Polluted Area Proclamations

Polluted area proclamations include temporary closures and re-openings to shellfish harvest as a result of bacteriological water quality, as well as changes in descriptions of permanently closed areas due to Sanitary Survey findings.

To reach the 24-hour automated message listing the latest shellfish harvest closures, please dial 252-515-5656.  For questions regarding bacteriological closures, call Andrew Haines at 252-515-5617, or email him at Andrew.haines@deq.nc.gov.

2021 Proclamations

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Shellfish Sanitation Maps

To see an interactive map of temporary closures: Click here.

To access maps of permanently closed areas and written permanent closure descriptions: Click here. (Click on the growing area label in the map and then click on the "Attachments" link that appears in the pop up window.) 

To receive recent maps referenced in proclamations via mail, contact Andrew Haines (Andrew.Haines@deq.nc.gov), or call 252-515-5617.

Proclamations

Proclamations

PA-41-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Lockwoods Folly River and North River, and will reopen those leases in North River that were closed exclusively for relaying.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Saturday, May 25, 2024.

Issued Date: 5/24/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick and Carteret

PA-40-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Browns Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, and White Oak River.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, May 24, 2024.

Issued Date: 5/23/2024

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-39-2024

With the exception of any leases or franchises located in temporarily closed waters, this proclamation reopens any leases or franchises in Pender, Onslow, and Carteret Counties that were closed exclusively for relaying purposes effective at sunrise, Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Issued Date: 5/22/2024

Counties Affected: Pender, Onslow, and Carteret

PA-38-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Newport River, Core Creek, a portion of North River, and Ward Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Issued Date: 5/21/2024

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-37-2024

This proclamation closes the following areas in Onslow and Carteret Counties: Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, a portion of Newport River, Core Creek, North River, and Ward Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closures effective at 8:05 a.m., Thursday, May 16, 2024.

Issued Date: 5/16/2024

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-36-2024

This proclamation closes the following area in Brunswick County: Lockwoods Folly River.

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closure effective at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Issued Date: 5/15/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-PC-2024

This proclamation closes approximately 0.5 acres around one marina in the A-2 Growing Area of Brunswick County, 1.5 acres around one marina in the B-5 Growing Area of New Hanover County, 2.5 acres around one marina in the B-6 Growing Area of New Hanover County, 5.5 acres around three marinas in the B-8 Growing Area of Pender County, 7 acres around Beckys Creek in the B-8 Growing Area of Pender County, 6 acres around two marinas in the D-4 Growing Area of Carteret County, 4.5 acres around two marinas in the E-2 Growing Area of Carteret County, 2.5 acres around two marinas in the E-3 Growing Area of Carteret County, 5 acres around Crabbing Creek in the E-6 Growing Area of Carteret County, 7 acres of mosquito ditches near Williston Creek in the E-8 Growing Area of Carteret County, 22 acres in Brett Bay in the E-9 Growing Area of Carteret County, 2 acres around one marina in the F-2 Growing Area of Craven County, 9.5 acres around Sandy Huss Creek and a small canal near Sportsmans Village in the F-2 Growing Area of Carteret County, 1 acre around one marina in the F-6 Growing Area of Pamlico County, 46 acres around Hickory Creek and a series of canals in the G-4 Growing Area of Hyde County, 3 acres around one marina in the H-1 Growing Area of Dare County, and 25.5 acres around five marinas in the H-5 Growing Area of Dare County. This proclamation also opens approximately 37 acres in Queens Creek in the D-2 Growing Area of Onslow County and 576 acres in South River in the F-2 Growing Area of Carteret County.  

To see a map highlighting what is changing as a result of this proclamation, click here.

Effective Date: Effective at sunrise, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, this proclamation supersedes PA-PC-2-2023 and brings together in one document all areas which are permanently closed to shellfish harvesting.

Issued Date: 5/13/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Carteret, Craven, Pamlico, Hyde, and Dare

PA-35-2024

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: Lockwoods Folly River

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Issued Date: 5/8/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-34-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Tubbs Inlet and Ocean Isle Beach.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Saturday, April 27, 2024

Issued Date: 4/26/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-33-2024

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick County: Tubbs Inlet, Ocean Isle Beach, and Lockwoods Folly River.

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closures effective at 7:35 a.m., Sunday, April 21, 2024.

Issued Date: 4/21/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick