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-96-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Newport River, Core Creek, North River, and Thorofare Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, October 3rd, 2024.

Issued Date: 10/2/2024

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-95-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Shallotte Inlet Area, a portion of Shallotte River, and Ward Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

Issued Date: 10/1/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick and Carteret

PA-94-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Cape Fear River, a portion of Myrtle Grove Sound, Masonboro Sound, a portion of North River, a portion of Jarrett Bay, and Oyster Creek.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Saturday, September 28, 2024.

Issued Date: 9/27/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick, New Hanover, and Carteret

PA-93-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal boundaries: Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Browns Inlet, Bear Creek, a portion of White Oak River, a portion of Bogue Sound, Deer Creek, Hunting Island Bay, Goose Creek, Gales Creek, Adams Creek, and South River.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Friday, September 27, 2024.

Issued Date: 9/26/2024

Counties Affected: Onslow, Carteret and Craven

PA-92-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Middle Sound, Pages Creek, Topsail Sound, Old Topsail Creek, Virginia Creek, Beckys Creek, Stump Sound, Bear Inlet, Bogue Inlet, a portion of Bogue Sound, Bay River, and Jones Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Thursday, September 26, 2024.

Issued Date: 9/25/2024

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

PA-91-2024

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, New River, a portion of Bogue Sound, Tar Landing Bay,  a portion of North River, Back Sound, Straits, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, a portion of Jarrett Bay, Brett Bay, Nelson Bay, and Rumley Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective at sunrise, Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Issued Date: 9/24/2024

Counties Affected: Onslow and Carteret

PA-90-2024

This proclamation closes the following areas in New Hanover, Pender, Onslow and Carteret Counties: All those water between the Figure Eight Island Bridge and the South Carolina state line, all those waters from the intracoastal waterway to the mainland between the Figure Eight Island Bridge and the Surf City Bridge, all those waters between Fort Macon and the Surf City Bridge, Back Sound, and South River. 

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closures effective at 8:05 a.m., Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

Issued Date: 9/17/2024

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

PA-89-2024

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick and New Hanover Counties: All waters between Snows Cut and the South Carolina State Line, to include Tubbs Inlet, Shallotte River, Shallotte Inlet, Lockwoods Folly River, Lockwoods Folly Inlet, Cape Fear River, and Bald Head Island.

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closures effective at 8:10 a.m., Monday, September 16, 2024.

Issued Date: 9/16/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick and New Hanover

PA-88-2024

This proclamation closes the following areas in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Onslow Counties: Tubbs Inlet, Shallotte River, Lockwoods Folly River, a portion of Myrtle Grove Sound, a portion of Masonboro Sound, and a portion of Stump Sound. 

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closures effective at 7:40 a.m., Sunday, September 15, 2024.

Issued Date: 9/15/2024

Counties Affected: Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Onslow

PA-87-2024

This proclamation closes the following areas in Onslow, Carteret, Craven and Pamlico Counties: A portion of Stump Sound, a portion of Bogue Sound, North River, Straits, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay, Nelson Bay, Thorofare Bay, Rumley Bay, a portion of Core Sound, Adams Creek, Bay River and Jones Bay. 

Effective Date: Shellfish temporary closures effective at 7:50 a.m., Saturday, September 14, 2024.

Issued Date: 9/14/2024

Counties Affected: Onslow, Carteret, Craven and Pamlico