The Shellfish Sanitation Program is funded by an appropriation from the Georgia General Assembly and consists of water quality sampling and monitoring, permitting shellfish harvesters, and conducting sanitary surveys. The National Shellfish Sanitation Program's (NSSP) Manual of Operations (Part 1, Section C-3,a) requires that states  show that shellfish harvest areas are " not subject to contamination from human and/or animal fecal matter in amounts that in the judgement of the SSCA [State Shellfish Control Authority] may present an actual or potential hazard to public health."  Standards of the NSSP further require the state to regularly collect water samples from each approved harvest area and to perform certain analytical procedures to ensure that the area is below the established fecal coliform threshold.

Classification of Georgia shellfish (oyster and clam) waters is based upon a 5-tube decimal dilution analysis as prescribed by the NSSP.  Sampling by the Georgia Shellfish Program follows the procedure described by the NSSP Manual of Operations Systematic Random Sampling (p. 26).  Water Quality sampling occurs monthly at eighty-eight (88) stations in five(5) counties on the coast including Chatham, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn, and Camden counties. 

Sanitary Surveys are performed every twelve (12) years and provide the written evaluation report of all environmental factors, including actual and potential pollution sources, which have a bearing on water quality in a shellfish growing area.  Annual and Triennial reports are written to document the effective administration of a statewide shellfish safety and sanitation program.

Permitting is required for all leaseholders and pickers engaging in the commercial harvest of shellfish in the state of Georgia.  For information on commercial shellfishing, contact the DNR Coastal Resources Division Shellfish Program in Brunswick, Georgia at 912-264-7218.

Interested in Commercial Shellfish Aguaculture?  Is there a commercial lease available? Check Here Click the photo below to download our Commercial Shellfish Guide.