North Raleigh Today

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is set to conduct a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Carteret County. The hearing will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, both in-person at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office in Morehead City and online via Webex.

The meeting will address several shellfish lease applications, including Jacob Milchuck's application for a 6.17-acre lease in Adams Creek and C.I. Salts Oyster Company, LLC's application for a 4.22-acre lease in North Bay, represented by Ralph W. Brittingham, Jr.

Other applicants include 35 North Mariculture, LLC with Isaiah Smith applying for a 5.2-acre lease in North Bay; Peerless Oyster, LLC with Frank Milchuck seeking a 5.78-acre lease in Adams Creek; Beaufort Shellfish Farms, LLC with Tiffany and Jason Smith applying for a 5.01-acre lease below the Hwy 70 bridge in North River; Bryan L. Snyder with an application for a 2.98-acre lease in White Oak River; Changing Tide Renovations, LLC with Mason Allen applying for a 7.69-acre lease in South River; and UNC Institute of Marine Sciences' Thomas Clerkin seeking approval for a demonstration lease of 0.97 acres in Newport River.

These areas will be marked as Proposed Shellfish Bottom Lease and/or Water Column Lease using the respective numbers.

Public comments can be made during the hearing either in person or through Webex after signing up between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., or submitted until Friday, March 14 at 5 p.m., either online or by mail to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.

For additional information regarding the hearing or how to submit comments, individuals may contact Marla Chuffo from the Division’s Habitat and Enhancement Section at marla.chuffo@deq.nc.gov or call her directly.