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

PA-46-2023

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: Queens Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective at sunrise, Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Issued Date: 6/2/2023

Counties Affected: Onslow

PA-45-2023

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: Stump Sound.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, June 2, 2023.

Issued Date: 6/1/2023

Counties Affected: Pender and Onslow Counties

PA-44-2023

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow Counties: Tubbs Inlet, Stump Sound, and Queens Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective at 8:05 a.m., Sunday, May 28th, 2023.

Issued Date: 5/28/2023

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow

PA-43-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Tubbs Inlet, Shallotte Inlet Area, a portion of Shallotte River, Lockwoods Folly Inlet Area, Middle Sound, and White Oak River.

Effective Date: Shelfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Saturday, May 27, 2023.

Issued Date: 5/26/2023

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

PA-42-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: A portion of Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, Newport River, and Core Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, May 26, 2023.

Issued Date: 5/25/2023

Counties Affected: Pender, Onslow, and Carteret

PA-41-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, and a portion of the White Oak River.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, May 25, 2023.

Issued Date: 5/24/2023

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-40-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: North River, Ward Creek, Sleepy Creek, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay, Nelson Bay, and Cedar Island Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

Issued Date: 5/23/2023

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-38-2023

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, Pender, Onslow, and Carteret Counties: Tubbs Inlet, Shallotte River, Shallotte Inlet Area, Lockwoods Folly River, Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, a portion of Newport River, Core Creek, Sleepy Creek, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay, Nelson Bay, and Cedar Island Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closure effective at 8:15 a.m., Saturday, May 20, 2023.

Issued Date: 5/20/2023

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Pender, Onslow, and Carteret

PA-39-2023

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick and Carteret Counties: All those waters from Southport to the South Carolina State Line, including Tubbs Inlet, Shallotte River, Shallotte Inlet Area, Lockwoods Folly River, and Lockwoods Folly Inlet Area; North River, and Ward Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closure effective at 9:50 a.m., Saturday, May 20, 2023.

Issued Date: 5/20/2023

Counties Affected: Brunswick and Carteret

PA-37-2023

This proclamation closes the following area in New Hanover County: Middle Sound between the Figure Eight Island Bridge and the Wrightsville Beach Bridge.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closure effective at 8:10 a.m., Friday, May 19, 2023.

Issued Date: 5/19/2023

Counties Affected: New Hanover