North

10/05
North Carolina Opens Waters To Shellfish Harvest

MOREHEAD CITY-- Fishermen will be allowed to harvest shellfish from most of North Carolina=s coastal waters beginning at sunrise on Wednesday, October 6, 1999.

Extensive water quality sampling for bacteria, metals and pesticides has shown that it is now safe to allow fishermen to harvest shellfish from most coastal areas, according to Dennis McBride, the State Health Director. Coastal waters were closed September 15, 1999, to the harvest of shellfish, because of the potential for high bacteria levels from stormwater runoff associated with Hurricane Floyd.

Extensive areas of coastal waters are opening to shellfish harvest, including Pamlico, Core, Bogue and Stump sounds. The following is a brief description of areas that will remain closed to shellfish harvest due to high bacteria levels:

-Pungo River - all waters upstream of Wades Point

-Pamlico River - all waters upstream of Fulford Point

-Oyster Creek - all waters

-Sleepy Creek - all waters

-North River - all waters upstream of Ward Creek

-Ward Creek - all waters

-Newport River - all waters upstream of Penn Point

-White Oak River - all waters upstream of Hwy. 24 Bridge

-Intracoastal Waterway - all water between ICWW Fl. Beacon #49 to ICWW Fl. Beacon #58, including Queens and Bear creeks

-New River - all waters upstream of Grey Point

-Cape Fear River - all waters

-Lockwoods Folly River - all waters upstream of Howells Point

-Shallotte River - all waters upstream of Bowen Point

For more detailed information about areas that are open to shellfishing, contact the Division of Marine Fisheries at 252-726-021. For information regarding water quality sampling contact the Office of Shellfish Sanitation at 252-726-6827.

# # #


Return to Hurricane Floyd Page.