** Archived Article - please check for current information. **

October 6, 2010

Some Charleston, Georgetown clam, oyster harvesting areas reopen

Some clam and oyster harvesting areas ranging from northern Charleston County to southern Georgetown County have been reopened, according to the the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

The reopened areas include beds at Clubhouse Creek near McClellanville north to and including North Inlet in Georgetown County. These areas have been reopened because water quality sampling indicates bacteria levels are suitable for clam and oyster harvesting.

All other areas closed last week will remain closed. Current closures include: all harvesting beds north of North Inlet in Georgetown and Horry counties, and areas close to Hilton Head Island and Pinckney Island.

For more information on clam and oyster harvesting in the Charleston area, call DHEC's Region 7 Environmental Quality Control office at (843) 953-0160. For information on clam and oyster harvesting in Horry and Georgetown counties, call DHEC's Region 6 EQC office at (843) 238-4378. For information on clam and oyster harvesting in Beaufort County, call DHEC's Region 8 Environmental Quality Control office at (843) 846-1030.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains 59 State Shellfish Grounds for commercial and recreational harvesting of clams and oysters. Twenty Public Shellfish Grounds are managed exclusively for recreational gathering and are posted with boundary signs. Recreational harvesters must have a saltwater fishing license ($10 for residents, $35 for non-residents).  The recreational limit is two U.S. bushels of oysters and one-half bushel of clams in any one day. No person may gather more than one personal limit of shellfish on more than two calendar days per any seven-day period. There is a maximum possession limit of three personal limits per boat or vehicle or boat and vehicle combination. Clams must be at least 1 inch in thickness.

Recreational harvesters should obtain updated Public or State Shellfish Ground maps at the beginning of each season, as boundaries may be modified from time to time or areas may be opened or closed by DHEC due to pollution. Maps, listed by county, for these areas are downloadable or may be obtained by calling (843) 953-9854.

South Carolina residents commercially harvesting on State Shellfish Grounds require a commercial saltwater license ($25), a commercial shellfish harvester license ($75) and a permit for the specific State Shellfish Ground. Call (843) 953-9301 or (843) 953-9311 for additional information on commercial harvesting requirements. 

More News

Follow DNR on the Web:

DNR on FacebookDNR on TwitterDNR on Youtube