![]() The first floating farm was permitted in 2013 to Ladys Island Oyster Company in Beaufort County. The first oyster farm was permitted in 1840 behind Sullivans Island. Mariculture is not a brand new industry to the Palmetto State. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to further measure the effect of the oyster farms on support industries such as oyster recycling, hatcheries, seed, construction, farm tours, restaurant shuckers, boats, locally sourced equipment and other hidden impacts. Of the four farms in South Carolina, they have reported employing 39 individuals (12 full time, 27 contractors). On average, individuals spend $10,000 (non-refundable) on the permitting process. This alone would contribute $114,400 in taxes.Thousands of dollars have been collected by SDNR through the application and permitting processes. Three of the largest oyster-selling restaurants in Charleston have reported sales totaling $1,040,000 from local oysters in 2018. Including an 11% tax on restaurant sales (6% State, 3% County, 2% City), farmed oysters provide the local governments with another approximate $230,000 in revenue. Multiply this by roughly $3.25 per oyster charged in restaurants, and this amounts to an additional 2 million dollars that stay in the local economy rather than leaving the area. ![]() ![]() Oyster farms in Charleston reported to SCDNR that $645,423 of oysters were sold to local restaurants in 2018. This document outlines the benefits, processes, and logistics of these farms. With a total of four farms using cutting-edge floating mariculture methods, they are also providing a creek-to-table product to our local restaurants giving patrons a true taste of the Palmetto State. Oyster farms in South Carolina are providing numerous benefits to the Lowcountry: both economically and environmentally.
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