I wonder if pollution has played a part in this year’s lack of shrimp in Charleston harbor and estuaries. Three weeks before the season, Mt. Pleasant Water and Sewer spilled a half million gallons of raw sewage on Rifle Range at Grey Bay behind Isle of Palms. A week later, Sullivan’s Island had a big spill on the back of the island into the ICW. Then, a few days later, Charleston had a big spill west ashley that went into Wappoo Cut. I’m not a scientist or biologist; but I know that in my aquarium, it doesn’t take much bad stuff to put everything out of balance and the whole system starts to die. I think in the wild; the critters would try to move to better water as in going to the ocean. Those that couldn’t move would suffer and possibly die.
On another note; we are not catching crabs at this time this year where we always did get them in the past. They are shellfish just like shrimp. I am seeing them near the beach.
Any thoughts? Wonder if DHEC or DNR has considered this?
wouldn’t surprise me if that had some affect on shrimpin but I don’t think it has caused the almost outright zilching many of us have had since the season opened…maybe the extended rainy forecast will get them moving or something…hell, I’d take anything right about now…
With so much sewage in the water, they probably are getting enough to eat without having to go to bait balls to feed. When the poop is cleaned up, then you probably start catching them again.
if you are shrimping near crab bank you are shrimping near the Mt.P sewage discharge pipe into the harbor
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and if you shrimp near the JIYC you are shrimping near the Plum Island discharge pipe…BUT, both Mt.P and Plum Island are held to certain standards so this argument is baseless…
Don’t know if the spills are messing up the season, but is anyone being fined for the spills? Sure seems like a lot of incompetent plant operators, all at once!
The raw sewage spills are bad. But do realize as stated above the effluent from Plum Island is under strict discharge regulations where they monitor for biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, pH, etc. etc.
The effleunt is not drinking quality but it aint raw sewage either.
Hey guys, I had just noticed that this was the worst season I’ve ever seen in 30 years. I’m trying to put a handle on what happened. It wasn’t too cold of a winter or too much or too little rain. If the pollution didn’t cause this major effect, then what exactlly did? It does seem that the bad effects consentrate around Charleston harbor and lessen as you go further north or south. Did all that waste in such a short period cause ammonia levels to spike and kill? Did the change in PH cause all the population to run to cleaner water in the ocean? It would be nice to get some serious discussion to find out the reasons we are all doing poorly. If we can pinpoint problems; we may be able to keep this from happening again in the future.
Hey guys, I had just noticed that this was the worst season I’ve ever seen in 30 years. I’m trying to put a handle on what happened. It wasn’t too cold of a winter or too much or too little rain. If the pollution didn’t cause this major effect, then what exactlly did? It does seem that the bad effects consentrate around Charleston harbor and lessen as you go further north or south. Did all that waste in such a short period cause ammonia levels to spike and kill? Did the change in PH cause all the population to run to cleaner water in the ocean? It would be nice to get some serious discussion to find out the reasons we are all doing poorly. If we can pinpoint problems; we may be able to keep this from happening again in the future.
Although the catches have generally been better north and south of the harbor, things aren’t really great anywhere around here. I don’t think the sewer releases have anything to do with it. A tremendous amount of water gets exchanged every day with the tide swing. My personal opinion is that it has something to do with the water temperature. What was a bonus for us having a mild winter (i.e., no major fish or shrimp kills from a freeze) also may be hurting us in that the mild winter and scorching hot summer has left the waters warmer than usual in October. Note that DNR delayed the opening of oyster season for two weeks this year b/c the water was still too warm. That’s my two cents. Could be completely way off. I’m not a fisheries scientist.
