Dredging Takes a Toll on Sea Turtles

Michelle Pate answered a 3 a.m. phone call. Even before speaking, she knew it was about a dead turtle. She also knew how it died.

Only the dredge crew called in the middle of the night.

Pate works for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, and her phone serves as a sort of dead sea turtle hotline. On that day — May 6, 2021 — it rang once before dawn and four more times before dusk. Eventually, she drove to the docks of Charleston Harbor. A crew member handed her coolers filled with dismembered sea turtle parts…

For the full article, click the link Dredging

SCDNR holds public meetings on blue crab management

--- NEWS RELEASE ---

For Immediate Release

Public & industry invited to discuss blue crab decline and management recommendations

Blue crabs support one of the state’s oldest and largest fisheries, with landings valued at over $6 million annually. (Photo: E. Weeks/SCDNR)

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (September 14, 2023) – South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) staff will host three public meetings across the coast to invite both recreational and commercial crabbers to learn more about the blue crab decline and discuss potential options for future management.

The first public meeting will take place at SCDNR’s Marine Resources Center in Charleston on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, followed by one at the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center in Okatie on October 4. An additional meeting is planned but not yet scheduled for Murrells Inlet.

In 2021, following years of dwindling survey numbers and crabber concerns, agency biologists and staff began compiling a report outlining the state’s blue crab population status, its commercial and recreational fisheries, and the results of recent public surveys on management options.

That report was published in early 2023 at the request of the General Assembly and concluded that, beginning with a severe drought in 2000, blue crabs have experienced two decades of decline in South Carolina. Some numbers have begun to increase again, but concerning signals in the data remain, including continued declines in crab abundance during the fall, the season when most crabs are harvested commercially.

The report also highlighted the history of blue crab protections in South Carolina and found that the fishery is underregulated and likely overcapitalized compared with neighboring states. Public survey data suggested that the majority of both recreational and commercial crabbers perceive that blue crabs are less numerous than they used to be.

Lastly, the report provided a suite of recommendations intended to prevent the potential for overharvesting and to gradually reduce fishing pressure in South Carolina. Staff will discuss these recommendations and other report findings at the public meetings.

For those unable to attend one of the in-person meetings, a recording of the presentation will be made available after the meetings have concluded.

Please monitor the SCDNR website and social media platforms for more information and updates on scheduling.

Public Meetings to Discuss Blue Crab Management

  • Wednesday, September 27, 2023: Marine Resources Research Institute Auditorium; 217 Fort Johnson Road; Charleston, SC 29422

  • Wednesday, October 4, 2023: Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center; 310 Okatie Highway; Okatie, SC 29909

  • Date and location TBD: Murrells Inlet; Details will be provided as soon as they are available.

SCDNR’s Marine Resources Division staff track blue crabs in seven standardized monitoring surveys. (Photo: E. Weeks/SCDNR)

For additional information, contact:

Erin Weeks, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, weekse@dnr.sc.gov, (843) 953-9845

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Rembert C. Dennis Building
1000 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201

 

Deveaux Bank Closures for Independence Day Weekend

Deveaux Bank is heavily populated this season with some of our favorite coastal birds as they are nesting. SCDNR staff has made us aware that the bank is closed and with the approaching holiday weekend, there is the threat of disturbance to the nesting birds. We need your help spreading this information so that people are aware this holiday weekend and they do not play a role in the threat to the natural process for these animals.

Closure lines are clearly indicated with signs and buoys on the property. Only the tips of the island are open because the remaining areas are full of nesting birds! Most of the birds have young chicks, so it is crucial the colonies are not disturbed. With the summer temperatures ramping up, if adult birds are forced to fly off the nests, chicks and eggs can perish in minutes from the heat. SCDNR staff plans to be out there this holiday weekend, Saturday – Tuesday but could still use your help keeping an eye on the colonies when they are not present. If you see dogs on the island or people in the closed area, you may anonymously call their law enforcement hotline at 1-800-922-5431.

 

We wish you all a safe and happy Independence Day weekend! Thank you for all you do.

[SCDNR via Edisto Island Open Land Trust]

Harvesting of Horshoe Crabs Restricted to Protect Red Knot Population

Beaches closed to horseshoe harvesters

Nearly 30 sites off limits to protect bird that relies on crab

Horseshoe crab harvesters collect crabs in 2019 off Turtle Island near the South Carolina-Georgia border.




BY SHAMIRA MCCRAY smccray@postandcourier.com




CONSERVATION

Horseshoe crab harvesting has been prohibited on nearly 30 beaches in South Carolina this spawning season until further order from a district court in a resolution agreed to by opposing groups with interests in their future.

The move is the second blow to the lucrative crab blood-draw business in less than a month and leaves few places in the state where horseshoe crab harvesting can take place.

Some areas, like marshes, could remain open to takings.

Environmentalists have long expressed concerns that removing the crabs during the March 15 to June 15 spawning season threatens endangered species, like the red knot seabird, that depend on the animals for food.

This week’s decision out of the U.S. District Court in Charleston further protects the birds, as the list of beaches included in the resolution are all considered critical habitats for red knots.

Groups such as the biomedical company Charles River Labs have hired contractors in the past to collect an undisclosed number of the crabs in late spring. The business collects their blue blood to yield a valuable medical extract.

Charles River Labs spokeswoman Sam Jorgensen said in an email April 7 the company agreed to the resolution in a preliminary injunction, as it allows the lab to continue the “important work protecting the health and safety of patients, as well as the security of the global biopharmaceutical supply chain.”

Jorgensen said the company is committed to collecting the natural resource of horseshoe crab blood in a safe and humane manner that is environmentally sustainable and ensures safe medical treatments for patients globally.

Part of the request for a preliminary injunction filed last month in district court by the Southern Environmental Law Center concerned the use of containment ponds for the horseshoe crabs.

The SELC represents Defenders of Wildlife and the S.C. Coastal Conservation League in the matter and fought against the state Department of Natural Resources’ authorization of horseshoe crab containment ponds and Charles River Labs’ use of such ponds.

Court documents say harvesters often take crabs for pond storage while red knots are foraging for their eggs. This is like taking food directly from the protected species, the groups say.

The agreement signed April 6 prohibits purchasing, selling, placing in containment ponds and biomedically processing any horseshoe crabs harvested from beaches considered as critical habitat areas for red knots. The list of coverage areas includes about 30 beaches from North Cape Island Beach in the northern part of the state to Fripp Island Beach in the south.

Charles River Labs and its contractors will have to certify that any horseshoe crabs they take were not harvested from any of the critical habitat areas. They must also use a GPS device while harvesting and provide a weekly record to Defenders of Wildlife, Coastal Conservation League, DNR and the court, beginning April 21.

A status conference is planned near the beginning of July to evaluate the effectiveness of the preliminary injunction and to explore final resolution of the action, according to consent order from the court.

This month’s resolution is a “huge victory for red knots,” said Catherine Wannamaker, an attorney with the SELC.

“This is the largest protection of red knot feeding habitat we’ve ever had in South Carolina,” she added, noting that the order also requires compliance with a DNR rule that prohibits females crabs from going into ponds.

Blaik Keppler, DNR’s deputy director for marine resources, said she could not comment on the consent order beyond noting that the agency is adjusting permits accordingly.

More restrictions on horseshoe crab harvesting were proposed last month as well. Federal wildlife officials are considering ending horseshoe crab harvesting at Cape Romain because the practice is not compatible with the coastal refuge’s mission of protecting nature. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed a number of reasons why harvesting the crabs within the refuge 20 miles north of Charleston is not feasible. One factor cited was that the federal agency would have to divert funding and personnel time to oversee the activity.

The service also noted that removing the crabs from the ecosystem can negatively impact species the refuge was established to protect.

Follow Shamira McCray on Twitter @ShamiraTweets.

Critical habitat areas for horseshoe crabs

Charles River Labs, Marsh Point Farms and Gault Seafood are prohibited from harvesting horseshoe crabs from these beaches during the spawning season, March 15-June 15:

• North Cape Island

• South Cape and Lighthouse Island beaches

• Raccoon Key Complex and White Banks beaches

• Marsh Island

• Bulls Island beach

• Capers Island beach

• Dewees Island beach

• Isle of Palms beach

• Sullivan’s Island beach

• Folly Beach

• Bird Key Stono

• Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island beaches

• Deveaux Bank

• Edisto Island beaches

• Pine and Otter Island beaches

• Harbor and Hunting Island beaches

• Fripp Island Beach

New EIPA Board Officers Elected for 2023

At the final Board meeting of the EIPA Board of Directors for 2022, the following officers were duly nominated and elected:

Ron Scroggy, Chair; Andee Dent, Vice Chair; Bud Skidmore, Secretary; and Barbara Gould, Treasurer.

In addition to these four officers serving on the Executive Committee, two Board members at-large were elected to the Executive Committee: Marian Brailsford and Bob Marshburn, Past Chair.

EIPA holds a successful Annual Meeting in the Barn at Sunny Side

In spite of earlier threats from TS Nicole, the EIPA membership was blessed with a gorgeous Saturday afternoon for our Annual Meeting gathering at the Barn at Sunny Side Plantation. Members enjoyed fellowship, an important Keynote speech from SC Senator “Chip” Canpsen, and a refreshment table laden with tasty hors d’oeuvres and libations. (Photo credit: Ron Scroggy)

EIPA Annual Meeting set for November 12, 2022!

The Edisto Island Preservation Alliance (EIPA) will be holding its Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 3:00 p.m.  We are pleased to be returning to The Barn of Sunny Side Plantation on Edisto Island for the gathering after a couple of years of online Zoom meetings.

Both current and potential new members are invited to attend.  Current members should have received a recent mailing which includes a Membership Renewal Form and a Board of Directors Ballot for you to complete and return.  New members may go to our website PreserveEdisto.com    to join us online or meet us at the Member Sign-in table before the meeting.

We are delighted to announce SC State Senator “Chip” Campsen as our featured Keynote Speaker for the event.  Senator Campsen is our friend and ally for all matters conservation and preservation in the SC Legislature. Previous to his distinguished career of 18 years as a State Senator, he served in the SC House of Representatives for 5 years. Senator Campsen holds J.D. and MBA degrees from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Furman University.

 

Following the presentation of our Keynote Speaker, a social hour with refreshments will be held.

FREE CONCERT Partner with EIPA:

The prize-winning flute quartet Duende, from USC-Columbia, presents a concert of original music with an ocean conservation theme on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 1 p.m., at the Edisto Beach State Park main shelter.  Concert partner the Edisto Island Preservation Alliance (EIPA) will provide brief interludes of island preservation topics.

The concert is FREE; however, you will need to pay State Park admission fees.  (See interactive poster below).