The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has announced a public hearing regarding proposed shellfish leases in Hyde County. The event will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Hyde County Courthouse located at 40 Oyster Creek Road, Swan Quarter, N.C. It will also be conducted virtually via Webex.
The application under review is from Ethan G. Credle, who seeks approval for a 2.28-acre shellfish bottom and water column lease in Germantown Bay, designated as Lease Nos. 24-026BL and 24-027WC. The site will be marked at its corners with signage indicating it as a proposed shellfish bottom lease and water column lease.
Public participation is encouraged, with options to comment during the hearing either in person or online. Those opting for the virtual platform must register by 4 p.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the specified link: deq.nc.gov/hyde-county-shellfish-lease-hearing-speaker-registration. In-person attendees can sign up to speak between 5 and 6 p.m. on the evening of the hearing.
Additional materials for the hearing, such as the Webex link, call-in number, presentation slides, and biological investigation report, are available online at deq.nc.gov/news/events/hyde-county-shellfish-lease-hearing. Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. These can be submitted via an online form or mailed to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries at the address provided.
For further details, Marla Chuffo with the Division’s Habitat and Enhancement Section can be contacted at 252-515-5480 or marla.chuffo@deq.nc.gov.
