Shrimp boats in McClelanville, SC.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) -- This spring's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and last winter's cold on the South Carolina coast are creating higher shrimp prices.
The Island Packet of Hilton Head Island reported Friday that how long prices remain high will depend on how long Gulf shrimpers are out of work.
Clay Cable of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association says the shrimp that are available now are selling for about $3 a pound in Beaufort County, $1 per pound more than last year.
It's unclear if prices will moderate once South Carolina shrimpers begin trawling. They usually are out by now, but last winter's cold killed shrimp and the state has delayed the start of the season.
Testing continues but early indications are the shrimp population may have been cut in half.
Information from: The Island Packet, http://www.islandpacket.com
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