Polluted Area Proclamations - Archive

Polluted area proclamations that 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 listen to the 24-hour automated list of the latest shellfish openings and closings, call: 252-726-6827 (press 1). For questions regarding shellfish bacteriological closings, call Andrew Haines at 252-726-6827 (ext. 8149) or email him at andrew.haines@ncdenr.gov.

2021 Proclamations

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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@ncdenr.gov), or call 252-808-8118.

Proclamations

PA-65-2025

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: Topsail Sound.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/27/2025

Counties Affected: New Hanover and Pender

PA-64-2025

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Shallotte River, Lockwoods Folly River, Lockwoods Folly Inlet, and Queens Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/26/2025

Counties Affected: Brunswick and Onslow

PA-63-2025

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Stump Sound and Chadwick Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Saturday, August 23, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/22/2025

Counties Affected: Onslow

PA-62-2025

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Middle Sound, Pages Creek, Bogue Sound, Newport River, and North River.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, August 22, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/21/2025

Counties Affected: New Hanover, Onslow, and Carteret.

PA-61-2025

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Tubbs Inlet, Ocean Isle Beach, a portion of the Intracoastal Waterway near Holden Beach, Bay River, Jones Bay, and Oyster Creek (Pamlico County).

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, August 21, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/20/2025

Counties Affected: Brunswick and Pamlico

PA-60-2025

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: A portion of Middle Sound, a portion of Topsail Sound, a portion of Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, a portion of Newport River, Core Creek, Whitehurst Creek, and Sleepy Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/19/2025

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

PA-59-2025

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/15/2025

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-58-2025

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, Carteret, and Pamlico Counties: Tubbs Inlet, Ocean Isle Beach, Shallotte River, Holden Beach, Lockwoods Folly River, Lockwoods Folly Inlet, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Bay River, Jones Bay, Oyster Creek, James Creek, Middle Prong, and Clark Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective at 8:00 a.m., Friday, August 15, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/15/2025

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Carteret, and Pamlico.

PA-57-2025

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: A portion of Bogue Sound, Deer Creek, Hunting Island Bay, Broad Creek, and Gales Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, August 15, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/14/2025

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-56-2025

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: A portion of North River, Ward Creek, and Wade Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Issued Date: 8/13/2025

Counties Affected: Carteret