By Harriet McLeod

CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov 3 (Reuters) - The size of wild shrimp hauls off the southern Atlantic coast have plunged in recent months as a parasite has made it harder for the creatures to breathe, according to state wildlife officials in Georgia and South Carolina.

Experts said they believe black gill disease, caused by a tiny parasite, contributed to a die-off of white shrimp between August and October, typically the prime catch season.

The disease does not kill shrimp directly but hurts their endurance and makes them more vulnerable to predators.

"It's like the shrimp are smoking three packs of cigarettes a day, and now they're having to go run a marathon," said Mel Bell, director of South Carolina's Office of Fisheries Management.

"Shrimpers are reporting to us that they dump the bag on the deck, and the shrimp are just dead."

South Carolina shrimpers hauled in 44,000 pounds of shrimp in September, less than 6 percent of the September, 2012 catch of more than 750,000 pounds, Bell said.

The August take was down nearly 75 percent from the same month the previous year, he said.

Georgia shrimpers have caught fewer than half the number they usually catch in August, September and October, said Patrick Geer, chief of marine fisheries for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Wild-caught shrimp generate $6 million to $8-million in annual revenue in South Carolina and about $12 million a year in Georgia, officials said.

Bell said the shrimp is safe to eat as long as it has not spoiled. The parasite is only on its gills, which come off when the head is removed for human consumption.

A shrimp company operator in Florida said she had not seen black gill disease there this year.

"We have seen it in the past in Florida, but it's when the shrimp in Georgia have moved down," said Marilyn Solorzano, who operates Miss Marilyn Louise Shrimp Co. on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.

"There haven't been enough shrimp in Georgia this year to move down to Florida," she said.

Researchers in Georgia are studying the life cycle of the parasite that causes black gill disease in hopes of finding a way to combat it, Geer said.

Officials blamed drought for earlier outbreaks in the last decade, but this year the U.S. Southeast saw record rainfall.

Too much rain changed water salinity and upset the delicate balance of salt and fresh water in the creeks where shrimp grow up, Bell said.

"When the shrimp are stressed, they're susceptible to being infected with the parasite," he said.

Wildlife agency officials in Georgia will meet with the state's shrimp association this month to determine just how bad the crop has been.

If data indicate a major decline, Georgia will apply for relief funds from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Geer said.

South Carolina officials have not determined whether to seek disaster relief, Bell said.

Tommy Edwards, a veteran shrimper in Charleston, said he is barely getting by.

"I'm not making any money," said Edwards, 52. "Normally, we have enough money where we're set for the winter and repairs and so forth, but we don't have enough for a month's worth of bills."

Black gill disease tends to taper off as waters get colder in November, officials said. (Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Ellen Wulfhorst)



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  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Diceros sumatrensis</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Sumatran rhino

    <strong>Category:</strong> Rhino

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 250 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Hunting for horn -used in traditional medicine




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Eleutherodactylus thorectes</em> <strong>Common Name: </strong>Macaya Breast-Spot Frog <strong>Category:</strong> Frog <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat destruction due to charcoal production and slash-and-burn agriculture Credit: <a href="http://www.robindmoore.com">Robin Moore</a>




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Red-Finned Blue Eye

    <strong>Category:</strong> Freshwater Fish

    <strong>Population: </strong>2,000 - 4,000 Individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Predation by introduced species




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Rafetus Swinhoei</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Red River Giant Softshell Turtle

    <strong>Category:</strong> Turtle

    <strong>Population: </strong>4 known individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Hunting for consumption and habitat destruction and degradation as a result of wetland destruction and pollution




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Neurergus kaiseri</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Luristan newt

    <strong>Category:</strong> Newt

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 1000 mature individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Illegal collection for pet trade




  • List Provided By Zoological Society Of London/ International Union For Conservation Of Nature[1]


    <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Poecilotheria metallica</em> <strong>Common Name: </strong>Peacock Parachute Spider <strong>Category:</strong> Spider <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat loss and degradation as a result of deforestation, firewood collection and civil unrest




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Atelopus balios</em> <strong>Common Name: </strong>Rio Pescado Stubfoot Toad <strong>Category:</strong> Toad <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining) <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Chytridiomycosis and habitat destruction due to logging and agricultural expansion




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Johora Singaporensis</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Singapore Freshwater Crab

    <strong>Category:</strong> Crab

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat degradation - reduction in water quality and quantity




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Abies beshanzuensis</em> <strong>Common Name: </strong>Baishan Fir <strong>Category:</strong> Conifer <strong>Population: </strong>5 mature individuals <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Agricultural expansion and fire




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Actinote zikani </em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Butterfly

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown, one population remaining

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat degradation due to pressure from human populations




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Aipysurus foliosquama</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Leaf Scaled Sea-Snake

    <strong>Category:</strong> Sea snake

    <strong>Population: </strong> Unknown, two subpopulations remain

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Unknown - likely degradation of coral reef habitat




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Amanipodagrion gilliesi</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Amani Flatwing

    <strong>Category:</strong> Damselfly

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 500 individuals est.

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat degradation due to increasing population pressure and water pollution




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Antilophia bokermanni</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Araripe Manakin

    <strong>Category:</strong> bird

    <strong>Population: </strong>779 individuals (est 2010)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat destruction due to expansion of agriculture and recreational facilities and water diversion




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Antisolabis seychellensis

    <strong>Common Name: </strong> Seychelles Earwig

    <strong>Category:</strong> Earwig

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Invasive species and climate change




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Aphanius transgrediens

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Freshwater fish

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Competition and predation by Gambusia and road construction




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Ardeotis nigriceps

    <strong>Common Name: </strong> Great Indian Bustard

    <strong>Category:</strong> Bird

    <strong>Population: </strong> 50 -249 mature individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat loss and modification due to agricultural development




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Aproteles bulmerae

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Bulmer's Fruit Bat

    <strong>Category:</strong> Bat

    <strong>Population: </strong>150 individuals (est)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Hunting and cave disturbance




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Ardea insignis

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>White Bellied Heron

    <strong>Category:</strong> Bird

    <strong>Population: </strong>70-400 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat destruction and degradation due to hydropower development




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Astrochelus yniphora</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong> Ploughshare Tortoise / Angonoka

    <strong>Category:</strong> Tortoise

    <strong>Population: </strong>440-770

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Illegal collection for international pet trade




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Aythya innotata</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Madagascar Pochard

    <strong>Category:</strong> Bird

    <strong>Population: </strong> Approximately 20 mature individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat degradation due to slash-and-burn agriculture, hunting, and fishing / introduced fish




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Azurina eupalama</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong> Galapagos damsel fish

    <strong>Category:</strong> Pelagic fish

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Climate Change - oceanographic changes associated with the 1982 / 1983 El Nino are presumed to be responsible for the apparent disappearance of this species from the Galapagos




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Bahaba taipingensis</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong> Giant yellow croaker

    <strong>Category:</strong> Pelagic fish

    <strong>Population: </strong> Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Over-fishing, primarily due to value of swim-bladder for traditional medicine - cost per kilogram exceeded that of gold in 2001




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Batagur baska</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong> Common Batagur/ Four-toed terrapin

    <strong>Category:</strong> Turtle

    <strong>Population: </strong> Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Illegal export and trade from Indonesia to China




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Bazzania bhutanica

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Liverwort

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat degradation and destruction due to forest clearance, overgrazing and development




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Beatragus hunteri</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Hirola

    <strong>Category:</strong> Antelope

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 1000 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat loss and degradation, competition with livestock, poaching




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Bombus franklinii</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Franklin's Bumble Bee

    <strong>Category:</strong> Bee

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Disease from commercially bred bumblebees and habitat destruction and degradation




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Brachyteles hypoxanthus

    <strong>Common Name: </strong> Northern muriqui

    <strong>Category:</strong> Primate

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 1,000 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat loss and fragmentation due to large-scale deforestation and selective logging




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Bradypus pygmaeus</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Pygmy sloth

    <strong>Category:</strong> Sloth

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 500 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat loss due to illegal logging of mangrove forests for firewood and construction and hunting of the sloths




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Callitriche pulchra</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Freshwater plant

    <strong>Population: </strong> Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Exploitation of the species' habitat by stock, and modification of the pool by local people




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Calumma tarzan</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Tarzan's Chameleon

    <strong>Category:</strong> Chameleon

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat destruction for agriculture




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Cavia intermedia</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Santa Catarina's Guinea Pig

    <strong>Category:</strong> Guinea Pig

    <strong>Population: </strong> 40-60 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat disturbance and possible hunting; small population effects




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Cercopithecus roloway</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Roloway Guenon

    <strong>Category:</strong> Primate

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Hunting for consumption as bushmeat, and habitat loss




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Coleura seychellensis</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Seychelles Sheath-Tailed Bat

    <strong>Category:</strong> Bat

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 100 mature individuals (est 2008)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat degradation and predation by invasive species




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Cryptomyces maximus</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Fungus

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Limited availability of habitat




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Cryptotis nelsoni</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Nelson's Small-Eared Shrew

    <strong>Category:</strong> Shrew

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> habitat loss due to logging cattle grazing, fire and agriculture




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Cyclura collei</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Jamaican Iguana

    <strong>Category:</strong> Iguana

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Predation by introduced species and habitat destruction




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Dendrophylax fawcettii</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Cayman Islands Ghost Orchid

    <strong>Category:</strong> Orchid

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat destruction due to infrastructure development




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Diomedea amsterdamensis</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Amsterdam Island Albatross

    <strong>Category:</strong> Bird

    <strong>Population: </strong>100 mature individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Disease and incidental capture in long-line fishing operations




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Diospyros katendei</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong> None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Tree

    <strong>Population: </strong>20 individuals, one population

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> High pressure from communities for agricultural activity, illegal tree felling, habitat degradation due to alluvial gold digging and small population




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Dipterocarpus lamellatus</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Dipterocarp (tree)

    <strong>Population: </strong>12 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat loss and degradation due to logging of lowland forest and creation of industrial plantations




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Discoglossus nigriventer</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong> Hula painted frog

    <strong>Category:</strong> Frog

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (recent rediscovery in 2011)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Predation by birds and range restriction due to habitat destruction




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Discorea strydomiana</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Wild Yam

    <strong>Category:</strong> Yam

    <strong>Population: </strong>200 Individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Collection for medicinal use




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Dombeya mauritiana</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Flowering plant

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat degradation and destruction due to encroachment by alien invasive plant species and cannabis cultivation




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Eleocarpus bojeri</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Flowering plant

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 10 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Small population and degraded habitat




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Eleutherodactylus glandulifer</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>La Hotte Glanded Frog

    <strong>Category:</strong> Frog

    <strong>Population: </strong>Unknown (declining)

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat destruction due to charcoal production and slash-and-burn agriculture




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Eriosyce chilensis</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Chilenito

    <strong>Category:</strong> Cactus

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 500 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Collection of flowering individuals




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Erythrina schliebenii</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Coral Tree

    <strong>Category:</strong> Flowering tree

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 50 individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Limited habitat and small population size increasing vulnerability to stochastic events




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Euphorbia tanaensis</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Semi-deciduous tree

    <strong>Population: </strong>4 mature individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Illegal logging and habitat degradation due to agricultural expansion and infrastructure development




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Eurynorhynchus pygmeus</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Spoon-Billed Sandpiper

    <strong>Category:</strong> Bird

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 100 breeding pairs

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Trapping on wintering grounds and land reclamation.




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Ficus katendei</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>None

    <strong>Category:</strong> Tree (ficus)

    <strong>Population: </strong> < 50 mature individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Agricultural activity, illegal tree felling and habitat degradation due to alluvial gold digging




  • <strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Geronticus eremita</em>

    <strong>Common Name: </strong>Northern Bald Ibis

    <strong>Category:</strong> Bird

    <strong>Population: </strong>200-249 mature individuals

    <strong>Threats To Survival:</strong> Habitat degradation and destruction, and hunting