Forums - SouthCarolina-Offshore.Com http://southcarolina-offshore.com/ Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:21:59 -0500 FeedCreator 1.8.0-nukeFEED (http://nukeSEO.com) Bill Hogarth Departs NOAA http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article50.html

Bill Hogarth Departs NOAA

Monday, December 31, 2007 was Bill Hogarth’s last day as Assistant Administrator for Fisheries after 7 years as leader of NOAA Fisheries and more than 13 years of Federal service to the Nation.  He will continue to serve as the U.S. Commissioner and Chair of the International Whaling Commission through the end of the next annual meeting in June 2008. On January 15, 2008, he will begin his new job as the Interim Dean at the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, in St. Pete FL.  A reception to honor Bill will be held in Silver Spring, MD on January 9, 2008.

]]> no_email@example.com (Dawg) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article50.html Southeast Regional Diamondback Terrapin Workshop http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article49.html Southeast Regional Diamondback Terrapin Workshop
February 27, 2008, 8:30am – 2:30pm
Charleston, South Carolina
 
The ACE Basin, Sapelo Island, North Inlet/Winyah Bay and North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserves, in partnership with the SE Diamondback Terrapin Working Group, are pleased to announce a one-day workshop on February 27, 2008 highlighting the status of diamondback terrapin research, management and education in the Southeast. The meeting will serve to update attendees on the accomplishments and specific needs of the region, as well as facilitate networking within and between states in the Southeast.
 
Presentation topics include:
·        Population research and causes for decline;
·        Crab trap clean-up, by-catch reduction device (BRD) research with fishermen, BRD education programs;
·        Efforts to reduce terrapin mortality; and
·        Impacts of mercury on terrapin health.
 
The workshop will also provide time for break-out discussions by state to determine next steps for that state’s research, management and education.
 
The workshop will take place at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Charleston, SC, located at 181 Church Street. Rooms have been held at the government per diem rate of $137 for the night of February 26th and can be booked by calling 843-577-2644. The South Carolina Aquarium has also arranged for meeting participants to get an entrance discount and behind the scenes tour on the 26th for those interested.
 
Please register at http://www.sapeloislandnerr-ctp.org/ for the workshop and the pre-meeting Aquarium tour. Attendees are welcome to display posters, please indicate this on the registration form. Contact Suzanne at Suzanne_Vanparreren@dnr.state.ga.us or 912-485-2251 regarding registration or Rebekah at SzivakR@dnr.sc.gov or 843-953-9024 regarding room reservations.
]]> no_email@example.com (Dawg) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article49.html conference on the future of S.C waters http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article48.html Conservation Partnership Conference

Becoming Watershed Wise - Managing Watersheds for Human and Natural Impacts

January 16-18, 2008
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

 This sounds like a great conference. Deadline to register is dec. 31 st. Special guest speaker is To Lester form the TV series Green Acres. Mr. Lester is a strong supporter of conservation and natural resources  planning. For more information contact Mary Hill at (864)229-3004, ext. 101.

]]> no_email@example.com (Casey) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article48.html Council Approves Amendment to Rebuild Fish Stocks http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article46.html Council Approves Amendment to Rebuild Fish Stocks
Rebuilding plans outlined for snowy grouper, black sea bass, and red porgy
 
     The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved stock rebuilding plans for three economically important species found in the snapper grouper management complex during its recent meeting in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.  Amendment 15A to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) will determine long-term rebuilding plans for overfished stocks of snowy grouper, black sea bass, and red porgy.  The Council is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to develop the rebuilding plans.
 
     The rebuilding plans specify the schedule or timeframe in which the stocks will be rebuilt as well as the management strategies used to recover the stocks.  A rebuilding strategy gives managers the ability to establish an annual total allowable catch (TAC) based on the long-term plan for stock recovery.  For example, the amendment outlines a rebuilding schedule for black sea bass of 10 years, beginning in 2006.  The rebuilding strategy maintains a constant catch throughout the rebuilding timeframe, with a TAC for 2009 set at 847,000 pounds whole weight.  The TAC would remain in effect beyond 2009 until modified through the stock assessment process.  For snowy grouper, a much longer-lived species found in deeper waters, the Council has designated a rebuilding schedule of 34 years with a strategy to continue a 2009 TAC of 102,960 pounds whole weight.  A red porgy TAC of 395,281 pounds whole weight has been set for 2009 and 2010.  The TAC can be adjusted as stock assessment data become available and the stock continues to rebuild.  Amendment 15A will be submitted later this month to the Secretary of Commerce for final review and approval.
 
     The Council held a series of 10 public hearings from Marathon, Florida to Manteo, North Carolina in November and early December to solicit input on Amendments 15A and 15B to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan.   While rebuilding plans were approved through Amendment 15A at the December meeting, the Council will continue to receive comments on Amendment 15B until January 11, 2008.   The majority of comments received during public hearings involved actions in Amendment 15B, including those to address the sale of recreationally-caught snapper grouper species and allocations of snowy grouper and red porgy between recreational and commercial fishermen. 
 
     Opinions were divided regarding the issue of recreational sale, with some supporting the Council’s preferred management alternative to eliminate the sale of recreational bag limits for snapper grouper species harvested from federal waters in the South Atlantic.  However, comments were received from fishermen, primarily in North Carolina, that supported the ability to sell recreational bag limits without possession of a federal snapper grouper commercial permit in order to allow continued flexibility for area fishermen with a state commercial permit.  Amendment 15B also includes alternatives for the implementation of a plan to monitor and assess bycatch, measures to reduce the impacts of incidental take on sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish, permit renewal and transferability, and management reference points for golden tilefish.  Copies of the Amendment 15B Public Hearing Document and details on how to comment can be found on the Council’s web site at www.safmc.net.
 
Other Actions
    Work continued on a list of management alternatives required to reduce harvest and end overfishing for vermilion snapper and gag grouper. Alternatives in Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper FMP include a gag spawning closure January – April that applies to both recreational and commercial sectors and to all shallow water groupers, a gag quota where harvest and possession of shallow water groupers is prohibited once the quota is met, two separate quotas for gag (one for the Carolinas and another for Georgia and Florida), and modifications to the gag and black grouper aggregate bag limit.  Management measures for vermilion snapper include seasonal closures, two commercial quotas occurring at two different times of the year, and adjustments to the size and bag limits.  Additional alternatives include exclusion of the captain and crew on for-hire vessels from possession of the bag limit for shallow water groupers and vermilion snapper, and a requirement of dehooking tools, venting tools, and the use of circle hooks for both commercial and recreational sectors.  Allocation alternatives between commercial and recreational sectors are also included in the document.  The Council is scheduled to approve Amendment 16 for public hearings during its March 2008 meeting.
    
     The Council also approved a new approach to public scoping in 2008 that will involve a series of meetings offering the public an opportunity for informal discussion with Council staff and area Council members. Public scoping comments will be taken on the following issues: a Comprehensive Allocation Amendment, Snapper Grouper Amendment 17, Limited Access Privilege Programs, and allocation of the Atlantic commercial king mackerel quota.  The 2008 meetings will be held February 4th in Homestead, FL; February 5th in Port Canaveral, FL; February 6th in Brunswick, GA; February 7th in New Bern, NC; and February 20 in Charleston, SC.  Additional information regarding the meetings will be publicized as they become available.    
    
     The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for March 3-7, 2008 in Jekyll Island, GA. For additional information regarding Council meetings, including briefing book materials and a summary of the motions from the December meeting, visit www.safmc.net or contact the Council office.
 
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida.
 
 
 
Kim Iverson
Public Information Officer
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201
North Charleston, SC 29405
843/571-4366 or toll free 866/SAFMC-10
Fax  843/769-4520
kim.iverson@safmc.net
www.safmc.net
]]> no_email@example.com (Dawg) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article46.html fishing permits http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article45.html Atlantic Tunas Permit (Commercial) Description

All owners/operators of vessels (except charter/headboats and recreational vessels) fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic tunas (Atlantic bluefin, yellowfin, skipjack, albacore, and bigeye tunas) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic tunas permit. Atlantic tunas permits cost $28.00. In the regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks, NMFS changed the fishing year for Atlantic tunas to January through December of the same year in order to facilitate timely implementation of international fishery recommendations. Therefore, 2007 Atlantic tunas permits will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008.

Atlantic HMS Angling Permit (Recreational) Description

All owners/operators of vessels fishing recreationally for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2007 Atlantic HMS permits cost $28.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008.

Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat Permit Description

All owners/operators of charter/headboat vessels fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2007 Atlantic HMS permits cost $28.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008.

]]> no_email@example.com (Casey) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article45.html boating safety http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article44.html U.S Coast Guard Boating Laws

The South Carolina boating safety education certificate (commonly known as a South Carolina boating license) is proof that a boater has successfully completed a boating safety course.

Jet ski towing wakeboarderSouth Carolina law requires that a person under 16 years of age have passed a boating safety course approved by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources or be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old who is not under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs in order to operate a vessel powered by 15 horsepower or more. The Boat South Carolina course meets these requirements and is the same course taught in South Carolina classrooms.

Even if not required by law to get the South Carolina boating license, many boaters take the boat safety course in order to save on their PWC or boat insurance.

Do your part to make boating in South Carolina a safe, enjoyable pastime! Become an educated, responsible boater by completing the Boat South Carolina course and practice what you learn.

How do I learn about the legal requirements of boating in South Carolina?

Laws and regulations concerning operating a personal watercraft or vessel, required equipment, vessel registration and much more can be found in Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating.

How do I take a safe boating exam and get my boater education card?

  • Internet: You can study over the Internet then take the South Carolina online boating exam. Once you pass, the official boating safety education certificate issued by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is mailed to your home.
  • Video at Home: Study at home with the South Carolina video home-study course. Then take the Certification Exam at home and mail it in for grading and certification.

Where can I get the boater safety education course material?

You're at the right place, because the Boat South Carolina online safe boating course is the official course developed specifically for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. All the required safe boating course material to get your boating safety education certificate is available for free online. Please visit our South Carolina safe boating course introductory page to find out about the boater exam process.

Where can I get more information about the South Carolina boating safety education certificate?

Who needs a South Carolina boat license, and what can they operate once they get their boating safety education certificate?

South Carolina's boating safety education requirements and laws about operating a boat or PWC are explained in detail on the Who May Operate a Vessel page.

]]> no_email@example.com (Casey) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article44.html score program oyster reefs http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article41.html Score Program oyster reefs

121 oyster reefs have been constructed at 29 sites as part of the SCORE program since May 2001! The sites span 200 miles of coastline from Murrell's Inlet to Hilton Head,South Carolina. All of the reefs were constructed by community volunteers working under the direction of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Accomplishments to date include the following:

  • Over 14,000 volunteer hours donated by more than 2,000 individuals
  • Collected and processed more than 600 reef samples containing more than 300,000 spat in annual reef assessments.
  • Recycled and bagged over 13,000 bushels of oyster shell
  • Returned more than 250 tons of oyster shell to the local waters by constructing almost 22,000 square feet of oyster reef footprint
  • Approximately 25 teams of trained volunteers monitor water quality weekly at most sites
  • Marsh grass is growing in behind many SCORE reefs!
  • SCORE received the prestigious Coastal America Partnership Award in 2004.
Please click on individual sites below to get the latest update on site condition.  For photos of the restoration sites visit our media gallery.
  1. #1. Mouth of May River
  2. #2. Alljoy Landing
  3. #3. Crystal Beach
  4. #4. Palmetto Beach
  5. #5. Calhoun St. dock
  6. #6. Palmetto Bluff, Osprey Alley
  7. #7. Rose Dhu Creek
  8. #8. Stony Creek
  9. #9 Okatie River Bend
  10. Alberta Long
  11. Beaufort Marine Institute
  12. Boone Hall
  13. Bowens Island
  14. Boy Scout Camp Ho Non Wah
  15. Callawassie Island
  16. Cape Romain
  17. Chowan Creek
  18. Dataw Island
  19. Edisto
  20. Fort Johnson
  21. Horseshoe Creek
  22. Hunting Island
  23. Huntington Beach State Park
  24. Kiawah
  25. McClellanville
  26. Murrells - Oyster Landing
  27. Palmetto - Main Fishing Pier
  28. Patriots Point
  29. Pawleys Island
  30. Pinckney Landing
  31. Pinckney Refuge
  32. Port Royal
  33. Ripleys Marina
  34. Riverland Terrace
  35. Rockville
  36. Sol Legare
  37. South Carolina Aquarium
  38. Trask Boat Landing
  39. Waddell Mariculture Center

 

]]> no_email@example.com (Casey) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article41.html Fish Advisories http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article40.html Fish Advisories
Information for Women and Children Under 14
DHEC has special advice for the following groups:

women who are pregnant
women who plan to become pregnant soon
nursing mothers
children under 14
These groups should not eat ANY fish containing mercury.  A fish with any advisory (one meal per week, one meal per month, or DO NOT EAT ANY) contains mercury and should not be eaten by these groups.  For more information on mercury, please visit DHEC's Making Sense of Mercury web page. 

Infants and children are particularly sensitive to the effects of mercury since their brains and nerves are still forming.  This advice from DHEC is meant to protect these sensitive groups.  

A national advisory, issued in March 2004 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), says that women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are nursing, and children under 14 should only eat one meal of freshwater fish each week.  This advisory also says that they should not eat any king mackerel, shark, swordfish or tilefish.   To find out more on the national advisory, visit EPA's website or FDA's web site.  You can also call FDA, toll-free, at 1-888-SAFEFOOD for more information.

Bureau of Water . Phone: (803) 898-4300 . Fax: (803) 898-4215 . Contact Us

]]> no_email@example.com (Casey) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article40.html Saltwater Fishing Trends: http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article38.html Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day until March -
www.cherrygrovepier.com/tour.htm - Spot activity has slowed to sporadic
catches. Whiting caught on cut bait. A few blues are taking cut shrimp
and Gotcha plugs.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach): Pier and bait Shop open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
seven days a week until February. -
www.campingfriend.com/ApacheFamilyCampground - Spot activity has slowed
to only a few reported catches with bloodworms, redworms or night
crawlers. Flounder are biting mud minnows, cut bait and sand fleas.
Whiting are biting as well as spotted sea trout.

Springmaid Pier (Myrtle Beach): Pier is open 6 a.m. to midnight seven
days a week, year-round. - www.springmaidbeach.com/live-cam.html -
Spotted sea trout bite is still good with finger mullet. Spot runs have
only been occasional with bloodworms or redworms. Whiting are biting
well on cut baits. Sharks and skates were also reported.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Pier open 6 a.m. to 8
p.m., 7 days a week (24/7 if staying  onsite). Tackle shop open 9:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. -
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/795.aspx -
Whiting, pompano and spotted sea trout are taking live or cut shrimp, or
cut mullet..

Surfside Pier: Closed Dec. 1 until February.

The Pier at Garden City: Pier and tackle shop open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(closed for repairs Dec. 3-7). - www.pieratgardencity.com - Whiting
activity good at the end of the pier. Catches of pompano and croaker
with cut baits.

Winyah Bay Fishing and Observation Pier (Georgetown): Open 6 a.m. to
midnight, seven days a week, with free parking and fishing. A Freshwater
Fishing License is required due to brackish water. A second fishing pier
is open on Winyah Bay called Hobcaw Point Observation and Fishing - No
activity to report.

Folly Beach Pier: Marina building, fishing pier and Locklear's
Restaurant (which leases space inside the marina) closed for repairs
until March 2008. Call Charleston County Parks and Recreation at
843-795-4386 for more information.

Hunting Island State Park Fishing Pier: Pier is open 24 hours a day. The
Nature Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (Center
only closed Jan. - Feb. for repairs). -
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1019.aspx - A
few spots have been caught along with whiting. Use red worms for the
spot and cut bait for the whiting.

Reporters: The S.C. Department of Natural Resources' Marine Resource
Division thanks the following participants for their cooperation in
compiling this week's report: Cherry Grove Pier, Apache Pier, Springmaid
Pier, Myrtle Beach State Park, Surfside Pier, The Pier at Garden City,
Winyah Bay Fishing and Observation Pier, Folly Beach Fishing Pier,
Hunting Island State Park and Dr. Donald Millus.
For South Carolina marine recreational fishing regulations:
http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/regs/pdf/saltfishing.pdf
Visit the Saltwater Fishing License Web site at
http://saltwaterfishing.sc.gov
]]> no_email@example.com (Dawg) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article38.html RECYCLING OYSTER SHELLS HELPS REFURBISH SHELLFISH GROUNDS http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article37.html RECYCLING OYSTER SHELLS HELPS REFURBISH SHELLFISH GROUNDS

Recycling oyster shells provides S.C. Department of Natural Resources an
opportunity to refurbish shellfish grounds with local shells for new
generations of oysters to grow. This time of the year, when oyster
roasts are plentiful, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
reminds the public that recycling oyster shells helps to enhance
harvestable public shellfish grounds. Every shell recycled is replanted
back into the estuarine environment, replenishing and helping to sustain
the oyster resource. Replanting shells during the warmer water seasons
is part of the cycle for maintaining the resource by providing a
substrate for oyster spat to attach. Oysters are also important to the
marine environment, serving as ecosystem engineers and fish habitat. DNR
maintains 19 coastal recycling drop-off locations, spanning from
Murrells Inlet south to Hilton Head where the public can recycle their
shells. For detailed maps and directions to recycling drop-off
locations, visit http://saltwaterfishing.sc.gov/oyster.html, or call
(843) 953-9854. DNR's Shell Recycling and Restoration Program
coordinators will arrange to pick-up large quantities of recycled
shells, 20 bushels or greater, following large oyster roasts.  #07-349

]]> no_email@example.com (Dawg) http://southcarolina-offshore.com/article37.html