New shellfish harvest area established in Glynn County

A new commercial shellfish harvest area on Jointer Creek south of Cobb Creek is now permitted and marked for operation in Glynn County.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Resources Division (CRD) issued shellfish harvest area leases to three parties totaling an area of 22.5 acres on the Southern side of Jointer Creek behind Jekyll Island. This newly permitted area will allow leaseholders to use floating gear tethered to the bottom of the estuary to grow oysters in a controlled environment.

The new Jointer Creek harvest area is the third of its kind in Georgia after the passage of Georgia House Bill 501, which became law March 1, 2020. The new law allowed CRD to create a framework of policies to properly manage new opportunities--including the use of floating gear--for the growth and diversification of the state's shellfish industry. Floating gear has been successfully used in the shellfish industries in other states and is new to Georgia after the law's passage.

The Jointer Creek shellfish harvest area is bound by four concrete pilings installed January 29, 2026, after approval from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The pilings are at:

• 31.0595013, -81.4738318
• 31.0595013, -81.4757366
• 31.0540187, -81.4724596
• 31.0550306, -81.4705548

The concrete pilings are marked with reflective 3-foot by 3-foot signs along with yellow flashing lights approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard sent a notice to mariners referencing the new pilings, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is slated to update navigational charts soon.

Georgia DNR reminds boaters to check their equipment, including running lights, on their vessels regularly. While GPS and other computerized navigation aids are helpful, they should not be used as the sole means of navigation.

For more information about changes to the Georgia shellfish industry and the Shellfish and Water Quality Unit within DNR's Coastal Resources Division, visit CoastalGaDNR.org/ShellfishLeasing.

About the Coastal Resources Division

The mission of the Coastal Resources Division is to balance coastal development and protection of the coast's natural assets, socio-cultural heritage and recreational resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Media Contact

Tyler Jones
Public Information Officer
Coastal Resources Division
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
[email protected]
912-264-7218

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