As many of you know, the Shallotte Sea Buoy mysteriously disappeared a few months ago…

As many of you know, the Shallotte Sea Buoy mysteriously disappeared a few months ago. We at OIFC have been on a mission to track down where it went. Read the email chain below and you will see. Removal of the buoy by the Coast Guard is based on incorrect information in that they contend they notified the public of their plan to remove it and nobody objected to their plan. The facts are their notice procedure is completely ineffective and the public was unaware of their plan, thus the public was prevented from expressing objection to the removal of our Sea Buoy. In that the CG said they sought public comment, apparently that means they want to hear from the public so maybe our “notice to mariners” network is more effective than their LNM[Local Notice to Mariners] system. I think we all agree WE WANT OUR SEA BUOY BACK. Just as we successfully did with the “Save Our Pogies” effort, we are calling on all our fishing/boating friends to email Mr. Posy, the civilian liaison to the Coast Guard responsible for buoys and navigation, and request the Coast Guard return the Shallotte Sea Buoy.

Thank you for your help in this matter. As those of you who were part of the Save Our Pogies effort know, our combined voice can make a difference. OIFC.

Please send your support for the re-installation of the Shallotte Inlet Sea Buoy to:

With a copy to:

[This is our US Congressman David Rouzer’s office/liaison]

frank.iler@ncleg.net [This is our NC State Representative]

daisy@oibgov.com [This is the Town Administrator for OIB]

Below is email chain between Rube McMullan of the OIFC and Ward Posey of the USCG regarding the Shallotte sea buoy.

Email sent from Rube McMullan/OIFC to USCG on 1/14/21

TO: Ward Posey.

I was referred to you by Chief Gibb at Oak Island CG station. Can you share with me info on why the Shallotte Sea Buoy was removed from the Shallotte Inlet and what steps should the citizens of Ocean Isle take in an effort to get it put back. Thank you. Rube McMullan

Email response from Ward Posey/USCG to Rube McMullan/OIFC sent on 1/19/21

Mr. McMullan,

A proposal to discontinue the buoy was advertised in the Fifth District Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) from 17 Dec 2019 to 10 Feb 2020. No comments were received.

An Advance Notice then ran in the LNM from 9 Jun to 3 Aug 2020. No comments were received.

The buoy was discontinued and removed 19 Aug 2020.

The below justification and the fact that we did not receive any comments during the proposal and advance phases is the reason the Coast Guard discontinue the buoy.

An Atlantic Seacoast Waterways Analysis and Management System study was completed. It considered navigation routes, AIS data, vessel training and carriage requirements, and the wide-spread use of technology such as GPS and charting software. Based on our review of this study, the vessel traffic and aids to navigation in the area, this buoy is no longer needed.

In other inlets where we have discontinued the Entrance/Sea Buoys the Coast Guard has lit the number 1 and number 2 buoys. In Shallotte Inlet we are not able to do that. The inlet buoys are maintained by the State of NC, Wildlife Resources Commission.

I recommend you contact them and explore the possibility of lighting Shallotte Inlet Buoy 1 (LLNR 31055) and Shallotte Inlet Buoy 2 (LLNR 31060). Their phone number is 910-386-1821.

I have attached the LNMs that the proposal and advance first were advertised in.

Mr. Posey.

Email response from Rube McMullan/OIFC to Ward Posey/USCG on 1/19/21

Thank you for the reply. As a member of the Ocean Isle boating/fishing community I can assure you this is not good news. The Shallotte Inlet Sea Buoy is an important part of our community and our culture. It is true many boats today have good navigation equipment such that the sea buoy may not serve the importance it did in years past. However, many boats don’t have good navigation equipment and as such the Sea Buoy serves a very important role for the small boaters. Additionally the buoy served as a excellent fish aggregating device and many trophy fish have been caught around the sea buoy. Another benefit to our community is the melodic sound the buoy makes serenading many a quiet night.

Your LNM notice procedure is not working as I have yet to find anyone at OIB that was aware of this. Included on that list is the Town government and our local State Representative.

Respectfully, we want our sea buoy back. Under the assumption that the purpose of the LNM was to gauge local opinion on the consideration of the CG to remove the buoy, please allow me to share this information with the local citizenry. My hope and goal is that the CG will realize this was a mistake and will return our Shallotte Inlet Sea Buoy.

Thank you. Rube McMullan