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

Send an email to subscribe to the Polluted Area Proclamations list

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-57-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick County: IWW Beacon "84" to the SC line, including Tubbs Inlet; and Lockwoods Folly River.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 8:05 A.M., Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Issued Date: 7/16/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-56-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: A portion of Stump Sound, a portion of Newport River, a portion of North River, Ward Creek, a portion of Jarrett Bay, and Brett Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Issued Date: 7/15/2022

Counties Affected: Pender, Onslow, Carteret

PA-55-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective Friday, July 15, 2022.

Issued Date: 7/14/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow, Carteret

PA-54-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: a portion of Bogue Sound, a portion of North River, Whitehurst Creek, and the Straits.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective Thursday, July 14, 2022.

Issued Date: 7/13/2022

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-53-2022

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: Alligator Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

Issued Date: 7/12/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow

PA-52-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick and New Hanover Counties: Tubbs Inlet; all waters between a line from the mainland to IWW "155" to the southern tip of Masonboro Island and the permanent closure line at Howells Point near IWW "33", to include Bald Head Island, Cape Fear River, and a portion of Myrtle Grove Sound.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 8:15 A.M., Monday, July 11, 2022.

Issued Date: 7/11/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick, New Hanover

PA-51-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Carteret County: a portion of Bogue Sound, Newport River, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, the Straits, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, and Brett Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 7:55 A.M., Sunday, July 10, 2022

Issued Date: 7/10/2022

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-50-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Tubbs Inlet, Lockwoods Folly River, a portion of Newport River, North River, Ward Creek, and Whitehurst Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Saturday, July 9, 2022.

Issued Date: 7/8/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick and Carteret

PA-48-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Middle Sound and Pages Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective sunrise, Friday, July 8, 2022.

Issued Date: 7/7/2022

Counties Affected: New Hanover

PA-49-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Pender, Onslow, and Carteret Counties: All waters between Beacon "15" near Galleon Bay and the Surf City Bridge, to include Stump Sound and Alligator Bay; and all waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between Beacon "33" near Cannonsgate Marina in Bogue Sound and Beacon "65A" just west of Salliers Bay near New River Inlet, to include the Intracoastal Waterway, Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, Goose Creek, and a portion of Bogue Sound.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 8:05 A.M., Friday, July 8, 2022.

Issued Date: 7/8/2022

Counties Affected: Pender, Onslow, Carteret