South Atlantic 



Figure 8. South Atlantic Commercial Shellfish Landings for Selected Species, 

 1985-1989 



on shellfish habitat as well as on 

 public health. For example, the region 

 has the greatest intensity of pesticide 

 application to agricultural lands in the 

 Nation (NOAA, 1990). Although 

 human pathogens normally may not 

 be associated with wildlife and agricul- 

 ture, the nutrients and toxics from 

 these sources do affect water quality 

 and shellfish habitat. This is espe- 

 cially true in the South Atlantic be- 

 cause of weak estuarine circulation. 



Landings 



The region's landings declined 

 dramatically between 1985 and 1989. 

 Oyster landings declined from 1 .6 

 million to one million pounds, clams 

 declined from 3.1 million to 1.7 million 

 pounds, and scallops from 10.4 million 

 to 3.4 million pounds. No mussels 

 were landed during this period, 

 although South Carolina reported new 



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