS

It is unlawful for persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with an endorsement to

sell shellfish or a Shellfish License to take or possess more than five (5) U.S. standard bushels of

scallops per day and shall not exceed a total of ten (10) U.S. standard bushels of scallops per

vessel per in any combined commercial fishing operation from public bottom, regardless of the

number of commercial license holders onboard the vessel.

Proclamation SF-2-2022

Pg. 2

D. RECREATIONAL HARVEST LIMITS

It is unlawful for unlicensed persons taking scallops for personal consumption to take or possess

more than one half (1/2) bushel of scallops per person per day not to exceed one (1) bushel per

vessel per day from public bottom for recreational purposes seven days a week (see A.4. above).

III. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C. General Statutes 113-134; 113-170.4; 113-

170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and NC Marine Fisheries Commission Rules 15A NCAC

03H .0103, 15A NCAC 03K .0105, 15A NCAC 03K .0501, and 15A NCAC 03K .0502.

B. In accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03H .0103 it is unlawful to

violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under their delegated

authority.

C. In accordance with N.C. General Statute 113-221.1(c) all persons who may be affected by

proclamations issued by the Fisheries Director are under a duty to keep themselves informed of

current proclamations.

D. N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03K .0508 exempts permitted aquaculture

operations from harvest limit restrictions.

E. In accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03K .0507 it is unlawful

for lease or franchise holders or their designees to take or possess scallops from public bottom

while possessing aboard a vessel scallops taken from shellfish leases or franchises.

F. The intent of this proclamation is to open the season to the harvest of bay scallops taken by hand,

with hand rakes, hand tongs, dip nets and scoops from public bottom, and reflects harvest limits

by license type in accordance with the provisions in Amendment 2 of the Bay Scallop Fishery

Management Plan.

G. Contact N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557 252-726-7021

or 800-682-2632 for more information or visit the division website at

https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries

H. This proclamation opens the season to the commercial and recreational harvest of bay

scallops from public bottom in Core Sound only from 7:30 A.M. January 24, 2022 through

4:00 P.M. March 31, 2022.