A committee of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hear oral arguments next week from petitioners challenging the approval of two proposed shellfish leases in Carteret County.
The division’s Shellfish Cultivation Lease Review Committee is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday to consider three third-party hearing requests challenging the division director’s April 15 approval of the proposed leases.
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The first hearing was requested by Thomas Peralto, who is challenging C.I. Salts Oyster Co., LLC’s proposed lease for a 4.22-acre bottom and water column lease in North Bay.
Jacob Milchuck’s application to lease a 6.17-acre bottom and water column leases in Adams Creek will be discussed in two hearings, one requested by Merleon Creech and the other by Corey McMahon.
The division hosted a public hearing in March for each of these leases.
The committee is expected to deliberate and vote on each challenge after hearing oral arguments from the petitioners, division staff, and lease applicants.
The in-person hearing will be held at the division’s central district office, 5285 U.S. 70 West, Morehead City. There will not be an opportunity for public comment.
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