Seafood consumption habits of South Carolina shrimp baiters

ABSTRACT

Shrimp baiting is a fishing technique used by many South Carolinians and has been regulated in the state since the late 1980s. A postcard survey was developed and included with 400 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) annual surveys of registered shrimp baiters over a two-year period. The survey contained questions concerning frequency, portion size, baiting locations, and preparation techniques for shrimp as well as other species consumed and demographic information. An overall response rate of 37% was received. The majority of respondents were men over the age of 55 years. Charleston and Beaufort counties were the most common locations for shrimp baiting. Almost half (45.9%) of respondents reported eating locally caught shrimp at least 2–3 times per month. The most common portion size was ½ pound (8 oz. or 277 g), with 44.8% of respondents reporting this as their typical amount of shrimp ingested at one meal. Only 3.7% of respondents reported typically eating the whole shrimp, while all other respondents ingested shrimp with the head removed. The most commonly consumed species besides shrimp were blue crab, oysters, and flounder. According to the US Food and Drug Administration mercury (Hg) guidelines, the majority (97%) of our respondents were not at risk for consuming unsafe levels of Hg from locally caught shrimp. However, this does not take into account other local seafood eaten or other contaminants of concern. These consumption results may be used in conjunction with data on contaminant levels in shrimp to determine potential adverse health risks associated with consumption of locally caught shrimp.

Acknowledgements

Julia Byrd, David Whittaker, Robert Boyles, and the South Carolina of Department of Natural Resources allowed us to include this survey with their annual Shrimp Baiting Permit Holder Survey. Wilfried Karmaus and Amanda Brady assisted with editing and getting the necessary files to the printers. Fred Holland helped in distributing the survey to local area anglers. Jeff Adams assisted with the database form development. Matt Perkinson aided in the data verification process and editing.

Funding

This project was funded by the USC Environmental Research Incentive Grants Program, Vena (PI) 2/1/05- 8/1/06 NIEHS SuperFund Basic Research Program, Center Grants Competition: Community and Environmental Health Risks Associated with Superfund Sites in Southeastern Coastal Systems [grant number 22000-036].

Ethics Approval

This study was reviewed at the University of South Carolina; however, it was exempt from the approval process due to the anonymous nature of the survey. Consent was implied with the return of a survey.

Abbreviations

SCDNR	=	South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
USC	=	University of South Carolina
ASPH	=	Arnold School of Public Health
NOAA	=	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
FDA	=	Food and Drug Administration
SCDHEC	=	South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the USC Environmental Research Incentive Grants Program, Vena (PI) 2/1/05- 8/1/06 NIEHS SuperFund Basic Research Program, Center Grants Competition: Community and Environmental Health Risks Associated with Superfund Sites in Southeastern Coastal Systems [grant number 22000-036].