Precautionary action being taken due to Hurricane Matthew
Shellfish season opened on Oct. 1 in South Carolina’s waters, but due to the dangerous conditions coming as Hurricane Matthew approaches, all of the state’s shellfish beds are being closed Friday.
All South Carolina shellfish beds will be closed at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2016 in advance of Hurricane Matthew. This precautionary action is being taken because of the likelihood of the occurrence of heavy rainfall and storm water runoff as a result of the storm.
“All oyster, clam and mussel harvest areas will be closed on Friday at noon and remain closed until evaluated and re-opened by the Department,” said Mike Pearson, manager of DHEC’s Shellfish Sanitation Program. “Individual areas will be opened as soon as conditions are acceptable for the harvest of shellfish.”
For more information about shellfish, see DHEC’s shellfish webpage at: www.scdhec.gov/shellfish.
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