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Where you can find Us

North Carolina Watermen United (NCWU) is committed to being present, approachable, and engaged within the communities we serve. By attending events across the state, we create opportunities to connect face-to-face with fishermen, local leaders, businesses, and supporters who share a passion for protecting our coastal heritage. These moments allow us to listen, exchange ideas, and clearly communicate our mission to preserve the livelihoods of working watermen and the future of our fisheries. Being accessible at events isn’t just about visibility—it’s about building relationships, fostering trust, and strengthening a united voice for North Carolina’s coastal communities.

 

If you’re hosting an event and would like NCWU to attend, be present, or speak, we’d love to connect

please email ncwuinfo@gmail.com.

2026 LEGISLATIVE DINNER

 

The North Carolina Watermen United attended the 2026 Legislative Dinner.

 

The dinner allows our NCWU Board of Directors to meet with our Legislators to discuss the current issues facing our hard-working watermen in a unique and informal setting. We are proud to say almost the entire Board made the trek to Fairfield to ask the decision makers for assistance on specific obstacles facing our fishermen. It is in our best interest when all our statewide office holders are aware of state legislation and regulations that restrict our local watermen. The need to have the ability to harvest this public trust to provide fresh local seafood is imperative to promote a healthy socio-economic environment for all of North Carolina’s coastal communities.

 

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2024 NEWSLETTER

 

FIRST QUARTER

- Hyde County Legislative Duck Hunt Dinner… catered event for our State Legislators.

- Change in our Social Media outreach program to be published in house without outside media consultant.

 

NC Marine Fisheries Commission (NCMFC):

  • Worked with local bait & tackle shop owners to offer in-person public comment on Striped Mullet FMP

Amendment 2.

  • Voiced opposition to proposed NEW False Albacore Management.

 

NOAA

  • Proposed Amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Limit Public Comment.

 

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC):

  • Board members attended SAFMC Dolphin shareholder meeting.

  • Offered Public Comment on proposed control date for federal charter vessel/headboat migratory pelagics.

  • Assisted in arranging King & Spanish Mackerel Port Meetings in Manteo & Hatteras.

 

SECOND QUARTER

NCMFC

  • Facilitated meetings on Observer Trip Scheduling Public Outreach Meetings in Barco and Hatteras.​

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NOAA

  • Board members Greg Mayer and Woody Joyner participated in personal teleconferences with the President’s Office of Management & Budget on the Proposed Amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Limit Public Comment.

 

NCMFC 

Attended Spring Business Meeting in Beaufort:

  •  Striped Mullet Amendment 2- final vote…offered in-person Public Comment.

  • Spotted Trout Amendment 1.

  • Voiced opposition to proposed Bonita Fishery Management Plan.

 

THIRD QUARTER

  • NOAA Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule…continuing outreach. Working with Southeastern Legal Foundation in effort to

prevent proposal from being enacted. 

  • Attended meeting with the NC Towers Outreach & Engagement Offshore Wind Roundtable to garner information on the status of the Kitty Hawk & Long Bay areas.

  • Joined the first Webinar on the For-Hire / Recreational Committee – Regional Fund Administrator on how to disperse

funds to private watermen to possibly off-set economic loss due to wind towers.

 

NC Department of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF)

  •  Facilitated meetings on Mandatory Harvest Reporting FOR-HIRE shareholder meetings in Manteo & Hatteras

 

- Assisted the Delmarva Fishing Association, Chesapeake area, on the Supreme Court’s overturning the Chevron Act.

- Hatteras Village Day at the Docks…NCWU provided a tent to highlight our fishery efforts.

 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

  • met officials via Webinar to discuss Renewable Energy Leasing Process for Atlantic 2 Call Zones.

  •  Sat with other shareholders from southern New Jersey to the North Carolina/South Carolina line on possibility of 

new wind tower leases in addition to the Kitty Hawk and Long Bay areas.

  • Offered Public Comment to acquire data before making any future lease locations and to include the charter-for-hire      sector in all calculations.

 

SAFMC 

  • Public Comment on the Snapper/Grouper 2 for 1 permitting.

 

FOURTH QUARTER

SAFMC

  • Public Comment on the Snapper/Grouper 2 for 1 permitting

BOEM

  • Virtually attended the Renewable Energy Leasing Process seminar

 

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC)

  • Virtually attended quarterly meeting held in Dewey Beach, FL

 

- OBX Seafood Festival, Manteo – NCWU joined as a sponsor for the Fishing Village & Educational Area to showcase the

organization. NCWU Board members sit on the OBX Seafood Festival Board

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NOAA

  • Public Comment on the Red Snapper litigation and proposed Secretarial Amendment

 

- NCWU ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING IN WANCHESE…OPEN TO ALL.

 

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Members of the North Carolina Watermen United are represented by our Board on the following local & federal

commissions:

o Oregon Inlet Task Force

o Dare County Waterways Commission

o SAFMC – Dolphin/Wahoo Advisory Panel

 

 

The North Carolina Watermen FOUNDATION “Relief Fund” is the philanthropic arm of the NCWU.

The FOUNDATION is federally filed non-profit which allows our organization to offer financial

assistance to our fellow watermen in need.

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