PA-16-2016

PROCLAMATION

RE: SHELLFISH POLLUTED AREA
 
Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, upon the recommendation of Megan Davies, M.D., Acting State Health Director, Department of Health and Human Services, hereby announces that the following changes in shellfish harvesting areas will take effect at sunrise Friday, February 12, 2016.

All those waters in Brunswick and Carteret Counties will return to the status in existence immediately prior to the February 5, 2016, temporary closures except the following which will remain closed:

BRUNSWICK / CARTERET COUNTIES

All those waters between Southport and IWW Marker “89”, to include Shallotte River and Lockwood Folly River areas.

All those waters between a line in Bogue Sound beginning at a point on the mainland near Gales Creek; running southwesterly through IWW Marker “22” and Dog Island to a point on Salter Path at 34° 41.1384' N - 76° 54.3586' W, and Snows Cut in New Hanover County, to include Myrtle Grove Sound, Masonboro Sound, Middle Sound, Topsail Sound, Stump Sound, New River, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, a portion of Bogue Sound, and all other creeks and tributaries within said boundaries.

All those waters from the Intracoastal Waterway to the mainland between the Morehead City permanent closure line near 16th Street and IWW Marker “22” near Gales Creek, to include Gales 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.

All those waters bordered on the east and south by a line beginning at a point on the Marshallberg shoreline at 34° 43.5468' N - 76° 30.3903' W, thence in a straight line to Shell Point on Harkers Island, thence following the shoreline to the western tip of Harkers Island, thence in a straight line to the Beaufort permanent closure line near Channel Marker #56B, to include all of North River, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, and the Straits.

Jarrett Bay - All those waters in Jarrett Bay upstream of a line beginning at a point on the east shore of Spit Bay; thence in a straight line to the northern tip of Davis Island; then in a straight line to the "Chimney" near Jump Run Creek.

Oyster Creek - All those waters in Oyster Creek upstream of a straight line across the mouth.

West Bay / Long Bay / West Thorofare Bay / North Bay – All those waters south of a line beginning at Point of Marsh; thence in a straight line to a point on the northwestern shore of North Bay near Point of Grass, to include West Bay, Long Bay, West Thorofare Bay and North Bay.

Turnagain Bay – All those waters in Turnagain Bay upstream of a straight line across the mouth.

South River – All those waters in South River upstream of a straight line across the mouth.

The following also remains closed:

NEW HANOVER / PENDER / ONSLOW COUNTIES

All those waters between a line in Bogue Sound beginning at a point on the mainland near Gales Creek; running southwesterly through IWW Marker “22” and Dog Island to a point on Salter Path at 34° 41.1384' N - 76° 54.3586' W, and Snows Cut in New Hanover County, to include Myrtle Grove Sound, Masonboro Sound, Middle Sound, Topsail Sound, Stump Sound, New River, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, a portion of Bogue Sound, and all other creeks and tributaries within said boundaries.

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. This proclamation returns the following areas to normal closure boundaries: Tubbs Inlet, a portion of Bogue Sound, Tar Landing Bay, Core Sound, a portion of Jarrett Bay, Brett Bay, Nelson Bay, Thorofare Bay, Rumley Bay, Lewis Creek, and Cedar Island Bay.

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