PA-17-2016

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 Saturday, February 13, 2016.

All those waters in New Hanover, Pender, and Carteret Counties will return to the status in existence immediately prior to the February 4 and February 5, 2016, temporary closures except the following which will remain closed:

NEW HANOVER / PENDER / CARTERET COUNTIES

All those waters between IWW Channel Marker #141, near Peden Point and Snows Cut.

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 a line beginning at a point on the mainland at Forest Sound Marina, running southerly through Beacon “98A”, and following the eastern shore of Black Mud Channel to the southern tip of Topsail Beach, to include Old Topsail Creek, Virginia Creek, Stump Sound, Chadwick Bay, New River, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, a portion of Bogue Sound and all other creeks and tributaries within said boundaries.

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.

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:

BRUNSWICK / ONSLOW 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 a line beginning at a point on the mainland at Forest Sound Marina, running southerly through Beacon “98A”, and following the eastern shore of Black Mud Channel to the southern tip of Topsail Beach, to include Old Topsail Creek, Virginia Creek, Stump Sound, Chadwick Bay, 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: a portion of Masonboro Sound, Middle Sound, a portion of Topsail Sound, a portion of Bogue Sound, North River, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, The Straits, Jarrett Bay, and Oyster Creek.

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