PA-126-2016

PROCLAMATION

RE: SHELLFISH POLLUTED AREA

Braxton Davis, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, upon the recommendation of Randall Williams, M.D., State Health Director, Department of Health and Human Services, hereby announces that the following changes in shellfish harvesting areas will take effect at sunrise, Wednesday, October 18, 2016.

All those waters in Brunswick, New Hanover, and Carteret Counties will return to the status in existence immediately prior to the August 29, August 30, September 2, September 3, September 13, September 15, September 20, September 23, October 7, October 8, and October 9, 2016, temporary closures except the following which remains closed:

BRUNSWICK / NEW HANOVER / CARTERET COUNTIES

All those waters between IWW Beacon "89" near Ocean Isle and the South Carolina State Line, to include Tubbs Inlet.

All those waters between IWW Fl. Beacon "51A" near the Holden Beach Bridge and IWW Fl. Beacon "71A" near Long Point.

All those waters in Myrtle Grove Sound bordered on the north by a straight line beginning at a point on the mainland at 34° 07.796’N – 77° 52.072’W near Peden Point; running easterly through IWW Beacon “141” and US Army Corps of Engineers Spoils Island #261 to a point 34° 07.459’N – 77° 51.071’W on Masonboro Island; and bordered on the south by IWW Beacon “32” near Lockwoods Folly River, to include Bald Head Island, Cape Fear River, Myrtle Grove Sound, and a portion of Masonboro Sound.

All those waters bordered in the northeast by the Emerald Isle High Rise Bridge and bordered in the southwest by the northern permanent closure line at Wrightsville Beach, to include a portion of Middle Sound, Pages Creek, Topsail Sound, Old Topsail Creek, Virginia Creek, Becky’s Creek, Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, New River, Salliers Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, and White Oak River.

All those waters in Bogue Sound, from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland, between IWW Fl. Beacon “25”, near Broad Creek, and IWW Fl. Beacon “33” near Cannonsgate Marina, to include Sanders Creek and Broad Creek.

Newport River - All those waters in Newport River upstream of the Highway 70 High Rise Bridge and Morehead-Beaufort Causeway, to include all tributaries and Core Creek.

Nelson Bay - All those waters in Nelson Bay upstream of a line from Drum Point to the northern tip of Fulchers Creek.

All those waters north and west of a line beginning at Long Shoal Point thence in a straight line to Long Point; thence in a straight line to the southernmost tip of Hog Island; thence in a straight line to Bluff Point; thence in a straight line to the southernmost point on Great Island Marsh; thence in a straight line to Sow Island Point on the north shore of Jones Bay; thence in a straight line to the northeastern end of Maw Point near the mouth of Bay River; thence in a straight line to the north end of Point of Marsh; thence in a straight line to a point on the northwestern shore of North Bay; to include all of Long Shoal River, Wysocking Bay, East Bluff Bay, West Bluff Bay, Juniper Bay, Swanquarter Bay, Rose Bay, Spencer Bay, Pungo River, Pamlico River, Mouse Harbor, Jones Bay, Bay River, Neuse River, West Bay, North Bay and all other tributaries within said boundaries.

All those waters in Pamlico Sound east and south of a line beginning at the northeastern tip of Portsmouth Island; running northeasterly to the southern end of the Oregon Inlet Bridge, at Oregon Inlet, to include Ocracoke, Hatteras, and a portion of Pamlico Sound.

The following also remains closed:

PENDER / ONSLOW / CRAVEN / PAMLICO / BEAUFORT / HYDE / DARE COUNTIES

All those waters bordered in the northeast by the Emerald Isle High Rise Bridge and bordered in the southwest by the northern permanent closure line at Wrightsville Beach, to include a portion of Middle Sound, Pages Creek, Topsail Sound, Old Topsail Creek, Virginia Creek, Becky’s Creek, Stump Sound, Alligator Bay, Chadwick Bay, New River, Sallier’s Bay, Freeman Creek, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, and White Oak River.

All those waters north and west of a line beginning at Long Shoal Point thence in a straight line to Long Point; thence in a straight line to the southernmost tip of Hog Island; thence in a straight line to Bluff Point; thence in a straight line to the southernmost point on Great Island Marsh; thence in a straight line to Sow Island Point on the north shore of Jones Bay; thence in a straight line to the northeastern end of Maw Point near the mouth of Bay River; thence in a straight line to the north end of Point of Marsh; thence in a straight line to a point on the northwestern shore of North Bay; to include all of Long Shoal River, Wysocking Bay, East Bluff Bay, West Bluff Bay, Juniper Bay, Swanquarter Bay, Rose Bay, Spencer Bay, Pungo River, Pamlico River, Mouse Harbor, Jones Bay, Bay River, Neuse River, West Bay, North Bay and all other tributaries within said boundaries

All those waters in Croatan and Roanoke Sounds north of a line starting at Old Point, near Stumpy Point Bay; running northeasterly to Smith Island; and running southeasterly to the southern end of the Oregon Inlet Bridge, at Oregon Inlet.

All those waters in Pamlico Sound east and south of a line beginning at the northeastern tip of Portsmouth Island; running northeasterly to the southern end of the Oregon Inlet Bridge, at Oregon Inlet, to include Ocracoke, Hatteras, and a portion of Pamlico Sound.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rules 15A NCAC 03H. 0103 and 03K .0101.

B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the N.C. Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03H .0103.

C. In accordance with N.C. General Statute 113-221.1(c) all persons who may be affected by proclamations issued by the Fisheries Director are under a duty to keep themselves informed of current proclamations.

D. This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Shallotte River, Lockwoods Folly River, a portion of Masonboro Sound, a portion of Middle Sound, a portion of Bogue Sound, North River, Ward Creek, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, and Brett Bay.

E. These reopenings are due to satisfactory bacteriological sampling results.