Old North News

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has scheduled a public hearing regarding proposed shellfish leases in Craven County. The hearing is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, and will take place both in-person at the Craven Community College - Havelock Campus and via Webex.

Jacob Milchuck has submitted an application for a 9.05-acre shellfish bottom and water column lease located in Adams Creek, identified by the numbers 24-003BL/24-004WC. This area will be marked accordingly to indicate its status as a proposed lease site.

Members of the public are invited to comment on this lease application during the hearing either in person or through Webex. To speak online, individuals must pre-register at deq.nc.gov/news/events/craven-county-shellfish-lease-hearing by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1. Those attending in person can sign up between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. before the start of the hearing.

Additional details about the hearing, including access links for web conferencing, call-in numbers, presentation slides, and biological investigation reports are available at deq.nc.gov/news/events/craven-county-shellfish-lease-hearing.

Comments on the proposed shellfish leases can also be submitted in writing until 6 p.m., Thursday, April 3. Written comments may be provided through an online form found at deq.nc.gov/craven-county-shellfish-lease-hearing-comment-form or mailed to N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries' Shellfish Leases office in Morehead City.

For further information about this matter, Marla Chuffo from the division’s Habitat and Enhancement Section can be contacted at (252) 515-5480 or via email at marla.chuffo@deq.nc.gov.