Stay up-to-date on the latest regulations and permitting requirements for shellfish mariculture in North Carolina!
Division of Marine Fisheries Shellfish Lease Program: General information about the Shellfish Lease and Franchise Program and how to apply for shellfish bottom or water column leases.
North Carolina’s Under Dock Oyster Culture Program (UDOC): This page has details on the UDOC program, which allows qualified permit holders to attach up to 90 square feet of oyster cultivation containers to their coastal dock or pier.
NOAA Aquaculture Information Page: This page contains information about aquaculture in general, its regulation, and NOAA research programs related to aquaculture.
National Shellfish Sanitation Program: The National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) is the federal/state cooperative program recognized by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) for the sanitary control of shellfish produced and sold for human consumption. This page has the most recent guides for promoting the sanitation of the shellfish industry.
Prevention of Marine Debris from Shellfish Mariculture: This document outlines the Best Management Practices for shellfish growers in NC. Topics include siting, farm design, and farm operation.