15a ncac 03r .0110      CRAB SPAWNING SANCTUARIES

The crab spawning sanctuaries referenced in 15A NCAC 03L .0205 are delineated in the following coastal fishing waters:

(1)           in Areas from Barden Inlet and North:

(a)           in the Oregon Inlet Area: beginning at a point on the Atlantic Ocean shore of Bodie Island 35° 47.7054' N ‑ 75° 32.3522' W; running northeasterly to a point in the Atlantic Ocean 35° 47.9833' N ‑ 75° 31.8500' W; running southerly to a point in the ocean 35° 46.3500' N ‑ 75° 30.6666' W; running westerly to a point on the Atlantic Ocean shore at 35° 46.1037' N ‑ 75° 31.2785' W; running northerly along the Atlantic shore of Pea Island to and around South Point and continuing southerly along the shore of Pamlico Sound to a point on the south point of Eagle Nest Bay at 35° 43.7085' N ‑ 75° 30.8009' W; running westerly to a point in Pamlico Sound at 35° 43.7100' N ‑ 75° 32.2113' W; running northerly to a point 35° 47.3992' N ‑ 75° 34.1650' W in Pamlico Sound; running northerly to a point on Bodie Island 35° 48.7740' N – 75° 33.8722' W; running southerly along the shore to and around North Point at Oregon Inlet and then northerly on the Atlantic shore to the point of beginning;

(b)           in the Hatteras Inlet Area: beginning at a point on the Pamlico Sound shoreline of Hatteras Island 35° 12.0846' N – 75° 43.3514' W; running northwesterly to a point in Pamlico Sound 35° 13.6361' N – 75° 45.4451' W; running southwesterly to a point near Outer Green Island 35° 11.0794' N – 75° 48.4440' W; running southeasterly to a point on the Pamlico Sound shore of Ocracoke Island 35° 10.7004' N – 75° 47.9094' W; running northeasterly along the shoreline to a point on the northeastern tip of Ocracoke Island 35° 11.2340' N – 75° 46.3051' W; running southeasterly to a point in the Atlantic Ocean at 35° 10.6644' N – 75° 44.5221' W; running northeasterly to a point on the ocean shoreline of Hatteras Island 35° 11.7895' N – 75° 43.5947' W; running southwesterly around the tip of Hatteras Island to the point of beginning;

(c)           in the Ocracoke Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Ocracoke Island 35° 06.2555' N –75° 59.3722' W; running westerly through Shellcastle Island to a point in Pamlico Sound 35° 05.8599' N – 76° 04.3639' W; running southerly to a point on Portsmouth Island 35° 03.7379' N – 76° 04.7850' W; running northeasterly along the shore of Pamlico Sound around the western side of Ocracoke Inlet and southwesterly along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean to a point 35° 03.0500' N – 76° 03.0833' W; running southeasterly offshore to a point in the Atlantic Ocean 35° 02.6333' N ‑ 76° 02.7166' W; running northeasterly to a point in the ocean 35° 03.9666' N ‑ 75° 59.3000' W; running northwesterly to a point on the Atlantic shore of Ocracoke Island 35° 04.7402' N –75° 59.7124' W; running southwesterly along the shore around the eastern side of Ocracoke Inlet and northeasterly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(d)           Ophelia and Drum Inlet Area: beginning at a point on the Core Sound shore of Core Banks 34 º 51.7718' N - 76º 18.5093' W; running northwesterly to a point in Core Sound 34º 52.3431' N - 76º 19.1661' W; running southwesterly to a point near Marker "27" in Core Sound 34º 50.6411' N - 76º 22.0094' W; running southwesterly to a point in Core Sound 34º 49.0120' N - 76º 23.0288' W; running southeasterly to a point on the Core Sound shore of Core Banks 34º 48.6143' N - 76º 22.3033' W; following the shoreline in a northeasterly direction around the western side of Ophelia Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline southwesterly to a point on Core Banks 34º 48.9349' N - 76º 21.4582' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Core Banks 34º 51.6790' N - 76º 18.3829' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline toward and around the eastern side of Ophelia Inlet, then northeasterly along the Core Sound shore of Core Banks to the point of beginning; and

(e)           Barden Inlet Area: beginning at a point on the Core Sound shore of Core Banks 34º 40.7131' N – 76º 28.9495' W; running northwesterly to a point on Harkers Island 34º 41.0674' N – 76º 31.5834' W; running southwesterly to a point on Shackleford Banks 34º 39.5418' N - 76º 34.0451' W; following the shoreline in southeasterly direction around the northern side of Barden Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline northwesterly to a point on Shackleford Banks 34º 38.7748' N - 76º 32.8463' W; running southwesterly to a point in the Atlantic Ocean 34º 38.2938' N - 76º 33.5130' W; running southerly to a point near Buoy "2" at the end of the Cape Lookout Jetty in the Atlantic Ocean 34º 37.1253' N - 76º 33.7446' W; running southeasterly to a point on Cape Lookout 34º 36.7229' N - 76º 33.0514' W; running northerly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline toward and around the southern side of Barden Inlet to a point on Cape Lookout 34º 36.5492' N - 76º 32.2416' W, then running northeasterly along the Core Sound shore of Core Banks to the point of beginning.

(2)           in Areas from Beaufort Inlet and West and South:

(a)           Beaufort Inlet Area: beginning at a point on the Back Sound side of Shackleford Banks 34º 41.0017' N - 76º 37.7538' W; running northerly to a point on Carrot Island 34º 42.3553' N - 76º 37.1124' W; running westerly along the shoreline to a point on Carrot Island 34º 42.6291' N - 76º 38.6608' W; running westerly to a point on Town Marsh 34º 42.6394' N - 76º 38.7442' W; running westerly along the shoreline to a point on Town Marsh 34º 42.7915' N - 76º 40.2489' W; running westerly to a point on Bird Shoal 34º 42.7694' N - 76º 40.4764' W; running northerly to a point on Pivers Island 34º 42.9294' N - 76º 40.4301' W; running northerly along the shoreline to a point on Pivers Island 34º 43.1892' N - 76º 40.3873' W; running northerly to a point on Radio Island 34º 43.2344' N - 76º 40.4099' W; running along the shoreline to a point on Radio Island 34º 43.2770' N - 76º 41.2422' W; running along the south side of the Highway 70 Bridge over the Newport River to a point near the Morehead City Port 34º 43.2419' N - 76º 41.7067' W; running southerly along the shore to a point near the Morehead City Port 34º 42.9560' N - 76º 41.6986' W; running southwesterly to a point on Goat Island 34º 42.7185' N - 76º 41.9145' W; running southeasterly along the shoreline to a point on Goat Island 34º 42.2031' N - 76º 41.3923' W; running southwesterly to a point on shore near Fort Macon State Park 34º 42.1709' N - 76º 41.3693' W; following the shoreline in a southwesterly direction around the western shoreline of Beaufort Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Bogue Banks 34º 41.6480' N - 76º 42.0986' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running easterly then southeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Shackleford Banks 34º 40.6129' N - 76º 38.1521' W; running northwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern side of Beaufort Inlet, then running easterly along the Back Sound shore of Shackleford Banks to the point of beginning;

(b)           Bogue Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Bogue Banks 34º 39.1828' N - 77º 05.8503' W; running northerly to a point 34º 40.1526' N - 77º 05.6346' W; running northerly to a point 34º 40.2531' N - 77º 05.6385' W; running westerly to a point 34º 40.2550' N - 77º 05.9450' W; running southerly to a point 34º 40.1732' N - 77º 05.9616' W; running southerly to a point 34º 39.9629' N - 77º 06.1038' W; running southerly to a point 34º 39.5209' N - 77º 06.4042; running southwesterly to a point 34º 39.0599' N - 77º 07.3287' W; running southerly to a point on Bear Island 34º 38.3856' N - 77º 07.2373'; following the shoreline in a northeasterly direction around the western shoreline of Bogue Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Bear Island 34º 37.5607' N - 77º 09.5752' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Bogue Banks 34º 38.7491' N - 77º 05.2548' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern side of Bogue Inlet to a point 34º 38.7686' N - 77º 06.0596' W; running northerly to a point 34º 38.9900' N - 77º 06.1269' W, then running northeasterly to the point of beginning;

(c)           Bear Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Bear Island 34º 37.7852' N - 77º 09.7128' W; running northerly to a point 34º 37.8817' N - 77º 09.7698' W; running southwesterly to a point 34º 37.6695' N - 77º 10.4134' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 37.8105' N - 77º 10.5849' W; running southwesterly to a point on Saunders Island 34º 37.4531' N - 77º 11.0624' W; running southeasterly to a point on Browns Island 34º 37.2216' N - 77º 10.8461' W; following the shoreline in northeasterly direction around the western shoreline of Bear Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Browns Island 34º 36.1188' N - 77º 13.0193' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Bear Island 34º 37.5607' N - 77º 09.5752' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern shoreline of Bear Inlet, then northeasterly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(d)           Browns Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Browns Island 34º 35.8978' N - 77º 13.8409' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 36.0015' N - 77º 13.9606' W; running westerly to a point 34º 35.9360' N - 77º 14.1340' W; running southerly to a point 34º 35.6631' N - 77º 14.1270' W; following the shoreline in a northeasterly direction around the western shoreline of Browns Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point 34º 33.7692' N - 77º 16.8043' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Browns Island 34º 36.1188' N - 77º 13.0193' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern shoreline of Browns Inlet, then northerly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(e)           New River Inlet Area: beginning at a point on shore on the south side of Wards Channel 34º 32.2064' N - 77º 19.8404' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 33.1386' N - 77º 20.8902' W; running westerly to a point 34º 33.1097' N - 77º 21.1013' W; running southeasterly to a point 34º 32.3473' N - 77º 20.6013' W; running southwesterly to a point on Topsail Island 34º 32.1096' N - 77º 20.8447' W; following the shore line in a southerly direction around the western shoreline of New River Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point 34º 31.3352' N - 77º 21.1694' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point 34º 33.7692' N - 77º 16.8043' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern shoreline of New River Inlet, then northeasterly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(f)            Topsail Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Topsail Island 34º 21.9619' N - 77º 37.8381' W; running northwesterly to a point in Topsail Sound 34º 22.1071' N - 77º 37.9944' W; running southwesterly to a point near Marker "5" 34º 21.7185' N - 77º 38.3499' W; running southwesterly to a point near Marker "3" 34º 21.5798' N - 77º 38.5928' W; running southwesterly to a point near Marker "1" 34º 21.1055' N - 77º 39.1749' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 21.2065' N - 77º 39.6127' W; running southwesterly to a point 34º 20.7450' N - 77º 40.3682' W; running southerly to a point 34º 20.3011' N - 77º 40.3728' W; following the shoreline in a northeasterly direction around the western shoreline of Topsail Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Lea-Hutaff Island 34º 20.0228' N - 77º 40.4332' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Topsail Island 34º 20.8762' N - 77º 38.9403' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern shore of Topsail Inlet, then northeasterly along the Topsail Sound shore of Topsail Island to the point of beginning;

(g)           Rich Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Lea-Hutaff Island 34º 18.1292' N - 77º 42.6492' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 18.2851' N - 77º 42.9352' W; running southwesterly to a point 34º 18.0190' N - 77º 43.2798' W; running southerly to a point on Figure Eight Island 34º 17.5649' N - 77º 43.1649' W; following the shoreline in an easterly direction around the southern shoreline of Rich Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Figure Eight Island 34º 17.2243' N - 77º 43.2491' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Lea-Hutaff Island 34º 18.1251' N - 77º 42.4352' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the northern shoreline of Rich Inlet, then northeasterly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(h)           Mason Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Figure Eight Island 34º 14.9536' N - 77º 45.9567' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 15.0409' N - 77º46.1766' W; running southwesterly to a point 34º 14.8657' N - 77º 46.4044' W; running southwesterly to a point 34º 14.7256' N - 77º 46.5348' W; running southerly to a point on Shell Island 34º 14.2036' N - 77º 46.5189' W; following the shoreline in a northeasterly direction around the southern shoreline of Mason Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Shell Island 34º 14.1375' N - 77º 46.4263' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Figure Eight Island 34º 14.8474' N - 77º 45.7857' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the northern shoreline of Mason Inlet, then northeasterly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(i)            Masonboro Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Wrightsville Beach 34º 11.3446' N - 77º 48.7458' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 11.4604' N - 77º 49.0510' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 11.5164' N - 77º 49.2368' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 11.5255' N - 77º 49.2652' W; running northwesterly to a point 34º 11.5700' N - 77º 49.4425' W; running southwesterly to a point 34º 11.3553' N - 77º 49.5924' W; running easterly to a point 34º 11.3737' N - 77º 49.4628' W; running easterly to a point 34º 11.3737' N - 77º 49.4345' W; following the shoreline southeasterly to a point 34º 11.2551' N - 77º 49.2287' W; running southerly to a point on Masonboro Island 34º 10.8451' N - 77º 49.0242' W; following the shoreline in an easterly direction around the southern shoreline of Masonboro Inlet through a point at the base of the jetty 34º 10.8814' N - 77º 48.7074' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Masonboro Island 34º 10.5221' N - 77º 49.1658' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the shoreline and the Atlantic Ocean side of the jetties from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and returning to shore parallel to a point 34º 11.5753' N - 77º 48.3061' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline through a point at the base of the jetty 34º 11.2076' N - 77º 48.5555' W, around the northern shoreline of Masonboro Inlet then northeasterly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(j)            Carolina Beach Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Masonboro Island 34º 04.8168' N - 77º 52.8796' W; running southerly to a point 34º 04.4997' N - 77º 53.0080' W; following the shoreline in an easterly direction to a point 34º 04.5022' N - 77º 52.7982' W; running easterly to a point on Pleasure Island 34º 04.5102' N - 77º 52.7340' W; following the shoreline in an easterly direction around the southern shoreline of Carolina Beach Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Pleasure Island 34º 04.3505' N - 77º 52.5048' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Masonboro Island 34º 05.2151' N - 77º 52.1472' W; running southeasterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the northern shoreline of Carolina Beach Inlet, then westerly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(k)           Cape Fear River Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Bald Head Island 33º 52.7072' N - 78º 00.0449' W; running northeasterly to a point 33º 53.6135' N - 77º 59.2549' W; running northerly to a point 33º 54.4086' N - 77º 59.0330' W; running northerly to a point 33º 54.8399' N - 77º 58.9115' W; running westerly to a point at Southport 33º 54.9503' N - 78º 01.3581' W; running southerly to a point on Fort Caswell 33º 53.7948' N - 78º 01.0782' W; following the shoreline in a southerly direction around the western shoreline of Cape Fear River Inlet then westerly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Caswell Beach 33º 53.4293' N - 78º 01.7604' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running southerly to point near Buoy "12" 33º 51.8213' N - 78º 01.0179' W; running southeasterly to a point 33º 51.1999' N - 78º 00.0632' W; running northeasterly to a point on Bald Head Island 33º 51.3488' N - 77º 59.9222' W; running northwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern shore of Cape Fear River Inlet, then northeasterly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(l)            Lockwoods Folly Inlet Area: beginning at a point on Oak Island 33º 54.9392' N - 78º 13.6711' W; running northerly to a point on Sheep Island 33º 55.0837' N - 78º 13.6753' W; following the shoreline northwesterly to a point on Sheep Island 33º 55.2263' N - 78º 13.9395' W; running westerly to a point on Holden Beach 33º 55.1794' N - 78º 14.3132' W; following the shoreline in a southwesterly direction around the western shore of Lockwoods Folly Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Holden Beach 33º 54.8695' N - 78º 14.6180' W; running southerly to a point in the Atlantic Ocean 33º 54.6076' N - 78º 14.6026' W; running easterly to a point in the Atlantic Ocean 33º 54.5564' N - 78 14.0529' W; running northerly to a point on Oak Island 33º 54.8853' N - 78º 14.0041' W; running northwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern shore of Lockwoods Folly Inlet, then easterly along the shore to the point of beginning;

(m)          Shallotte Inlet Area: beginning at a point near Monks Island 33º 54.5773' N - 78º 22.8077' W; running southwesterly to a point on Ocean Isle Beach 33º 54.2436' N - 78º 23.2758' W; following the shoreline in a southerly direction around the western shore of Shallotte Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Ocean Isle Beach 33º 53.8151' N - 78º 23.7753' W; extending 100 yards seaward from the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running easterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Big Beach 33º 54.1103' N - 78º 21.9540' W; running westerly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern shore of Shallotte Inlet, then northerly along the shore to the point of beginning; and

(n)           Tubbs Inlet Area: beginning at a point on the Jinks Creek shore of Ocean Isle Beach 33º 52.5844' N - 78º 28.6583' W; running northerly to a point 33º 52.7734' N - 78º 28.7428' W; running southwesterly to a point 33º 52.6815' N - 78º 29.0080' W; running southwesterly to a point on the Eastern Channel shore of Sunset Beach 33º 52.3878' N - 78º 29.1301' W; following the shoreline in an easterly direction around the western shore of Tubbs Inlet then along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to a point on Sunset Beach 33º 52.3250' N - 78º 29.1865' W; extending 100 yards seaward of the mean high water line and the COLREG Demarcation Line in the Atlantic Ocean and running northeasterly and returning to shore parallel to a point on Ocean Isle Beach 33º 52.5676' N - 78º 28.4027' W; running southwesterly along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline around the eastern shore of Tubbs Inlet then in a northerly direction along the shore to the point of beginning.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113‑134; 113‑182; 143B‑289.52;

Eff. January 1, 1991;

Amended Eff. September 1, 1991;

Recodified from 15A NCAC 03R .0010 Eff. December 17, 1996;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2004;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018;

Amended Eff. March 15, 2023.