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-24-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Bogue Sound between 16th Street and IWW Marker "17", Sleepy Creek, a portion of Jarrett Bay and Brett Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective at sunrise, Thursday, April 13, 2023.  

Issued Date: 4/12/2023

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-23-2023

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, and Carteret Counties: Tubbs Inlet, Ocean Isle Beach, Shallotte River, Lockwoods Folly River, a portion of Myrtle Grove Sound, a portion of Masonboro Sound, Middle Sound, Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, a portion of Bogue Sound, Newport River, Core Creek, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay, and Nelson Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closures effective at 8:05 a.m., Sunday, April 9, 2023

Issued Date: 4/9/2023

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

PA-22-2023

This proclamation closes specific leases and franchises in Onslow County as part of the shellfish relay program.

Effective Date: Shellfish leases or franchises close effective sunrise, Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Issued Date: 4/6/2023

Counties Affected: Onslow

PA-21-2023

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective at sunrise, Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Issued Date: 4/4/2023

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-20-2023

This proclamation closes specific leases and franchises in New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, and Carteret Counties as part of the shellfish relay program.

Effective Date: Shellfish leases or franchises close effective sunrise, Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Issued Date: 3/31/2023

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

PA-19-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Topsail Sound, Old Topsail Creek, Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, Salliers Bay, and Freeman Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective at sunrise, Saturday, April 1, 2023.

Issued Date: 3/31/2023

Counties Affected: Pender and Onslow

PA-18-2023

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow Counties: All waters between IWW "84" and the South Carolina State Line, to include Tubbs Inlet; Lockwoods Folly River; All those waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between Marker "86" and Marker "105", to include Old Topsail Creek;  All waters in Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, and Chadwick Bay between Hatch Point and the Surf City Bridge; All those waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between Beacon "59" and Beacon "65A", to include Salliers Bay and Freeman Creek. 

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective at 8:25 a.m., Monday, March 27, 2023.

Issued Date: 3/27/2023

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow

PA-PC-2023

This proclamation closes approximately 3 acres in a newly dredged marina basin in the B-8 Growing Area of Pender County, 3 acres in Sleepy Creek in the E-6 Growing Area of Carteret County, 114 acres in East Fork in the G-1 Growing Area of Beaufort County, 81 acres in Satterthwaite Creek in the G-2 Growing Area of Beaufort County, 69 acres in Jordan Creek in the G-8 Growing Area of Beaufort County, 135 acres in Slade Creek in the G-8 Growing Area of Hyde County, and 49 acres in Stumpy Point Bay in the H-3 Growing Area of Dare County.  This proclamation also opens 23 acres in the Intracoastal Waterway near Mill Creek in the B-8 Growing Area of Pender County and 60 acres in Roanoke Sound in the H-1 Growing Area of Dare County.

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

Effective Date: Effective at sunrise, Friday, March 3rd, 2023, this proclamation supersedes PA-PC-2-2022 and brings together in one document all areas which are permanently closed to shellfish harvesting.

Issued Date: 3/2/2023

Counties Affected: Pender, Carteret, Beaufort, Hyde, and Dare

PA-17-2023

This proclamation restates the area that remains temporarily closed to shellfish harvest after issuance of PA-PC-2023.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closure effective at 6:40 a.m., Friday, March 3, 2023.

Issued Date: 3/2/2023

Counties Affected: New Hanover

PA-16-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Myrtle Grove Sound and a portion of Masonboro Sound.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective at sunrise, Thursday, February 23, 2023

Issued Date: 2/22/2023

Counties Affected: New Hanover