Southeastern NC waters back open for oyster season

WILMINGTON, NC (AP) — Nearly all of southeastern North Carolina’s waters are now open for shellfish harvesting after heavy rains and floods left most areas polluted earlier this month.

The StarNews of Wilmington reports that bacteria found throughout most waters prompted the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries to declare most areas off-limits to oyster harvesting earlier this month, even though harvesting season technically opened Oct. 15.

Shannon Jenkins, an environmental specialist with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, says the bacteria levels in the water have become safer this week after a stretch of good weather allowed the water to recede.

Brian Harmon, the general manager of The Reel Cafe, said the delay in harvesting did cause the restaurant some problems.

“We pride ourselves on having local oysters. When we can’t get them harvested locally we do have to seek a purveyor, a more national company that can bring them from another location. Then they typically come from the Gulf area or areas in Florida,” said Harmon.

Oyster season typically runs through March.