The proposed project consists of the installation of 1,428 floating OysterGro mariculture cages within Tom Point Creek. The applicant has proposed to install floating oyster cages within two sites. Site 1 will be approximately 2 acres and is divided into Areas 1 and 2. Within Area 1, the OysterGro gear will run parallel to the shoreline, and there will be four lines of gear containing 84 floating cages each for a total of 336 cages. Within Area 2, there will be 3 lines of gear containing 84 floating cages each for a total of 252 cages. Site 2 will be approximately 3 acres, and the OysterGro gear will run parallel to the shoreline, and there will be three lines of gear containing 280 floating cages each for a total of 840 cages. Each line of gear will be anchored with auger anchors and the gear will be 50’ from the northeast shoreline with 22’ between each gear line. The applicant’s stated purpose of the proposed work is for private, commercial use.
Community Engagement
Public Hearing
DHEC OCRM will hold an in-person public hearing to receive comments on the proposed floating mariculture project on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 6:00 pm. The public hearing will be held at the Edisto Beach Civic Center located at 42 Station Court, Edisto Island, SC 29438.
During the public hearing, DHEC OCRM staff will provide a brief summary of the proposed application and will accept verbal comments for the record to be considered prior to making a final decision. This hearing is designed so that DHEC OCRM staff can gather comments as to the merits of the project and consider all information when making a decision based on the Coastal Tidelands and Wetlands Act, Department Coastal Division regulations, and policies.
What to Expect
To make certain the Department gathers all presented information and has an opportunity to hear all comments, direct questioning during the open comment portion of the public hearing will not be allowed. Staff will remain at the close of the public hearing to answer questions.
The public notice for the hearing will remain open for two weeks following the hearing. Written comments will continue to be accepted through the public notice page until June 7, 2024. DHEC OCRM's final permit decision will be made available on this webpage and by email or mail to everyone on DHEC OCRM’s mailing list who requested to be notified of the final Department decision for the proposed floating mariculture project.
Contact Information
For technical information regarding the critical area permit application, please contact Blair Williams at Blair.Williams@des.sc.gov .