Hearing Feb. 28 for 10 proposed Onslow shellfish leases

An in-person public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Onslow County is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Holly Ridge Community Room, 404 Sound Road, Holly Ridge, and online.

Hosted by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, public hearing information, including the web conference link, call-in telephone number, presentation slides, and biological investigation reports can be found on the division website.

The following is information the division provided on the proposed leases:

• Three Little Spats Oyster Co., LLC agent has applied for a 1.01-acre bottom lease and water column lease in New River below the N.C. Highway 172 bridge.
• GOH2, LLC agent has applied for a 9.15-acre water column lease over an existing bottom lease in Alligator Bay.
• Carolina Beach Oyster Co. agent has applied for a 5.30-acre water column lease over an existing bottom lease in Spicer Bay.
• Shad Funk agent has applied for a 3.93-acre bottom lease and water column lease in Mainland Areas near Topsail Sound.
• Julian B. Fenner III has applied for a 3.90-acre bottom lease and water column lease in the mainland areas near Topsail Sound.
• Thomas Cannon has applied for a 9.02-acre bottom lease in the mainland areas near Topsail Sound.
• Wade Oyster Farm, LLC agent has applied for a 2.09-acre bottom lease and water column lease in New River below the N.C. Highway 172 bridge.
• Burr McLawhorn has applied for a 4.10-acre bottom lease in the mainland areas near Topsail Sound.
• Hershall K. Brown has applied for a 1.42-acre bottom lease and water column lease in Bogue Inlet.
• John Thomas applied for a 0.98-acre water column lease on an existing bottom lease in the seaside Aareas near Permuda Island Bay.

The public may comment on the above lease applications in person at the hearing or by WebEx.

To facilitate online comments, the Division is asking those who wish to speak via WebEx to register by 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27. Those who wish to comment in-person should sign up onsite the night of the hearing.

The public may also comment on the proposed shellfish leases in writing. Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 1 and may be submitted through an online form or by mail to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, Shellfish Leases, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557.

For more information, contact Marla Chuffo, with the division’s Habitat and Enhancement Section, at 252-808-8048 or Marla.Chuffo@ncdenr.gov.