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-2-2025

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, New Hanover, and Carteret Counties: Tubbs Inlet, Ocean Isle Beach, Myrtle Grove Sound, Masonboro Sound, Middle Sound, Pages Creek, Core Creek, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay, and Nelson Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective at 8:05 a.m., Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Issued Date: 3/11/2025

Counties Affected: Brunswick, New Hanover, and Carteret

PA-1-2025

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick and Carteret Counties: Lockwoods Folly River and a portion of Newport River

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective at 7:55 a.m., Thursday, March 6, 2025

Issued Date: 3/6/2025

Counties Affected: Brunswick and Carteret

PA-PC-2025

This proclamation closes approximately 16 acres around Tubbs Inlet in the A-1 Growing Area of Brunswick County, 11 acres around Old Topsail Creek in the B-8 Growing Area of Pender County, 6 acres in a canal near Manteo in the H-2 Growing Area of Dare County, and 43 acres near Avon Harbor in the H-5 Growing Area of Dare County.  This proclamation also opens approximately 17 acres around Tubbs Inlet in the A-1 Growing Area of Brunswick County, 50 acres in Ditch Cove in the E-8 Growing Area of Carteret County, 95 acres in Broad Creek in the F-5 Growing Area of Pamlico County, 17 acres in Bear Creek in the F-6 Growing Area of Pamlico County, and 80 acres near Wanchese in the H-2 Growing Area of Dare County.

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

Effective Date: Effective at sunrise, Tuesday, February 4, 2025, this proclamation supersedes PA-PC-2024 and brings together in one document all areas which are permanently closed to shellfish harvesting.

Issued Date: 2/3/2025

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Pender, Carteret, Pamlico, and Dare.

PA-106-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Newport River and Core Creek

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

Issued Date: 12/17/2024

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-105-2024

This proclamation closes the following areas in Carteret County: A portion of Newport River and Core Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closures effective at 7:55 a.m., Thursday, December 12, 2024.

Issued Date: 12/12/2024

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-104-2024

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

Issued Date: 11/26/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-103-2024

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, November 22, 2024.

Issued Date: 11/21/2024

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-102-2024

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Wednesday, November 20, 2024.

Issued Date: 11/19/2024

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-101-2024

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, Onslow and Carteret Counties: Tubbs Inlet, Queens Creek, White Oak River, a portion of Newport River, and Core Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closures effective at 8:15 a.m., Friday, November 15, 2024.

Issued Date: 11/15/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Onslow and Carteret

PA-100-2024

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: Myrtle Grove Sound

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, October 11, 2024.

Issued Date: 10/10/2024

Counties Affected: New Hanover