1. Commercial Techniques in Shellfish Resource Enhancement and Restoration
William D. Anderson & James M. Monck
SCDNR Marine Resources Division
ICSR 2006

9. South Carolina Shellfish Industry Transformation
1986

10. Commercial Permit Requirements
116 oyster culture permits (leases) -90,000 bushels planted each year
Annual rent = $5.00/acre
Plant 50 bushels of cultch or equivalent/acre (SC state law)
Shortage of oyster shell for planting
Plethora of oyster larvae in SC
Innovative cultivation methods

16. 2004 Oyster Production
Source – NMFS Commercial Fisheries Annual Landings 2004

17. Shellfish Season – Sep 16 – May 15

18. SC Oyster Shell Planting Percentages of Total Cultch%

19. “Shell Planting” 115 year history – preferred method
Highest recruitment
Scarcity of oyster shells
Expensive husbandry process
“Washed shell” – for subtidal protective overburden

25. Seed Planting Reduces high-density oysters
Sometimes utilizes polluted areas closed to harvesting
Polluted areas must be pre-approved by DHEC & DNR
Shorter grow-out period
Accelerated growth

31. “Raking Down” Breaks up aggregates of small oysters
Reduces density of intertidal clusters
Moves oysters from high/mid intertidal to lower intertidal
Movement results in accelerated growth
Works best in high density, low wave energy habitat

35. Bamboo Stakes Alternative method of spat collection
Must be pre-approved by DNR
6 stakes = 1 bushel of oysters upon grow-out
Can be planted on soft bottoms
More resilient than wooden stakes
Inhibits shoreline erosion

41. Untreated Wooden Stakes
Alternative method of spat collection
Must be pre-approved by DNR
6 stakes = 1 bushel of oysters upon grow-out
Can be planted on soft bottoms
Untreated oak stakes sometimes rot & oysters are smothered

45. Calcium Magnesium Phosphate
Also known as ROC & limestone aggregate
Not as successful as Gulf Coast results
Must be pre-approved by DNR
Used as protective clam habitat

48. Reinforcement wire Location must be pre-approved by DNR
Used in remote areas
May take time to attract cultch
Utilizes soft bottom areas
Restorative process in 10’ lengths

53. “Green” Oyster Shells
Oysters replanted within 3 days after shucking – year round
Small oysters on shells survive
High propensity for spat attraction
Suitable for shucking operations

56. Abandoned Crab Traps Innovative method to establish oyster habitat
Recycles and “crab proofs” traps
Utilizes soft bottoms areas
Production = 2.5 bushels oysters per trap

59. Future Trends Sustained commercial participation & production
Conservation of critical intertidal oyster habitat
Single oyster cultivation
Wildstock oyster and clam propagation
Shellfish conservation initiatives

61. South Carolina Clam Cash Receipts and Aquaculture Permits