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-96-2022

This proclamation closes the following area in Brunswick County: all waters near Lockwoods Folly Inlet.

Effective Date: Shellfish Precautionary Temporary Closure effective 2:25 P.M., Thursday, December 8, 2022.

Issued Date: 12/08/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-PC-2-2022

This proclamation closes approximately 20 acres in the Intracoastal Waterway in the A-2 Growing Area of Brunswick County, 43 acres in Lockwoods Folly River in the A-3 Growing Area of Brunswick County, and 8 acres in Courthouse Bay in the C-2 Growing Area of Onslow County. This proclamation also opens 4 acres in Courthouse Bay in the C-2 Growing Area of Onslow County.

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

Effective Date: Effective at sunrise, November 29th, 2022, this proclamation supersedes PA-PC-2022 and brings together in one document all areas which are permanently closed to shellfish harvesting.

Issued Date: 11/28/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Onslow

PA-95-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Pamlico Sound, Sandy Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Saturday, October 15, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/14/2022

Counties Affected: Dare

PA-94-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Friday, October 14, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/13/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow, Carteret

PA-93-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Newport River, Core Creek, North River, Ward Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, West Bay, Long Bay, North Bay, Turnagain Bay, South River, Adams Creek, Neuse River, and Broad Creek (Pamlico County).

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Thursday, October 13, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/12/2022

Counties Affected: Carteret, Craven, Pamlico

PA-92-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Ocean Isle, Holden Beach, Bay River, and Jones Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Wednesday, October 12, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/11/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Pamlico

PA-91-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Cape Fear River, Bald Head Island, Pamlico River, Pungo River, Spencer Bay, Rose Bay, Swanquarter Bay, Juniper Bay, West Bluff Bay, East Bluff Bay, Wysocking Bay, and Long Shoal River.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Sunday, October 9, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/8/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick, New Hanover, Pamlico, Beaufort, Hyde, and Dare

PA-90-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Tubbs Inlet, Shallotte River, Shallotte River Inlet, Lockwoods Folly River, Lockwoods Folly Inlet, a portion of North River, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, The Straits a portion of Jarrett Bay, Brett Bay, Nelson Bay, Core Sound, Barry Bay, Thorofare Bay, Rumley Bay, Lewis Creek, and Cedar Island Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Saturday, October 8, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/07/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Carteret

PA-89-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Middle Sound, Pages Creek, Topsail Sound, Old Topsail Creek, Virginia Creek, Beckys Creek, Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, a portion of Bogue Sound, and a portion of Newport River.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Friday, October 7, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/06/2022

Counties Affected: New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Carteret

PA-88-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Myrtle Grove Sound, Masonboro Sound, Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Brown Inlet, Bear Inlet, a portion of White Oak River, Bogue Inlet, and Back Sound.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective sunrise, Thursday, October 6, 2022

Issued Date: 10/05/2022

Counties Affected: New Hanover, Onslow, Carteret