The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries announced on Mar. 16 that it will hold a public hearing regarding proposed shellfish bottom and water column leases in Pamlico County at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The hearing will take place both in person at the Pamlico County Courthouse in Bayboro and online via Webex.
The purpose of the hearing is to gather public input on an application submitted by Evan R. Gadow for a 0.72-acre Shellfish Bottom lease and Water Column lease (Nos. 25-018BL / 25-019WC) located in Little Bear Creek. The area under consideration will be marked at each corner as a Proposed Shellfish Bottom Lease and Water Column Lease with the relevant numbers.
Members of the public are invited to comment on the proposal either in person or through Webex during the hearing. Those wishing to speak online are asked to pre-register through the department’s website, while individuals attending in person should register between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the courthouse before the meeting begins.
Additional information about the public hearing, including access details for Webex, presentation slides, and biological investigation reports, is available on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s website. Written comments may also be submitted up to 24 hours after the hearing via an online form or by mail to the NC Division of Marine Fisheries’ Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program office in Morehead City.
For further questions or information about participating, individuals can contact the Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program by phone or email.
