Onslow County Shellfish Lease Hearing — February 12, 2026

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish bottom and water column leases in Onslow County from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026. The hearing will be held in person at the Holly Ridge Community Center, 404 Sound Rd, Holly Ridge, North Carolina 28445, and by Webex.

The hearing will cover the following proposed shellfish lease applications in Onslow County:

1. Old Baldy Aquaculture, LLC (Matthew T. Miller) – Shellfish Bottom – No. 25-001BL – 4.78 acres – New River below NC 172 bridge, Onslow County.
2. Old Baldy Aquaculture, LLC (Matthew T. Miller) – Shellfish Bottom – No. 25-002BL – 1.19 acres – Stones Bay, Onslow County.
3. Alonzo L. Davis III – Shellfish Bottom and Water Column – Nos. 25-003BL / 25-004WC – 0.76 acres – Seaside Areas, Onslow County.
4. Stump Sound Oyster Company, LLC (Shawn P. Burns) – Shellfish Bottom and Water Column – Nos. 25-015BL / 25-016WC – 4.77 acres – Stones Bay, Onslow County.
5. Anthony A. Grant – Shellfish Bottom – No. 25-017BL – 0.87 acres – Alligator Bay, Onslow County.
6. Alonzo L. Davis III – Shellfish Bottom and Water Column – Nos. 25-020BL / 25-021WC – 0.58 acres – Seaside Areas, Onslow County.
7. Joshua A. Thompson – Shellfish Bottom and Water Column – Nos. 25-026BL / 25-027WC – 3.73 acres – Ellis Cove, Onslow County.
8. Joshua A. Thompson – Shellfish Water Column – No. 25-028WC – 3.65 acres – New River below NC 172 bridge, Onslow County.
9. Joshua A. Thompson – Shellfish Water Column – No. 25-029WC – 4.24 acres – Stones Bay, Onslow County.

The areas will be marked at each corner as a Proposed Shellfish Bottom Lease and/or Water Column Lease with the above numbers.

How to join the public hearing

Attend in person

• Where: Holly Ridge Community Center, 404 Sound Rd, Holly Ridge, NC 28445
• When: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Join online (Webex)

• Joining link: ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=m0270b32641b0849abd1196563a179b37
• Webinar number / Access code: 2430 470 0205
• Attendee password: Jd3VBanSp88
• Join by phone (US toll): +1-415-655-0003
• Phone access code: 53382267

How to provide comments at the hearing

Members of the public may comment on the proposed shellfish leases in person at the hearing or by Webex.

To speak via Webex

• You must pre-register to speak no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.
• Speaker registration (Webex): deq.nc.gov/onslow-county-shellfish-lease-hearing-speaker-registration

To speak in person

• You should register to speak at the meeting location between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Sworn written comments

Sworn written comments may be submitted up to twenty-four (24) hours following the proceedings. Written comments may be submitted in two ways:

1. Online comments – Use the online form at:
   • deq.nc.gov/onslow-county-shellfish-lease-hearing-comment-form
2. Mailed comments – Mail to:
   • N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries
   • Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program
   • PO Box 769
   • 3441 Arendell St
   • Morehead City, NC 28557-0769

Meeting materials

Public hearing information, including:

• Presentation slides
• Biological investigation reports for each proposed lease application

will be posted on this hearing webpage as they become available.

Contacts

Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program (hearing and lease questions)

• Phone: (252) 515-5495
• Email: SLAP@deq.nc.gov

Media inquiries

• Patricia Smith, Public Information Officer
• Phone: (252) 515-5500