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-90-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Tubbs Inlet, Shallotte River, Shallotte River Inlet, Lockwoods Folly River, Lockwoods Folly Inlet, a portion of North River, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, The Straits a portion of Jarrett Bay, Brett Bay, Nelson Bay, Core Sound, Barry Bay, Thorofare Bay, Rumley Bay, Lewis Creek, and Cedar Island Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Saturday, October 8, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/07/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick, Carteret

PA-89-2022

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, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, a portion of Bogue Sound, and a portion of Newport River.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopenings effective sunrise, Friday, October 7, 2022.

Issued Date: 10/06/2022

Counties Affected: New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Carteret

PA-88-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective sunrise, Thursday, October 6, 2022

Issued Date: 10/05/2022

Counties Affected: New Hanover, Onslow, Carteret

PA-87-2022

This proclamation closes waters in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Carteret, Craven, Pamlico, Beaufort, Hyde, and Dare Counties due to Hurricane Ian.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 4:20 P.M., Friday, September 30, 2022.

Issued Date: 9/30/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Carteret, Craven, Pamlico, Beaufort, Hyde, Dare

PA-86-2022

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; Lockwoods Folly River; All waters in Myrtle Grove Sound between IWW "155" and Snows Cut; All waters from Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between IWW "149" near Peden Point and IWW "155", to include Intracoastal Waterway; All waters in Middle Sound between Figure Eight Island Bridge and the Wrightsville Beach Bridge, to include Pages Creek; All waters in Stump Sound between the North Topsail Beach High-rise Bridge and the Surf City Bridge; Queens Creek, a portion of Newport River (line running from Penn Point to north shore near Hardesty Farm Subdivision-near Newport River DMF Shrimp line); Core Creek, North River, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay, and Nelson Bay.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closures effective 8:20 A.M., Friday, September 30, 2022.

Issued Date: 9/30/2022

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

PA-85-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective sunrise, Friday, September 16, 2022.

Issued Date: 09/15/2022

Counties Affected: New Hanover

PA-84-2022

This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Newport River, Core Creek, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, and The Straits.

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective sunrise, Thursday, September 15, 2022.

Issued Date: 09/14/2022

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-83-2022

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

Effective Date: Shellfish reopening effective sunrise, Wednesday, September 14, 2022.

Issued Date: 09/13/2022

Counties Affected: Brunswick

PA-82-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in Carteret County: Newport River, Core Creek, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, and The Straits.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closure effective 7:50 A.M., Sunday, September 11, 2022.

Issued Date: 9/11/2022t

Counties Affected: Carteret

PA-81-2022

This proclamation closes the following areas in New Hanover County: All waters in Myrtle Grove Sound between IWW "155" and Snows Cut; all waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between IWW "149" near Peden Point and IWW "155", to include the Intracoastal Waterway.

Effective Date: Shellfish Temporary Closure effective 7:50 A.M., Saturday, September 10, 2022.

Issued Date: 9/10/2022

Counties Affected: New Hanover