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-17-2022

This proclamation closes specific leases in Onslow County.

Effective Date: Shellfish Leases or franchises close effective sunrise, Wednesday, April 20, 2022.

Issued Date: 04/18/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow

PA-16-2022

This proclamation closes specific leases in New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, and Carteret Counties.

Effective Date: Shellfish Leases or franchises close effective sunrise, Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

Issued Date: 04/01/2022

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

PA-15-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopenings effective sunrise, Thursday, March 31, 2022.

Issued Date: 03/30/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-14-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Intracoastal Waterway between Emerald Isle High-rise Bridge and IWW "65A", Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, Newport River, Core Creek, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, and Sleepy Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopening effective sunrise, Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

Issued Date: 03/29/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-13-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, Onslow, and Carteret Counties: IWW Beacon "84" to the SC line, including Tubbs Inlet; IWW to the mainland between the Emerald Isle High-rise Bridge and IWW "65A" to include Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, and White Oak River; Newport River, Core Creek, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, and Sleepy Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 8:10 A.M., Friday, March 25, 2022

Issued Date: 03/25/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Onslow, Carteret

PA-12-2022

This proclamation closes the following area in Brunswick County: Lockwoods Folly River.

Effective Date: 8:05 A.M., Thursday, March 24, 2022

Issued Date: 03/24/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-11-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopenings effective sunrise, Saturday, March 19, 2022.

Issued Date: 3/18/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-10-2022

This proclamation closes the following area in Brunswick County: IWW Beacon "84" to the SC line, including Tubbs Inlet.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closure effective 8:25 A.M., Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Issued Date: 3/09/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-9-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to the status described in PA-PC-2022: Stump Sound and White Oak River.

Effective Date: Shellfish Reopening effective at sunrise, Saturday, January 29, 2022

Issued Date: 1/28/2022

Counties Affected: Pender, Onslow, and Carteret

PA-PC-2022

This proclamation closes approximately 170 acres near Mill Creek and Chadwick Acres in the C-1 Growing Area of Onslow County, 64 acres near Ware Creek in the E-4 Growing Area of Carteret County, 27 acres in Whitehurst Creek in the E-6 Growing Area of Carteret County, 326 acres in Juniper Bay and Wysocking Bay in the G-4 Growing Area of Hyde County, and 80 acres in Slade Creek in the G-8 Growing Area of Hyde County. This proclamation also opens 156 acres in Bogue Sound in the E-2 Growing Area of Carteret County, 496 acres in Great Creek in the E-8 Growing Area of Carteret County, and 43 acres near Orchard Creek in the F-5 Growing Area of Pamlico County.

Effective Date: This proclamation supersedes PA-PC-2021 and brings together in one document all areas which are permanently closed to shellfish harvesting effective sunrise, Thursday, January 27, 2022.

Issued Date: 1/26/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow, Carteret, Pamlico, Hyde