PENDER COUNTY — Two proposed shellfish leases will be at the center of a public hearing on April 15, as part of the process held by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries.
The public is welcome to the in-person hearing, held at the Topsail Beach Town Hall, 820 S. Anderson Blvd., or attend virtually via Webex. Comments are also welcome but registration for online attendance must be filled out by April 14, 4 p.m., here; those attending in person can sign up to speak between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the evening of the hearing.
The leases considered include:
- James B. Pumphrey and Benjamin Slay applied for a 0.51-acre shellfish bottom and water column lease in Topsail Marshes (Lease Nos. 24-015BL and 24-016WC)
- Thomas A. Cannon applied for two 1.33-acre shellfish bottom leases in Banks Channel (Lease Nos. 24-023BL and 24-024BL)
Additional hearing materials, presentation slides, and biological investigation reports are available here.
Written comments are also be accepted until 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, by doing so:
- Online: nc.gov/pender-county-shellfish-lease-hearing-comment-form
- Via Mail:C. Division of Marine Fisheries Shellfish Lease & Aquaculture Program P.O. Box 769, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC 28557
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our morning newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
