MOREHEAD CITY, NC (WWAY) – State fisheries authorities will close 2,450 acres of coastal waters to shellfish harvest tomorrow after they failed to meet required bacteriological standards.
Additionally, 50 acres in the Stump Sound area of Pender County that closed to shellfish harvest last year will reopen after 2016 sampling showed improved water quality.
The shellfish classification changes are based on water quality samples tested for the past five years for required sanitary surveys and annual reviews of the state’s shellfish growing areas. Three of the past five years saw above average rainfall that causes stormwater runoff that, in turn, washes human and animal waste into the water.
The Division of Marine Fisheries will continue to monitor these areas and if conditions change, they could reopen in the future.
Areas that will close include:
| Growing Area Name | Area No. | County | Specific Closure Area | Acres |
| Lockwoods Folly River Area | A-3 | Brunswick | Lockwoods Folly River | 120 |
| Spring Creek | 55 | |||
| Wrightsville Beach Area | B-7 | New Hanover | Oakwinds Marina | 6 |
| Canady’s/Mason’s marinas | 1 | |||
| Topsail Sound Area | B-8 | Pender | Mallard Bay Area | 17 |
| Mill Creek Area | C-1 | Onslow | Fullard Creek | 37 |
| Bayshore Marina | 4 | |||
| Queens Creek Area | D-2 | Onslow | Queens Creek | 93 |
| White Oak River Area | D-3 | Carteret | Boathouse/Dubling creeks | 22 |
| Deer Creek Area | D-4 | Carteret | Bogue Sound Drive Canal | 3 |
| North River/Harker’s Island Area | E-6/E-7 | Carteret | National Park Service Boat Basin | 1 |
| Jane’s Creek | 132 | |||
| Sleepy Creek | 25 | |||
| Core Creek/South River Area | F-2 | Craven/Carteret | South River | 552 |
| Cedar Creek | 95 | |||
| Godfrey Creek | 28 | |||
| Delamar Creek | 10 | |||
| Kellum Creek | 9 | |||
| Oriental/Broad Creek Area | F-5 | Pamlico | Broad/Brown creeks | 384 |
| Bay River Area | F-6 | Pamlico | Vandemere Area | 133 |
| Bear Creek | 75 | |||
| Ball Creek | 34 | |||
| Swanquarter Area | G-3 | Hyde | Rose Bay | 67 |
| Swanquarter Bay | 47 | |||
| Wysocking Bay Area | G-4 | Hyde | Outfall Canal/Sage Bay | 130 |
| Engelhard Area | G-5 | Hyde | Far Creek/Waupopin Creek | 370 |
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