FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 10, 2006
Some Georgetown County shellfish beds closed
COLUMBIA – The Conditionally Approved shellfish beds in Murrells Inlet and North Santee Bay in Georgetown County have been closed to harvesting because of rainfall and the potential for contamination, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
“Rainfall can wash contaminants into shellfish harvesting areas, causing a temporary degradation of water quality,” said Mike Pearson, manager of DHEC’s Region 6 Shellfish Sanitation Program. “These areas have been closed as a precaution and will remain closed for at least 14 days in order to allow natural shellfish cleansing.”
For information about shellfish harvesting areas in the Georgetown County area, contact DHEC’s Region 6 Environmental Quality Control office in Myrtle Beach at (843) 238-4378. For information about Charleston area beds, contact DHEC’s Region 7 EQC office in North Charleston at (843) 740-1590. Information about shellfish harvesting areas in the Beaufort area may be obtained from DHEC’s Region 8 EQC office in Burton at (843) 846-1030.
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For more information:
Adam Myrick – (803) 898-3884
E-mail – myrickar@dhec.sc.gov