In a recent proclamation by Preston Pate, Director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, the limits for recreational shark fishing were re-stated and, in some cases, re-defined. Under the proclamation, the possession of any shark species, except smooth dogfish and spiny dogfish, is limited to one shark per vessel per day, for vessels other than charter boats and head boats. The possession limit for those vessels is one shark per person, excluding the captain and crew. If no vessel is involved, the possession limit is one shark per person per day.

The possession of all sharks, except Atlantic sharpnose, smooth dogfish and spiny dogfish must be a minimum of 54 inches in fork length. The possession of all sharks, except for tiger, thresher, bigeye thresher, shortfin mako and hammerhead species, greater than 84 inches fork length is prohibited. Any shark retained must have head, tail and fins intact with the carcass through the point of landing. All sharks not retained must be returned to the water in a manner in ensure the highest livelihood of survival. Possession of basking, white, sand tiger and whale sharks is prohibited in state waters.

Additional protection for many shark species has been deemed necessary because of overfishing and harmful practices that are reducing the populations of some types of sharks. Finning (removing the dorsal fin and dumping the rest of the carcass) is an example of the latter. Shark fins are valued in some Asian countries as aphrodisiacs or for supposed healing powers.