Shellfish Culture Permits
SCDNR may grant permits to any state resident for the exclusive use of state bottoms or waters for commercial shellfish culture.
A person or entity desiring to acquire a Shellfish Culture Permit for any bottoms or waters must make written application to the department on a form provided by the department. A nonrefundable sum of $25 dollars must accompany the application for each permit.
SCDNR reviews applications and determines whether and to whom to issue a culture permit based on:
- shellfish culture experience
- ownership or access to necessary equipment and personnel
- possession of all appropriate licenses and permits
- previous performance and compliance with natural resources laws
and other factors that may be relevant.
These requirements are paraphrased from the SC Code of Laws - The actual code can be found SC Code of Laws, Title 50 Chapter 5 (Article 9, Shellfish).
Currently Available Permits
Annual rental fees ($5/acre) and planting quotas (50 bushels/acre) will be based on the listed acreage, which is subject to update annually as new information is received.
A separate application must be submitted for each area of interest. If applying for multiple areas, please assist the review committee by indicating preference order.
| Permit | Location | Acreage | Deadline for Application | Map (PDF) |
Interactive Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-002 | Beaufort/Jasper Counties – Portions of New River, Wright River, Walls Cut, Ramshorn Creek, and all of Mungen Creek. | 6.5 (intertidal) | May 9, 2025 | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-002 |
| C-099 | Beaufort County – Intertidal portions of Harbor River tidal creeks and oyster flats. | 3.5 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-099 |
| C-100 | Beaufort County – Intertidal portions of Harbor River tidal creeks and oyster flats. | 6.0 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-100 |
| C-104 | Beaufort County – Intertidal portions of Harbor River tidal creeks and oyster flats. | 12.0 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-104 |
| C-105 | Beaufort County – Intertidal portions of Harbor River tidal creeks and oyster flats. | 4.2 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-105 |
| C-106 | Intertidal portions of Harbor River tidal creeks and oyster flats. | 27.0 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-106 |
| C-107 | Intertidal portions of Harbor River tidal creeks and oyster flats. | 23.1 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-107 |
| C-108 | Intertidal portions of Harbor River tidal creeks and oyster flats. | 11.2 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-108 |
| C-109 | Beaufort County – Intertidal portions of Harbor River tidal creeks and oyster flats. | 11.2 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-109 |
| C-128 | Beaufort County - Intertidal portions of Bull River, Coosaw River and Wimbee Creek, and the mouth of the Combahee River. | 3.0 (intertidal) | May 9, 2025 | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-128 |
| C-166 | Charleston County – Intertidal portions of Wadmalaw Sound, Wadmalaw River, and Stono River. | 12.0 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-166 |
| C-167 | Charleston County - Intertidal portions of Dawho River. | 11.7 (intertidal) | May 9, 2025 | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-167 |
| C-169 | Charleston County – Intertidal portions of Wadmalaw Sound, and Wadmalaw River. | 23.5 (intertidal) | open | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-169 |
| C-284 | Charleston County - Portions of Bulls Bay (locally known as Oyster House Reef). | 2.1 (intertidal) | May 9, 2025 | Adobe PDF (Printable) | C-284 |
Applications (PDF) should be submitted to:
SC Dept. of Natural Resources
Commercial License Office
P.O. Box 12559
Charleston, S.C. 29422
Applying for a Culture Permit
Each application must be accompanied by a $25 non-refundable application fee.
Application for Shellfish Culture Permit is in the Adobe PDF format. Companies applying for a culture permit must also complete the Company Information for Mariculture/Culture Permits (PDF) form. Successful applicants will be required to complete an Affidavit for Sale of Molluscan Shellfish (PDF) form.
Application forms may also be obtained at these locations:
- DNR License Offices (Columbia, Florence and Charleston)
- DNR Marine Permit Office, 217 Ft. Johnson Rd, Charleston
Maps and additional information may also be obtained by calling the Shellfish Management Section (843) 953-9391 or the DNR Marine Fisheries Permitting Office (843) 953-0453 or (843) 953-9311.