Experts: Cold water threatens shrimp, fish

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Recent frigid weather has chilled local waters, threatening shrimp, red drum, spotted seatrout and other sports fish, biologists say. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re in a critical zone,&#39;&#39; Charles Farmer, a spokesman for the state Marine Resources Division, said Thursday. When water temperatures remain at 47 degrees or below for eight days or more, it can start to kill fish in the area, he said. <br> <br> Thursday was the eighth day of such temperatures in Charleston Harbor. And while the air temperature has moderated in recent days, the water doesn&#39;t respond as quickly to the warming trend. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re not predicting doom and gloom, but we&#39;re not out of the woods,&#39;&#39; Farmer said. ``When water is in the 50-degree range, you get out of that danger zone.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> One fisherman recently reported a couple of dead red drum near Morris Island this week. Those deaths probably were related to the cold, Farmer said. <br> <br> Two years ago, cold weather killed almost all the overwintering shrimp and some fin fish. As a result, marine resources officials asked fishermen to go fishing less often or not at all until spring. <br> <br> This week biologists have been checking areas along the coast for signs of dead fish. Biologists also are trawling to check shrimp, but dead shrimp are usually eaten quickly by predators and so few are found. <br> <br> The cold water can make fish lethargic and that makes smaller fish vulnerable to predators and larger fish to fishermen, Farmer said. <br> <br> He recalled one check for fish on a cold winter day when ``you could ride right up to them and almost pick them up with your hands.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Large and small red drum are at risk, including nearly 2 million juveniles that Marine Resources raised and released last fall. <br> <br> Species of smaller fish such spot and croaker also die in the cold. Biologists reported flocks of gulls feeding this week on dead or lethargic small fish. <br> <br> While the temperatures have moderated, February is usually the coldest month of the year for marine life along the coast.