The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has rescheduled a public hearing on multiple proposed shellfish leases in Carteret County due to the forecast of a tropical storm.
The hearing has been postponed to 6 p.m. Sept. 12 and will be held at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office, 5285 U.S. Hwy. 70 West, Morehead City.
Seven of the eight proposed leases, originally scheduled for Tuesday, will be heard Sept. 12. The date and time of public hearing on Samuel G. Boyd’s application to lease 4.69 acres of shellfish bottom and water column near Bogue Sound, will be announced later.
The following proposed leases will be heard Sept. 12:
Sandbar Oyster Company (David Cessna, agent) has applied to lease 0.56 acres of shellfish bottom lease near North River Marsh and 0.7 acres of shellfish bottom in North River Marsh.
Dallas D. Goodwin of Morehead City has applied to lease 1.65 acres of shellfish bottom and water column near Cedar Island Bay.
Jarrett Bay Oyster Company (Kolby L. Martin, agent) has applied to lease 3.27 acres of shellfish bottom and water column near Core Sound.
James A. Morris of Sea Level has applied to lease 2.64 acres of water column on existing shellfish bottom lease No. 9510; 1.89 acres of water column on existing shellfish bottom lease No. 9509 near Core Sound, Nelson Bay; and 2.57 acres of water column on existing shellfish bottom lease No. 9108, near CoreSound, Nelson Bay.
Maps of the proposed leases, with corresponding lease numbers, can be found here.
The public may comment on the proposed leases at the meeting or in writing. Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. Sept. 11 and should be submitted to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, Shellfish Leases, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557.
The application file and biologist report for the proposed leases are available for inspection weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Division of Marine Fisheries’ Headquarters Office, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City.
For more information, contact Michael Graven, with the division’s Habitat and Enhancement Section, at 252-808-8061 or Michael.Graven@ncdenr.gov.