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-5-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Queens Creek, a portion of White Oak River, Newport River, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, and Oyster Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, January 18, 2024.

Issued Date: 1/17/2024

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-4-2024

This proclamation closes the following areas in Pender, Onslow and Carteret Counties: Stump Sound, Newport River, North River, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, and Oyster Creek. 

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective at 8:00am, Wednesday,  January 10, 2024.

Issued Date: 1/10/2024

Counties Affected: Pender, Onslow and Carteret

PA-3-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Tubbs Inlet, Ocean Isle Beach, Shallotte River, Shallotte Inlet Area, Lockwoods Folly Inlet Area, and Stump Sound.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Saturday, January 6, 2024.

Issued Date: 1/5/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow

PA-2-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Topsail Sound, Old Topsail Creek, Virginia Creek, Beckys Creek, and Bear Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, January 5, 2024.

Issued Date: 1/4/2024

Counties Affected: New Hanover, Pender, Onslow and Carteret

PA-1-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: A portion of Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, Newport River, Core Creek, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay, and Nelson Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, January 4, 2024.

Issued Date: 1/3/2024

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-110-2023

This proclamation closes the following areas in New Hanover, Pender and Carteret Counties: All those waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between Surf City and Figure Eight Island, North River, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay and Nelson Bay. 

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective at 8:15am, Thursday,  December 28, 2023. 

Issued Date: 12/28/2023

Counties Affected: New Hanover, Pender and Carteret

PA-109-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: A portion of North River, Jarrett Bay, and Oyster Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Saturday, December 23, 2023.

Issued Date: 12/22/2023

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-108-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Middle Sound, Pages Creek, a portion of Topsail Sound, Sallier's Bay, Freeman Creek, a portion of Bogue Sound, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, a portion of Jarrett Bay, Brett Bay, and Nelson Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, December 22, 2023.

Issued Date: 12/21/2023

Counties Affected: New Hanover, Pender, Onslow and Carteret.

PA-107-2023

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: A portion of Bogue Sound.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective at sunrise, Thursday, December 21, 2023.

Issued Date: 12/20/2023

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-106-2023

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow and Carteret Counties: Tubbs Inlet, Shallotte River, the Shallotte Inlet Area, Lockwoods Folly River, Lockwoods Folly Inlet area, a portion of Middle and Greenville Sounds, Pages Creek, a portion of Topsail Sound, Old Topsail Creek, Virginia Creek, Beckys Creek, Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, a portion of Bogue Sound, Newport River, North River, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay, and Nelson Bay.

Effective Date: 12/18/2023

Issued Date: 12/18/2023

Counties Affected: Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow and Carteret