DNR News
** Archived Article - please check for current information. **
May 19, 2015Oyster season closed May 15, clam season to close May 31
South Carolina’s oyster season closed on Friday, May 15 at one half hour after official sunset according to S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials. Clam season will close on Sunday, May 31. Shellfish harvesting is expected to reopen October 1, 2015. Because of higher bacterial levels that occur when water temperature is above 80 degrees, shellfish harvesting is prohibited during the summer months. Find out more about shellfish harvesting regulations. Coastal waters will remain closed to recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting for oysters and clams until the fall when water temperatures begin to cool making the shellfish once again safe for harvesting.
DNR maintains dozens of State Shellfish Grounds for commercial and recreational harvesting of clams and oysters. Twenty Public Shellfish Grounds are managed exclusively for recreational gathering. Each year there are approximately three million dollars worth of wild stock oysters and clams landed in the states commercial shellfish fishery alone.
DNR’s Shellfish Recycling and Replanting Program continues its efforts to encourage the public to recycle their oyster shells. Oyster shell recycling drop-off locations are located throughout coastal counties, and collection sites can be found online. During the summer months, DNR returns the recycled shells to shorelines, where it provides substrate for larval oysters to attach, thereby replenishing the harvested beds. When the quantity of shell needed to replant shellfish grounds exceeds those that are recycled, DNR must purchase shells from other vendors. Funding for DNR’s shellfish restoration and enhancement efforts is provided by a portion of Saltwater Recreational Fishing License funds.
Late spring and early summer are also the busiest months for DNR’s community oyster restoration program. The public is invited to work with DNR staff and other volunteers to create oyster habitat in areas that are not harvestable. The resulting oyster reefs will provide a host of ecological services including water filtration, nutrient cycling, and habitat for fish and invertebrates. Email the community restoration staff at score@dnr.sc.gov for an upcoming schedule of events.
More News
- DNR offering virtual hands on boating safety classes in July
- 2014 S.C. Environmental Awareness Award call for nominations
- DNR volunteers honored with Spirit of Cooperation Award
- Oyster season closes May 15, clam season to close May 31
- DNR dedicates memorial plaque to fallen officer
- Spawning season for a “Living Fossil”
- Statewide deer harvest decreases in 2014
- DNR offers guidelines for dealing with bears; report a sighting on website
- Loggerhead nest kicks off sea turtle season
- 2015 public alligator hunting, special WMA season applications available online
- Laws are strict on taking wild turkey eggs and releasing pen-raised turkeys
- DNR hosts series of youth fishing rodeos/family fishing clinics around the state
- Freshwater fishing trends
- Saltwater fishing trends
- S.C. weekly tidetable
- DNR video
- Archived news releases
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