Georgia sound, Vol. 10, no. 4 (Oct. - Dec. 2004

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Georgia

OCTOBER-DECEMBER , 2004

Sound VOL.10, NO.4

Liberty Garden

Takes Shape at CRD
It began as an effort to provide a living tribute to our nation and values, and to honor those who perished in the events surrounding September 11, 2001. In three years, Keep America Beautiful's affiliated organizations nationwide and millions of volunteers have planted more than 1,200 Liberty Gardens across America.

Staff used the technique of "lasagna gardening" to prepare the site for spring planting.

Coastal Resources Division (CRD) is currently working to design and install a Liberty Garden on-site at the Regional DNR Headquarters in Brunswick. Volunteers began site preparation in September and will install plant materials in early Spring 2005. With the American Flag as our centerpiece, the garden's plant material will feature a color scheme of red...white...and blue. Once completed, project volunteers hope that visitors to the CRD headquarters will visit the Liberty Garden site and take pride in all that our country represents.

First the bed was layered with newspaper, then the newspaper was soaked with water.

Several weeks later the Liberty Garden crew covered the garden site with pine straw.

CRD staff covered the newspaper with the mulch material.

Rich mulch material from the Glynn County Solid Waste Department was the next layer.
Photos by: Lea King

Inside This Issue:
CRD's Liberty Garden
Ship to Shore CoastFest 2004

Crabbers/Scientists Reducing Dolphin Deaths Together
Protecting Dolphins What You Can Do to Help

Have You Seen This Fish? Short Strikes GCMP & You

Did Blackbeard Call Georgia Home?
Rare Whale Strands on Georgia Beach
Coastal Incentive Grant Request for Proposals

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Susan Shipman

From the Director's Desk
SHIP TO SHORE... Coastal Resources Division Director

Reflections on CoastFest 2004
The air has cooled and the hurricanes subsided, and I am hoping you kicked off your fall with a visit to CoastFest 2004. Over six thousand others did, on October 2, one of our first non-hurricane affected, gloriously beautiful Saturdays in a number of weeks.

Carding wool was just one of the many "hands on" living history demonstrations at CoastFest 2004!

Photo by: Terry Trowbridge

CoastFest has become an institution on the Georgia Coast. When the first Saturday of October rolls around each year, DNR's Coastal Regional Headquarters in Brunswick takes on the look of a full-fledged "state fair," complete with a Big Top. This one-of-a-kind regional festival is a familyoriented hands-on immersion into our coast's natural and cultural heritage. From handling living creatures, vessel tours, rice winnowing, and cannon firing, to Creek Indian life, archaeology, constructing bird houses, face-painting, "fishy" theater and interactive games with a stewardship mission --- to name just a few of the features -- there is a message and experience for everyone, young or old, at CoastFest.

Over 90 exhibitors provided interactive and fun experiments, activities, and lessons at CoastFest.

CoastFest also features the talented works of the brightest and best young artists, grades K through 12. Almost 500 pieces of art addressing the 2004 "Soaking Wet" theme were entered from 15 Camden and Glynn County schools and home-school students. Each year, CoastFest art reaches a new level of creativity. Entries included traditional art, wood, clay, fiber, sand sculptures, 3-D, and paper mache. We extend our gratitude to Matthew Permar of The Islander and Teresa Mason of King and Prince Seafood, Inc. who judged this year's art contest. The logo for CoastFest 2005, which will be featured on posters and the annual commemorative CoastFest tee-shirt, will be selected from among the 2004 art contest entries.

Photo by: David Nash

Photo by: David Nash

Photo by: David Nash

Photo by: Diana Nash

A CoastFest favorite, Creek Indian Jim Sawgrass and family brought to life ancient Indian traditions.
THE GEORGIA

Face painting was a "must" for excited CoastFest visitors.

On the docks, clam sizing was a fun and educational activity.
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NOAA funding through the Georgia Coastal Management Program largely provides the financial support for the infrastructure to put on such an event. However, this is augmented by the many resources that our partners bring to the event. DNR could not produce CoastFest without our many exhibitors. Coastal Resources extends our sincere thanks to DNR Board Member Phyllis Johnson, our sister Divisions of DNR and the many, many environmental organizations, local, state, and federal government agencies, and other non-profits who participated this year. A listing of 2004 exhibitors can be found on our web site at http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us. If you attended and enjoyed CoastFest, please thank these exhibitors you may encounter in the days and weeks to come.
We also couldn't hold this celebration without our many volunteers from community organizations and clubs. We want to say a special thanks to the Friends of Sapelo, Southern-EZE Parrot Head Club, Golden Isles Track Club, Glynn County DFCS, Pirates of the Spanish Main, Glynn County Senior 4-H'ers, Boy Scout Troop # 248, and the many, many Community Volunteers who performed every imaginable task from trash patrol to masquerading as sea creatures throughout a very hot day.
And speaking of that heat, in its nine year history, CoastFest has experienced just about every type of weather condition except for snow and an actual hurricane. CoastFest was established in 1996 as part of the national "Coast Weeks" celebration, which takes place annually the last week of September. Because of its being an official Coast Weeks event and its status as a regional event, CoastFest will remain the first Saturday of October. Moreover, we believe to move an established event at this time in its growth and existence would be detrimental to the festival, and cause undesired competition with other regional events that occur subsequent to that first weekend in October.

Photo by: David Nash

Photo by: David Nash

A "living stream" observation activity was popular with CoastFest visitors.
Every hour event visitors could watch and hear a Revolutionary War Cannon Demonstration.

So mark your calendars now ----- October 1, 2005. We are planning some special activities as part of our 10th Anniversary CoastFest. The celebration promises to be the best ever, so tell a friend, and plan now to catch the CoastFest excitement in 2005.

Wood shaving was one activity CoastFest visitors could participate in during the day's activities.

Photo by: David Nash

Photo by: Terry Trowbridge Photo by: David Nash

Photo by: David Nash

In the Living History arena rice winnowing was a popular activity.

Rice pounding was a fun way to learn coastal history.

CoastFest focused on our coastal environment by combining learning and fun in child-oriented activities.

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By: Doug Haymans ~ Marine Fisheries Section
Crabbers and Scientists Join Forces to Reduce Dolphin Deaths

For years, the happy-go-lucky antics of bottlenose dolphins have entertained us. Whether it be the television character Flipper or Dolly the Dolphin at Sea World, we humans are fascinated with this common marine mammal. Today, dolphin watching tours are one of the most popular forms of sightseeing along the southeast coast.

However, all is not well in the world of the

bottlenose dolphin. In 1987-88, nearly 800 dead or

dying dolphins were found washed up on the

beaches of the Atlantic coast. Spurred by this

mysterious event, scientists with the National Marine

A dolphin's fluke after being wrapped in crab trap rope. More than likely, the dolphin became entangled while attempting to
rob the trap of its crab bait.

Fisheries Service (NMFS) in cooperation with state natural resource agencies began to take a closer look at bottlenose dolphin populations. The results

indicated that the western North Atlantic population was in trouble.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires NMFS to take action to protect bottlenose dolphin populations. One action was to create a Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (BNDTRP), the goal of which is to reduce injuries and deaths of coastal bottlenose dolphins due to accidental entanglement in fishing gear. Though not the cause for the deaths in 1987-88, fishing gear and human interactions with dolphins is one source of death that can be controlled.

The BNDTRP has been under development since 2001 and is nearly ready for its final public hearing in early 2005. There are several types of fisheries that have the potential to injure or capture bottlenose dolphins. Most of these use large nets to capture fish and crustaceans and most are conducted in the midAtlantic region. Yet, there is concern about bottlenose dolphins and crab traps. Yes, I said crab traps.

Believe it or not, the intelligent and graceful creature we know to be the bottlenose dolphins will get entangled in the line that connects a float to a submerged crab trap. The theory is that some dolphins are attracted to the dead fish commonly used as bait. The dolphins will actually roll the traps over and break into the bait well, robbing the trap of its bait. In the process of rolling the trap it is believed dolphins get entangled in the float line. This is not a common occurrence, but each year at least one dolphin is found entangled in crab gear in the area from South Carolina through the Space Coast of Florida.

Some Georgia crabbers have developed bait wells that they say deter the dolphin's trap-robbing behavior. Now, NMFS wants to use a science-based study to compare the effectiveness of these bait wells against the type of bait well commonly used by commercial crabbers. Thus, Coastal Resources Division (CRD) has entered into an agreement with NMFS and a Georgia crabber to conduct a study to determine if the use of alternate bait well designs can actually reduce the number of interactions between bottlenose dolphins and commercial-style crab traps.

A grant in the amount of $10,000 has been received by CRD and experimental crab traps are in the water. The project should be completed next September, and the results of that study will be reported in this publication. For more information contact Doug Haymans at CRD at (912) 264-7218.

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Protect Dolphins
Admire Them From a Distance

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Information from: Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service

DOPLHINS have a reputation for being friendly; however, they are really wild animals who should be treated with caution and respect. Interactions with people change the behavior of dolphins for the worse. They lose their natural wariness which makes them easy targets for vandalism and shark attacks.

Two local shrimpers (left and above) caught in the act. This activity is
explicitly prohibited by the MMPA.

DOLPHINS are hunters, not beggars, but when people offer them food, dolphins, like most animals, take the easy way out. They learn to beg for a living, lose their fear of humans, and do dangerous things.

THEY swim too close to churning boat propellers and can be seriously injured. They learn to associate people with food and get entangled with fishing hooks and lines and die. They get sick from eating bait and food intended for humans like beer, pretzels, candy and hot dogs.

DOLPHIN scientists have proof of injuries. Feeding wild dolphins disrupts their social groups which threatens their ability to survive in the wild. Young dolphins do not survive if their mothers compete with them for handouts and don't teach them to forage.

DOZENS of bites have been reported and people have been pulled into the water. A woman who fed a pair of dolphins and then jumped in the water to swim with them was bitten. "I literally ripped my leg out of its mouth," she said during her week stay in the hospital.

DOLPHINS are not water toys or pets. The myth created by TV's "Flipper" of a friendly wild dolphin has given us the wrong idea. Flipper was actually a trained, captive dolphin who did not bite the hand that fed him. However, truly wild dolphins will bite when they are angry, frustrated, or afraid. When people try to swim with wild dolphins, the dolphins are disturbed. Dolphins who have become career moochers can get pushy, aggressive and threatened when they don't get the handouts they expect.

FOR ALL THESE REASONS, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO FEED OR HARASS WILD DOLPHINS. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibits the "taking" of marine mammals. The term "take" means to harass, hunt, capture, kill, feed, or attempt any of these activities.

For the dolphins' sake, and for your safety, please DON'T FEED, SWIM WITH OR HARASS WILD DOLPHINS. It's the law - the MMPA instructs observing them from a distance of at least 50 yards. Please use binoculars or telephoto lenses to get a closer view. If you would like to get up close and personal with dolphins, the MMPA provides for the public display of marine mammals in zoos and aquariums. Contact the Office of Protected Resources for a list of facilities that hold dolphins. Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-713-2289, www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res?prot_res.html. Let the Wild Ones Stay Wild.

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By: Chamois Campbell ~ Marine Technician I

Have You Seen This Fish?

This peculiar and dangerous fish has been sighted in waters off the coast of the South Atlantic since the early 1990's. The lionfish (Pterois volitans) is not native to our waters, but was likely introduced off the coast of Florida by release from aquariums. The Gulf Stream transported eggs and larvae along the Atlantic and helped disperse the lionfish population from south Florida to North Carolina. Small juveniles have also been observed off Long Island, N.Y. However, since the lionfish is a tropical species and waters off New York often fall to temperatures in the low 30's, it is doubtful the fish can survive to adulthood. While in the South Atlantic, sightings of small juveniles as well as adults are tell-tale signs that there is an established population (although scattered) and that they are reproducing.

Lionfish, while quite beautiful, are known for their stinging spines in the pectoral fins.

Originally, lionfish are natives of the Indo-Pacific range. They reach a maximum size of 17 inches and about 2.5 lbs. They are most often found at depths of 80 to 300 ft. Lionfish have a very distinct coloration of red, maroon and white stripes, tentacles above and below the mouth, fan-like pectoral fins and dorsal fins with long, separated spines.

Lionfish are ambush predators that corner their prey. They are also known for their stinging spines in the pectoral fins. Though they are capable of utilizing these poisonous spines in an attack, they are thought to provide more of a defense mechanism against predators. An unsuspecting angler or diver will remember being stung by this fish. There have been no known fatalities caused by lionfish stings, but they are very painful and can cause severe pain, numbness, and even paralysis. Their sting consists of a protein-based toxin. This is important to know because if you are stung, hot water will break down the protein enzymes and provide some relief from pain. Unfortunately, once the hot water cools, the pain will return. Thus, if stung, soaking the area in constantly replenished hot water is the key to relief.

Other than wanting to avoid painful stings, should we care that this fish has been introduced to our waters? The answer to that question is a resounding "Yes!" Biologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) say the introduction of lionfish is irreversible. Large scale attempts to remove the lionfish from the Atlantic and effect complete eradication are impossible since they are now distributed along the entire southeast coast at depths of 80 to 300 ft. Lionfish also could pose a threat to marine ecosystems through predatory interactions. The expanding lionfish population could in fact one day be large enough to decrease prey populations and increase competitions between other predators. Additionally, since this species did not evolve in our waters, there are no known predators. These changes act to interrupt the "checks and balances" between predators and prey that are normally present in marine ecosystems, and could likely favor continued growth of the lionfish population.

Please report all catches and sightings to Paula Whitfeild at the NOAA Beauford Laboratory at 252-728-8714.

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By: Spud Woodward ~ Assistant Director for Marine Fisheries
Short Strikes

2004 Active Year
for Artificial Reef Program
2004 was a great year for fish and other sea creatures living in the Atlantic Ocean off the Georgia coast. Recreational fishing license funds were combined with contributions from concerned anglers and businesses to make several additions to Georgia's manmade reefs. One of the most notable events of the year was the demolition of the old Sidney Lanier Bridge in Brunswick, which resulted in an estimated 60,000 tons of concrete rubble that was placed at three reef sites. A total of 800 fishery enhancement units were dropped at three reefs, and five tugboats ranging from 96 to 110 feet in length were sunk at four reefs. Three barges and a landing craft were acquired either by purchase or donation and were sunk at three reef sites. For more information about Georgia's Artificial Reef Program contact CRD's Henry Ansley at (912) 264-7218.

New Boat Ramp in St. Marys
Twice a day, the tide along Georgia's coast rises and falls. Depending on the phase of the moon and wind direction, the difference between low and high tide is sometimes more than 9 feet! This makes coastal Georgia a challenging environment for those who like to trailer their boats to and from the water. Fortunately for Camden county boaters there will soon be a new state-of-the-art boat ramp located at the former Gilman Paper Company on the North River. The boat ramp complex includes two double-lane boat ramps, a 10,000 square feet turnaround area, a 70-ft boating service dock, a 3-acre parking area, and a hard surface access road. Construction of this project was funded by a combination of fishing license funds and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration. The land for the boat ramp was donated by the City of St. Marys. Staff members from the Coastal Resources and Parks and Historic Sites Divisions were involved in the project. For more information about coastal boating access contact CRD's John Pafford or Shawn Jordan at (912) 264-7218.
Citizens to Provide Advice
About Shrimp Fishery Management
Georgia's shrimp fishery is an important part of the fabric of coastal life. Those who pursue shrimp do it for a wide variety of reasons. It can be the owner/operator of a large trawler working Atlantic Ocean waters, a speckled trout angler casting a net for bait, or a family with a beach seine hoping to catch a few shrimp for supper. The Shrimp Advisory Panel (SAP) is the group of citizens that provides advice to the Department of Natural Resources on issues related to the management of the state's multi-million shrimp fishery. Beginning in 2005, the SAP will be participating in a series of workshops that will be facilitated by staff from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Shrimp trawl-sea turtle interaction, the commercial cast net fishery, and bait shrimp zones are just a sample of the topics that will be discussed. The goal of these workshops will be for the SAP to provide advice that will help the Coastal Resources Division develop a shrimp fishery management plan. Currently, efforts are underway to recruit new members for the SAP, particularly individuals to represent recreational food shrimp harvest (cast net and beach seine) and recreational bait shrimp harvest (either cast net or small trawl). All those interested in being considered for membership on the Shrimp Advisory Panel should contact CRD's Doug Haymans at (912) 264-7218.

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By: Jill Huntington ~ Coastal Management Specialist

GCMP and You

New Website Shows Possible Effects
of Coastal Developments
Just take a drive through Glynn County, Richmond Hill, or Rincon and there will be no doubt about it...coastal Georgia has been discovered! Everywhere you look, new residential subdivisions are being built, inviting folks from far away cities and states to nestle down here among the live oaks, salt marshes, beaches and rivers.
Coastal Georgia is certainly not alone in the race to accommodate new growth. Across the country, "cookie-cutter" subdivisions are springing up as fast as they can. But, one subdivision design does not fit all, and in an environmentally sensitive area such as ours, there is more than one way to build a neighborhood, and some can even help conserve the surrounding environment.
Residential growth and economic development needs to be balanced with the protection of the natural environment. That balance must take into account a number of factors including land values, the abundance of natural resources, and local ordinances. Coastal communities need information and tools to help them analyze and visualize all of these different factors so they can make the right decisions and find that balance.
The "Alternatives for Coastal Development: One Site, Three Scenarios" is one such tool designed to help community decision makers. This Web-based project illustrates three hypothetical subdivision designs for a single development site in Coastal Georgia, and allows users to compare the economic, environmental, and social implications for each scenario. The scenarios range from a "conventional" subdivision that is based on current real estate market trends and represents the cookie-cutter and cul-de-sac type developments; a "conservation" subdivision that maintains virtually all environmentally sensitive resources in their undisturbed form, including wetlands, maritime forests, and deep buffers along salt marshes; and a "new urbanist" subdivision (a.k.a. village or traditional neighborhood design) that clusters neighborhoods along grid-like streets and alleyways to minimize the disturbance of natural resources. The website also uses 3-D visualization technology to let users "walk-through" each neighborhood to see the look and feel of each scenario.
The "Alternatives for Coastal Development: One Site, Three Scenarios" was developed by the NOAA Coastal Services Center in Charleston, SC, in partnership with the Georgia Coastal Management Program (GCMP) and the Georgia Conservancy, along with many others including the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the University of Georgia. The GCMP plans to utilize this project and its outcomes in its outreach efforts to local governments in order to build support for low-impact design and development principles.
Everyone can view this project on the NOAA Coastal Services Center website at www.csc.noaa.gov/alternatives/. If you have any questions about the project and its application to your coastal community, please contact CRD's Jill Huntington at (912) 264-7218.

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By: Mary Elfner ~ Coastal Ark Coordinator
Did Blackbeard Call Georgia Home?

In the year 1717, while General James Oglethorpe was a young man in England, English pirates, headed by the infamous Blackbeard, were capturing a French slaveship, La Concorde, in the Carribean, and turning it into Blackbeard's flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge. Consequently, Blackbeard was killed by British Navymen the following year in a battle in the Ocracoke Inlet. The Queen Anne's Revenge resting site was discovered in 1996. You can visit http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/qar to learn more about the work being done on conserving that site.

But what about Georgia? Blackbeard lore and information

abounds in the New England states and in North Carolina, but

one of our protected barrier islands in Georgia is named in

honor of the terrible Edward Teach, or perhaps Thatch

according to some sources. Why is this Georgia barrier island,

owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as

One account reputes the wearing of slow-burning, smoldering pieces of rope in his thick, unkept beard, lending authenticity to Blackbeard's ferocious reputation.

one of seven coastal refuges, named "Blackbeard?" According to Pat Metz, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USF&WS) in Savannah, there are rumors of Blackbeard using the named

island as a main outpost during his short-lived pirate career. She also stated that when the USF&WS

bought the island in 1805, it was already named "Blackbeard."

According to Buddy Sullivan, Director, Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, "The 5,600-acre island, fronting on the Atlantic Ocean to the northeast of Sapelo Island in McIntosh County, received its name from Edward Teach, the pirate best known as `Blackbeard' who conducted raids on merchant shipping in the region in the early 18th century. The island was identified as Blackbeard as early as 1760 when it was delineated as such on a survey map compiled by William DeBrahm and Henry Yonge. The legend of Blackbeard's pirate loot being buried on the island has persisted over the years although no treasure has ever been found. Teach and his followers almost certainly frequented the area around the island. Tidewater Georgia provided ideal cover for his illegal operations with its labyrinthine creeks, inlets and secluded marsh islands."

SAPELO ISLAND
BLACKBEARD ISLAND

Today Blackbeard Island seems just as remote. Ancient live oaks stand in maritime forests and it is a refuge for coastal Georgia flora and fauna. This evocative island remains a haven for the true treasure of our coastal area - the birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians that make their home here. The general public may explore the beaches below the high tide line during daylight hours, sunup to sundown. For more information on visiting Blackbeard Island call the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Coastal Refuges Office at (912) 652-4415 or visit the following website: http://blackbeardisland.fws.gov/.

The pirate Blackbeard is rumored to have used one of Georgia's barrier islands as a main outpost during
his short-lived pirating career.

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By: Clay George ~ Wildlife Biologist, DNR Non-game Endangered Wildlife Program

Rare Whale Strands on Georgia Beach

This Sowerby's beaked whale, a little-known resident of the North Atlantic, washed ashore at St. Catherines Island in July
Photo by: Maggie Hart

An unusual event occurred on the Georgia coast this past July when a rare species of whale washed ashore on St. Catherines Island. The 3.8-meter Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) carcass is the first record of this species in Georgia and only the sixth stranding of this species ever on U.S. shores. The cause of the whale's death could not be determined because of the poor condition of the carcass. Nevertheless, so little is known about Sowerby's beaked whales that this event may provide whale researchers with important clues into the puzzle of this reclusive species' distribution.

The dead whale was discovered on July 29, 2004 by Maggie Hart, a sea turtle technician with the St. Catherines Sea Turtle Project. Ms. Hart was conducting a daily sea turtle nesting survey on Middle Beach at St. Catherines Island when she discovered what appeared to be a large, dead dolphin. She notified the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), took measurements, photographed the carcass, and later retrieved the skull. Once the data and skull were submitted, it was immediately evident that the animal was not a dolphin, but rather a beaked whale. Because beaked whales are notoriously difficult to identify, photographs and the skull were shipped to Dr. James Mead, a world expert on beaked whales at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Mead and his colleagues confirmed the whale as a Sowerby's beaked whale, probably a juvenile female. Confirmation of Sowerby's beaked whales in the U.S. are such rare events that Dr. Mead requested the skull be submitted to the Smithsonian's permanent collection to serve as a voucher specimen for this species' distribution - a request that Georgia DNR and the St. Catherines Island Foundation were happy to oblige.

Like other Mesoplodon beaked whales, Sowerby's beaked whale is thin and spindle shaped, 3-5 meters in length, with a long "beaked" snout. At sea they are inconspicuous, apparently shy of ships, they travel in small groups, and dive to great depths in search of squid and small fish. Scientists believe that beaked whales spend most of their lives below the surface, surfacing for as little as one minute before diving to depths of 1000 meters for periods of up to 20 minutes. Unfortunately, this behavior makes it very difficult to study beaked whales. What appears to separate the Sowerby's whale from other, similar beaked whales is its northerly distribution. Whereas most beaked whales are confined to the world's temperate and tropical oceans, Sowerby's beaked whales are believed to inhabit the colder waters of the North Atlantic, from New England and Canada, eastward to Iceland, the British Isles, and western Europe. Prior to this stranding, a double stranding of two whales on the Gulf Coast of Florida in 1984 was the only sighting of this species south of Massachusetts. The Georgia stranding may help scientists to better understand this species' distribution in the temperate waters off the southeast coast.

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Data collection and species confirmation for this rare occurrence was coordinated through Georgia DNR's Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Network biologists and trained staff respond to all live and dead stranded marine mammals along the Georgia coast. Data that are collected are used to assess population health, investigate human/marine mammal interactions, and contribute to a better understanding of marine mammal species. Approximately 20-40 strandings occur in Georgia each year, most from natural causes. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division asks that you do the following if you ever encounter a stranded marine mammal:

Contact the Department of Natural Resources immediately at (912) 262Contact the Department of Natural Resources immediately at (912) 264-
7218 Mon-Fri during business hours or (800) 241-4113 after hours. 7218 Mon-Fri during business hours or (800) 241-4113 after hours.
Be sure to note the location, number of animals, and if any are alive. Be sure to note the location, number of animals, and if any are alive.
If possible, return to the area and wait for help to arrive. If possible, return to the area and wait for help to arrive.
Do not touch or attempt to push animals back into the ocean. Marine Do not touch or attempt to push animals back into the ocean. Marine
mammals are powerful and can cause serious injuries to onlookers. Sick mammals are powerful and can cause serious injuries to onlookers. Sick
animals may have diseases that can be transmitted to humans. animals may have diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

Funding for the Georgia Marine Mammal Stranding Network comes in part from funds earned through the sale of the Bald Eagle/American Flag wildlife license plate. Georgians can support the conservation and protection of marine mammals by purchasing a wildlife license plate for their vehicles, or by donating to the "Give Wildlife a Chance" State Income Tax Checkoff. Since 1997, more than one million wildlife license plates have been sold in Georgia raising millions of dollars for the conservation and management of Georgia's nongame wildlife.

This skull from a Sowerby's beaked whale that stranded at St. Catherines Island in July was donated to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
Photo by: Leigh Youngner

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Georgia

Sound

OCTOBER-DECEMBER ,2004

VOL.10, NO.4

Department of Natural Resources
Coastal Resources Division One Conservation Way, Suite 300 Brunswick, GA 31520-8687

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Coastal Incentive Grant Request For Proposals
The Georgia Coastal Management Program (GCMP) is pleased to announce the availability of grant funds for coastal projects that further the objectives of the program. Since 1998, the GCMP has administered federal financial assistance to eligible applicants to protect, manage and restore coastal communities and habitats; restore coastal historic structures; revitalize urban waterfronts; and
increase recreational opportunities along Georgia's coast.
Proposed projects will either address one or more of the funding themes or address a critical local need.
Funding Themes for the fiscal year 2005-2006 are: 1) Coastal Non Point Source Pollution Projects 2) Freshwater Inflow To The Coast 3) Emergent Threats to the Coastal Natural Systems 4) Preservation, Identification, and Management of Coastal Historical, Archeological and Cultural Resources
Completed grant applications will be due to the Coastal Resources Headquarters on or before January 31, 2005. For a complete application packet or for more information, please contact Diana Nash at diana_nash@dnr.state.ga.us or (912) 264-7218.

The Georgia Sound is produced quarterly by the Georgia Coastal Management Program. If you would like more information on the
Georgia Coastal Management Program, visit our web site at http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us
or contact Coastal Resources Division at (912) 264-7218.
Layout & Design by: Lea King For address corrections or to be added or deleted from the mailing list,
please contact Lea King at (912) 264-7218.
Lea_King@dnr.state.ga.us

Contributors to this issue: Nancy Butler, Chamois Campbell, Mary Elfner, Clay George,
Doug Haymans, Jill Huntington, Diana Nash, Susan Shipman, and Spud Woodward,
This publication is made possible through efforts by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Deadline for the Winter 2005 edition is January 3, 2005. We welcome suggestions
of articles and photography.