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

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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@deq.nc.gov), or call 252-515-5617.

Proclamations

PA-3-2023

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Myrtle Grove Sound, Masonboro Sound, a portion of Newport River, Core Creek, and a portion of North River.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Thursday, January 26, 2023.

Issued Date: 1/25/2023

Counties Affected: New Hanover and Carteret

PA-2-2023

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, and Carteret Counties: All waters between IWW "84" and the South Carolina State Line, to include Tubbs Inlet; Shallotte River; the Intracoastal Waterway behind Holden Beach; Lockwoods Folly River, All waters in Myrtle Grove Sound between IWW "155" and Snows Cut; All waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between IWW "129" near Shinn Creek and IWW "155" near Carolina Beach Inlet; All waters in Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, and Chadwick Bay between Hatch Point and the Surf City Bridge; All waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between the Emerald Isle Bridge and Marker "65A", to include Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, and White Oak River; Newport River, North River, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, and Oyster Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 8:25 A.M., Monday, January 23, 2023.

Issued Date: 1/23/2023

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

PA-1-2023

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective Thursday, January 5, 2023.

Issued Date: 1/4/2023

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-99-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Friday, December 30, 2022.

Issued Date:12/29/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-98-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Onslow and Carteret Counties: All waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between the Emerald Isle Bridge and IWW Marker "65A", including White Oak River, Queens Creek, Bear Creek, Freeman Creek, and Salliers Bay; A portion of Bogue Sound from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between the permanent closure line near 16th St. in Morehead City and IWW Marker "17" near Jumping Run Creek; and Newport River.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 3:55 P.M., Thursday, December 22, 2022.

Issued Date: 12/22/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-97-2022

This proclamation returns the following area to normal closure boundaries: Lockwoods Folly Inlet area.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective sunrise, Tuesday, December 20, 2022.

Issued Date: 12/19/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-96-2022

This proclamation closes the following area in Brunswick County: all waters near Lockwoods Folly Inlet.

Effective Date: Shellfish Precautionary Temporary Closure effective 2:25 P.M., Thursday, December 8, 2022.

Issued Date: 12/08/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-PC-2-2022

This proclamation closes approximately 20 acres in the Intracoastal Waterway in the A-2 Growing Area of Brunswick County, 43 acres in Lockwoods Folly River in the A-3 Growing Area of Brunswick County, and 8 acres in Courthouse Bay in the C-2 Growing Area of Onslow County. This proclamation also opens 4 acres in Courthouse Bay in the C-2 Growing Area of Onslow County.

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

Effective Date: Effective at sunrise, November 29th, 2022, this proclamation supersedes PA-PC-2022 and brings together in one document all areas which are permanently closed to shellfish harvesting.

Issued Date: 11/28/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Onslow

PA-95-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Pamlico Sound, Sandy Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Saturday, October 15, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/14/2022

Counties Affected: Dare

PA-94-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Friday, October 14, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/13/2022

Counties Affected: Onslow, Carteret