Shellfish Lease and Franchise
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) administers the Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program (SLAP) to authorize and oversee the cultivation of shellfish on public trust waters and submerged lands within the State of North Carolina.
Through this program, individuals and businesses may apply for bottom leases, water column leases, and franchises for the purpose of shellfish aquaculture and mariculture. Applications are reviewed in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes, Marine Fisheries Commission rules, and applicable proclamations to ensure consistency with public trust protections, environmental standards, navigation safety, and riparian rights.
This page provides information for new applicants, current lease holders, researchers, stakeholders, and members of the public. Resources include application materials, siting tools, program requirements, regulatory references, and contact information for program staff.
For application status and lease location information, please use the interactive Shellfish Aqauculture Map below.
Track Shellfish Lease Activity Across North Carolina
Explore real-time information on current lease applications and the locations of active or terminated shellfish leases using the interactive Division of Marine Fisheries Shellfish Aquaculture Map.
Use the map above to view lease boundaries, application progress, and related coastal data layers. The tool is updated weekly to reflect the most current information available and is designed to support applicants, lease holders, researchers, and the public.
Open the Full Interactive Map in a New Window
Learn more about how to use the map and review Shellfish Lease Siting guidance.
Program Information and Resources
Application Period
The application period opens March 1, 2026, and closes August 1, 2026. Please do not wait until the deadline to submit your application. If your application is denied after August 1, you will not be able to reapply until 2027.
Applications that are incomplete, incorrectly filled out, or that propose ineligible shellfish lease sites will be denied. All application fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
2026 Shellfish Lease Application
Application Submission
Mail the completed application and non-refundable fee (postmarked by August 1, 2026) to:
NC Division of Marine Fisheries
Attn: Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program
PO Box 769
Morehead City, NC 28557
Important Information About the Shellfish Lease Application
Storm Prep and Gear Management Plan
All new applications must include a comprehensive storm preparation and gear management plan (Section 5; details in Appendix VII). This plan is mandatory and must be fully completed. Please contact staff if you have any questions.
Shellfish Lease Rule Updates (Effective 2022)
Recent rule changes include:
- A 250-foot riparian setback from developed shorelines, unless accompanied by a signed riparian owner permission form.
- A 250-foot buffer between proposed shellfish leases and all existing leases.
- Cumulative impact considerations, allowing the director to evaluate the effects of existing leases, among other factors, when making final decisions.
- Updated marking requirements for leases and franchises:
- New leases are limited to a maximum of eight corner poles.
- Each corner stake must display 12 vertical inches of reflective tape or a yellow light.
- Each water column lease must have a “Caution” or “Warning” sign on each corner in place of two yellow floats.
- Updated training program requirements for new applicants.
Application and Investigation Schedule
- Shellfish bottom lease and water column applications are accepted annually from March 1 through August 1.
- Shellfish lease site investigations occur from April 1 through October 1, aligned with the growing season for submerged aquatic vegetation.
Checking Application or Lease Status
To check the status of a current application or to view locations of active or terminated shellfish leases, use our interactive Shellfish Aquaculture Tool. This tool is available to new applicants, current lease holders, and anyone interested in shellfish leases. It is updated weekly to provide the most current information.
Book a consultation with the Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program
Schedule up to a one hour meeting with our Leasing Biologist to discuss:
- Application requirements and next steps.
- Site selection and footprint standards.
- Mapping, coordinates, and required attachments.
- Timelines, review, and common reasons for denial.
Additional Resources
NC DMF Shellfish Aquaculture Tool Quick User's Guide
NC DMF Shellfish Aquaculture Tool User's Manual
To learn about the status of a current shellfish lease application or about the location of an active or terminated shellfish lease, please use the interactive DMF Shellfish Aquaculture Tool. The Shellfish Aquaculture Tool is designed to allow new shellfish lease applicants, current shellfish lease holders, and anyone else interested in shellfish leases to follow the application process. Users can see existing shellfish leases, closed areas, historical seagrass beds, and terminated shellfish leases to better inform the site selection process. The tool is updated weekly to ensure the most up-to-date information is posted.
The shellfish aquaculture tool, in combination with the resources below, are there to assist applicants in planning for a potential shellfish farm site. To get started with the interactive tool, see the User's Guide and User's Manual above.
UNCW has also developed a lease siting tool, The North Carolina Shellfish Lease Siting Tool. This tool will assist new or current growers in siting new or expanding shellfish operations on the North Carolina coastline. It provides visual representation of data specifically related to shellfish aquaculture such as salinity, bottom type, depth, and shellfish growing area classifications.
Table 1
Shellfish Lease Type and Total Number and Acreage in North Carolina
| Active Shellfish Leases | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Number | Total Acreage |
| Bottom | 305 | 1,465.08 |
| Water Column | 179 | 605.29 |
| Franchise | 38 | 451.602 |
| Research | 3 | 6.27 |
| Total | 525 | 2,528.21 |
Table 2
Shellfish Lease Applications by Year and Type
| Shellfish Lease Applications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Bottom | Water Column |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | 8 | 6 |
| 2013 | 6 | 10 |
| 2014 | 8 | 7 |
| 2015 | 9 | 2 |
| 2016 | 10 | 11 |
| 2017 | 52 | 46 |
| 2018* | 36 | 33 |
| 2019 | 58 | 48 |
| 2020♦ | 29 | 25 |
| 2021♦ | 34 | 29 |
| 2022 | 43 | 41 |
| 2023 | 28 | 27 |
| 2024 | 21 | 20 |
| 2025 | 19 | 16 |
Table 3
Number of Shellfish Leases by County
| Active Shellfish Leases | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Bottom | Water Column | Franchise | Research Demonstration | Lease Footprints |
| Beaufort | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Brunswick | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Carteret | 132 | 77 | 2 | 2 | 136 |
| Craven | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dare | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Hyde | 23 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 25 |
| New Hanover | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Onslow | 59 | 32 | 26 | 0 | 85 |
| Pamlico | 13 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 21 |
| Pender | 52 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
| Total | 305 | 179 | 37 | 3 | 345 |
The division’s Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Section is responsible for ensuring the safety of molluscan shellfish by monitoring water quality throughout coastal waters.
The Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program (SLAP) is managed by a dedicated team overseeing lease applications, site evaluations, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder support.
| Name | Role | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Casey Silva | Program Coordinator | Phone: (252) 723-8866 Email: casey.silva@deq.nc.gov |
| Kristina Flanigan | Leasing Biologist | Phone: (252) 515-5505 Email: kristina.flanigan@deq.nc.gov |
| Stephen Johnson | Mapping Biologist | Phone: (252) 515-5487 Email: stephen.johnson@deq.nc.gov |
| Marla Chuffo | Administrative Officer | Phone: (252) 515-5480 Email: marla.chuffo@deq.nc.gov |
| Mitch Melkonian | Administrative Specialist | Phone: (252) 515-5495 Email: mitch.melkonian@deq.nc.gov |
Contacts
Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program (SLAP)
Phone: (252) 515-5600
Email: SLAP@deq.nc.gov
SeaGrant Coastal Aquaculture Specialist
Eric Herbst
Phone: (252) 222-6314
Email: echerbst@ncsu.edu
Resource Links
- North Carolina Aquaculture Gear Management and Storm Preparedness Resource Guide
- Bird Mitigation One-Pager
- Shellfish Resubmergence One-Pager
North Carolina Sea Grant
Can provide valuable assistance in helping you determine capital investment, lease size, grow-out methods, seed sources, and many other important items that will help your aquaculture venture succeed.
Carteret Community College
Offers an Aquaculture Technology certificate, as well as a degree. These classes provide technical knowledge about aquaculture, operating a business, and finance management.
NOAA
The data is available via NOAA's Marine Cadastre national mapper and viewer. The specific data are for Vessel Traffic density. Generalized summaries are available in the Marine Cadastre viewer. *Note this does not apply to personal watercraft.
North Carolina Shellfish Growers Association
Industry group that shellfish growers can join and network with other growers.
East Coast Shellfish Growers Association
Regional association that includes information on shellfish aquaculture including Best Management Practices. They produce a newsletter with updates on legislation, scientific studies, and other pertinent information concerning shellfish growers.
Financing & Grower Support
- NC Shellfish Growers — Resource hub for North Carolina oyster & clam growers, including programs and support.
Visit NC Shellfish Growers - North Carolina Shellfish Loan Fund — Financing resource supporting NC shellfish aquaculture.
Shellfish Sanitation and Closures
View the interactive map of current temporary and permanent shellfish closures.
Current polluted area proclamations can be viewed on the Polluted Area Proclamations page.
Current (Shellfish Sanitation) proclamations specifying time to temperature controls can be viewed on the Fisheries Management Proclamations page.