NC H361

Reforms shellfish bottom leasing by establishing minimum acreage requirements (0.5-10 acres in Core Sound; 0.5-50 acres elsewhere) and maximum holdings (50 acres in Core Sound; 300 acres elsewhere) for individual lessees.

Creates a 100-foot minimum setback requirement from private property shorelines for new shellfish leases, with exemptions for adjacent property owners or leasees with written consent.

Establishes a Shellfish Cultivation Lease Review Committee to hear appeals of Secretary decisions on shellfish leases and limits third-party standing to challenge lease decisions to those approved by the committee.

Authorizes the Secretary to establish Shellfish Aquaculture Enterprise Areas with nontransferable leases and allows terminated leases to be re-leased or redesignated as Enterprise Areas rather than reverting to public use.

Imposes moratoria on new shellfish leases in Masonboro Sound/Greenville Sound (New Hanover County) and Bogue Sound through July 1, 2020, and extends reporting deadlines for oyster studies and shellfish mariculture plans to June 30, 2019.