Extreme cold chills marine life in Beaufort and Hilton Head. ‘We’re at critical tipping point’
It’s so cold that some sea turtles are becoming “cold stunned,” making them lethargic and unable to swim. Meanwhile, shrimpers are fretting. The valuable spring roe crop, currently growing in area estuaries, may be jeopardy if the freezing temperatures persist.
While the seemingly endless spate of cold weather is making it uncomfortable for residents and visitors across the Lowcountry, continued lows near freezing and daytime highs in the 40s or low 50s can potentially be deadly for marine life. And the National Weather Service in Charleston says more of the same can be expected next week.
DNR watching situation closely
Jeff Brunson, the DNR’s crustatian fisheries manager, said the major temperature threshold for shrimp is roughly 48 degrees. At that point, shrimp won’t suddenly die but they will begin to feel the effects of the cold. At around that temperature, he said, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will begin looking at taking steps to protect the spawning stock, including the possibility of closing the trawling season.
Currently, the water temperature is about 50.2 degrees in the Charleston Harbor, he said.
“But it’s probably going to continue to track down over the next few days,” he said. “Our overall goal in managing the resource is protecting wintering shrimp in estuaries.”
Even at 50 degrees, spawning stock may begin to migrate to deeper water, which makes them more vulnerable to being caught by commercial fisherman, which is another threat.
Area waters are not cold enough yet to cause sudden die-offs, Brunson said, but the DNR is closely monitoring the situation.
The current trawling season typically runs between May or June to mid- to late January. It’s possible the season will be closed early to protect the spawning stock, he said.
Shrimp in jeopardy?
The wintering shrimp that are susceptible to the cold are what turn into the spring roe shrimp, the most valuable in the state, said Craig Reaves, a commercial shrimp fisherman in Beaufort who owns Sea Eagle Market.
“Our livelihood depends on the spring roe shrimp,” Reaves says. “Everything hinges on surviving the winter.”
Reaves is “highly concerned” about the current water temperatures caused by the continued cold.
“We’re at a real critical tipping point as far as the shrimp mortality rates,” he said.
2018 was disastrous
In 2018, five days of cold lowered the water temperature to the point where nearly the entire wintering shrimp crop was wiped out leading to a federal disaster declaration for South Carolina and neighboring Georgia, Reaves said.
The current forecast doesn’t call for snow but Reaves noted that a typical Lowcountry winter might bring two consecutive days of cold at a time before warming up.
“But this looks like it’s going to be a prolonged two-week event at least, Reaves said. “So water temperature does matter a lot to us.”
Turtles ‘stunned’ by cold
Amber Kuehn, who leads the Sea Turtle Patrol on Hilton Head Island, picked up a green turtle floating in the water Tuesday near Cross Island Boat Ramp in the Palmetto Bay area. It was alive but “cold stunned.” Sea Turtles, which are reptiles, are sensitive to the cold because they are unable to manage their own body temperature.
“They can’t shiver to warm up and they can’t sweat to cool down,” Kuehn says.
If a turtle gets too cold too quickly, their metabolism shuts down and they can’t swim but they will float. They need to be warmed up but not too quickly.
“When I transport them, I have to turn air conditioning on in the car,” Kuehn says.
Green turtles, which are year-round residents of the island, can grow as large as 500 pounds but the cold stunned turtle was about a foot long and 2 years old. It was the first cold stunned turtle to be found on the island this year. But Kuehn expects there will be more because of the ongoing cold temperatures. It is recovering at the Sea Turtle Care Center at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston. It’s name is Poppy.
The Sea Turtle Patrol urges residents who find lethargic sea turtles to call 1-800-922-5431 and trained volunteers will be notified. A permit is necessary to transport them.
Beach visitation down
Mike Wagner of Beach Shore Services says fewer people are visiting the island’s beaches because of the cold temperatures.
But this is a slow time anyway with visitation usually picking up in April.
Still, a few hardy souls are bundling up in hooded jackets and stocking caps to walk on the beach. Some are even sitting in chairs and soaking up the sun.
More cold is in the forecast
Friday night: Low of 40 degrees and 100% rain.
Saturday: High of 52, low of 30.
Sunday: High of 52, low of 34.
Monday: High of 55, low of 33
Tuesday: High of 52, low of 31
Wednesday: High of 50, low of 28
On Friday afternoon, Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in support of the state’s response efforts to the winter weather moving across the state.
Forecasts predict significant snow, sleet, and ice across much of the state, with conditions intensifying earlier than anticipated, creating dangerous road conditions Friday into tomorrow, the governor noted.
Rain is expected in coastal areas including Beaufort County, but not snow, the National Weather Service said.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM.
