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-35-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Masonboro Sound, Greenville Sound, Middle Sound, Pages Creek, Black Mud Channel, Old Topsail Creek, Topsail Sound, and Virginia Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopenings effective sunrise, Wednesday, June 8, 2022.

Issued Date: 6/7/2022

Counties Affected: New Hanover and Pender

PA-34-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, and Onslow Counties: IWW Beacon "84" to the SC line, including Tubbs Inlet; IWW to the mainland between IWW "129 near Shinn Creek and IWW "141" near Peden Point, to include Intracoastal Waterway; all waters in Middle and Greenville Sounds between Figure Eight Island Bridge and line from mainland to IWW "129 to south shore of Shinn Creek to point on the northern tip of Masonboro Island, to include Pages Creek; IWW to the mainland between IWW "98A" near Forest Sound Marina and Figure Eight Island Bridge, to include Intracoastal Waterway; all waters between Hatch Point and line near Forest Sound Marina to IWW "98A" and "99A" to western shore of Black Mud Channel to northern tip of Hutaff Island near New Topsail Inlet, to include all of Black Mud Channel, Old Topsail Creek, portion of Topsail Sound, Virginia Creek, Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, and Chadwick Bay.

Effective Date: Shelfish Temporary Closures effective 7:55 a.m., Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Issued Date: 6/04/2022

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

PA-33-2022

This proclamation opens leases to the harvest of shellfish that were closed exclusively for relaying purposes in New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, and Carteret Counties.

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopenings effective sunrise, Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Issued Date: 06/03/2022

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

PA-32-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Bear Creek and Queens Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopening effective sunrise, Thursday, June 2, 2022.

Issued Date: 6/1/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow

PA-31-2022

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: North River.

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopening effective sunrise, Friday, May 27, 2022.

Issued Date: 5/26/2022

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-30-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Onslow County: Bear Creek and Queens Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 8:15 a.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

Issued Date: 5/24/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow

PA-29-2022

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: Newport River.

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopening effective sunrise, Saturday, May 21, 2022.

Issued Date: 5/20/2022

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-28-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopenings effective sunrise, Friday, May 20, 2022.

Issued Date: 5/19/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-27-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Onslow and Carteret Counties: Queens Creek, Newport River, and North River.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 8:07 A.M., Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

Issued Date: 5/17/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-26-2022

This proclamation corrects the written description for an existing closure that was inadvertently omitted from PA-PC-2022.

Effective Date: Shellfish Closure effective at 10:20 A.M., Friday, May 13, 2022.

Issued Date: 5/13/2022

Counties Affected: Carteret