Georgia sound, Vol. 7, no. 4 (Oct. - Dec. 2001

T H E

G E O R G I A

C O A S T A L

M A N A G E M E N T

P R O G R A M

Georgia

OCTOBER - DECEMBER,2001

Sound VOL.7, NO.4

Meeting costumed characters (a shark, starfish and others) was a part of CoastFest fun!
Event visitors actively learned about life long ago in coastal Georgia.

CoastFest 2001!
CoastFest 2001 exploded with excitement as over 5,000 visitors took part in Georgia's largest celebration of our state's coastal natural resources. Hosted on October 6 along the Marshes of Glynn by DNR's Coastal Resources Division, CoastFest 2001 was the most successful in the event's history.

The University of Georgia's mobile aquarium introduced sea life to visitors.

Proving that learning CAN be fun, eighty-five environmental exhibitors provided interactive activities for event visitors and performers "wowed" audiences with scheduled programs "under the big tent" throughout the day. With trivia contests to try, live sea critters to touch, research vessels and water craft to explore, WeeBee a 70 foot hump back whale to crawl inside, a live sea turtle to see up close and personal, an art contest to view, costumed characters to meet, an Indian encampment to learn about, and a robotic boat to talk to, CoastFest 2001 absolutely had something for everyone!

The excitement continues next year on October 5 at CoastFest 2002! Come and visit - you'll be glad you did!

The U.S. Coast Guard robotic water safety boat "Coastie" proved to be a hit of the day.

The traditional art of yarn spinning intrigued event goers.

With "hands on" activities kids of all ages learned about our coastal natural resources and ecosystems.

Touch tanks with live sea critters helped visitors learn about the under water ocean world.

Inside This Issue:
CoastFest 2001!
Improper Storage of Water Craft Explained

Tidal Theory
GCMP and You Local Government Service
CAC Meeting Summary

Boating Short Cuts: Damage to Tidal Marshlands
Good Data - Good Decisions
From the Director: Are We Good Guys or Bad Buys?

GCMP Update
Marine Fisheries Sponge Crab Management
New Water Quality Monitoring Research Vessel Arrives

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Improper Beach Storage of Watercraft Explained

By: Kevin Brady Legal Associate

On any sunny weekend, Georgia's coastal waters are filled with small watercraft such as catamarans, kayaks, wind surfers, rowboats. With the growing popularity of these water sports has come an increased need for vessel storage areas. It is important to remember that storing or parking watercraft within the dynamic dune field of the beach, however brief, is unlawful. Pushing a vessel into the dry sand beach is a convenient and charge-free way to temporarily store a vessel, but it is unlawful and may subject the user to criminal sanctions. Recreational boaters assume the lawful responsibility of properly storing their watercraft. To do so may present some inconvenience or additional cost, but watercraft storage somewhere outside the high dry sandy beach is a requirement of the law and it is enforced. Improper vessel storage threatens habitat and may result in the removal of the watercraft with tow costs charged to the owner and a criminal citation issued to the wrongdoer.
As the surf becomes more populated, boaters and bathers compete for space on the beachfront. Recognizing this user conflict and the harmful environmental impacts caused to both nesting sea turtles and the dynamic dune field, the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation in 1992 banning the storing or parking of watercraft in the dynamic dune field. DNR Coastal Resources Division (CRD) has been charged with enforcing this law and has applied a flexible interpretation of the law to balance the interests of government, businesses, and property owners. This flexible interpretation allows use of the wet sand beach as the essential transfer point for boaters while at the same time vigorously enforcing the provision where human activity is most destructive of habitat.
Free limited access to the wet sand beach for the purpose of temporarily holding a vessel prior to transporting it from the area is a strategic application of the law. It is a good example of how government can avoid environmental impact and user or access fees while at the same time providing boaters an apportioned space. The challenge for the future is for boaters, beach goers, environmentalists, and business interests to encourage the General Assembly to continue establishing legislative frameworks that meet the practical demands of the market place.

Boating Access for Coastal Georgia Anglers

By: Nancy Butler Public Affairs

Coordinator

Although the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local governmental agencies have built public boat ramps throughout Georgia's coastal counties, the rapid increase in boating participation has far exceeded the available boat ramp access. In addition, most of the existing boat ramps in coastal Georgia do not have floating dock facilities to improve boater safety and enhance boat-launching capabilities. With funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration apportionments, DNR is currently engaged in a multi-year program that is focused on the development of floating dock facilities at existing public boat ramps, construction of new boat ramp facilities, and repairing deteriorated ramps that may present safety concerns.

Repairs to the Champney River Boating service dock have been completed in McIntosh County.

A new boating service dock is now available at the MacKay River Boat Ramp in Glynn County

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Tidal Theory

By: Kelie Matrangos Technical Assistant

Tides result from the outward force of the earth turning in its orbit around the sun balanced by the inward attractions of the earth, sun and moon. The outward force, or centrifugal force, is the same everywhere on the earth at the same time. The inward attractions, or gravity, is not the same everywhere on the earth at the same time. The sun's gravitational pull causes ocean water to flow to the areas both nearest the sun and farthest away from the sun, since it is strongest in a straight line. If you think of the ocean as a ball enveloping the earth, "stretching" the ball on the sides where high tide occurs causes the ball to flatten out on the other two sides, causing low tides in those areas as the spot pointing directly at the sun turns in a complete circle.
The moon's gravitational pull is over twice as strong as the sun's because it is much closer to the earth. Twice each month, during the full moon and during the new moon, the earth, moon, and sun are in a straight line. The sun's gravity reinforces the moon's gravity working to produce tidal ranges about 20% greater than average, or spring tides. Twice each month, during the first quarter of the moon and the last quarter of the moon, the moon and sun are at a right angle to the earth. The sun's gravity partially cancels out the moon's gravity to produce tidal ranges about 20% less than average, or neap tides.
Bi-monthly spring tides produce not only the highest high-tides of the month, but also the lowest low-tides, resulting in the greatest tidal range. This tidal range may be greater than 9' on a new moon spring tide while it is ordinarily less than 6' on a quarter moon neap tide.

Third Quarter

Sun Envelope at Both Spring and Neap Tides
Sun New Moon

North Pole

Moon Envelope at Spring Tides

One Day

Full Moon

Earth
Moon Envelope at Neap Tides First Quarter

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THE GEORGIA SOUND
GCMP and You

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Georgia Coastal Management Program's Local Government Service

Recent staff additions to the Georgia Coastal Management Program (GCMP) have reaffirmed the Program's commitment to serving local governments. Jill Huntington and Jan Mackinnon joined the GCMP staff as Coastal Technical Assistants (TA's) in April 2001. They both assist Georgia's coastal counties in the implementation of planned growth strategies designed to preserve and restore ecological integrity along our coast. Jan and Jill serve as "in-thefield" agents to identify issues of environmental concern in the GCMP eleven county service-area. By researching and gathering relevant information they are able to recommend and implement environmentally sound solutions to these issues.

Serving as liaisons between local governments/municipalities and the GCMP, the technical assistants establish positive relationships with decision makers and offer training and educational opportunities to these local governments. The promotion of Coastal Incentive Grants (CIGs) is a high priority to Jill and Jan because CIGs can provide Georgia's coastal counties with funding to implement local and regional projects within their communities. City councils, boards of commissioners, and local environmental and conservation organizations are all groups benefitting from the services and expertise of the GCMP governmental technical assistants.

Jan is currently working with the local governments and organizations of Chatham, Long, Wayne, McIntosh and Charlton Counties. As a technical assistant and trained biologist, she is involved with issues such as TMDL (total maximum daily load) implementation, barrier island beach maintenance, and conservation tillage methods and promotion through the Soil and Water Conservation District organizations. Jan has a BS degree in Biology from Meredith College and is completing a Masters degree in Conservation Biology from Georgia Southern University. She has worked with Coastal Resources Division (CRD) for over two years with the recreational fisheries section. Her background includes working with the Non-game Endangered Species Program's manatee study at King's Bay, Little St. Simons Island, Coastal Encounters Nature Centers, Jekyll Island 4-H, U.S. National Parks Service, the Wildlife Conservation Society's St. Catherines Island Wildlife Survival Center, and the Caretta Research Project. Jan is excited to work with the coastal counties of Georgia and is immersing herself in project needs and assistance in project implementation. She can be reached by e-mail at jan_mackinnon@coastal.dnr.state.ga.us or at CRD at (912) 2623048.

Jill works with county and municipal governments within Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Effingham, Glynn, and Liberty Counties. She joined CRD as a technical assistant after working for two years as a Local Programs Assistant with the Florida Coastal Management Program and enjoys working with such issues as local water quality and supply, the protection of local natural resources, and public access to the coast. Jill has a Masters Degree in Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and a B.S. degree in Biology from the University at Buffalo. Jill's background also includes an undergraduate research internship with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Charleston, South Carolina, and a Marine Policy internship with the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, in Washington D.C. She can be reached at jill_huntington@coastal.dnr.state.ga.us, or at (912) 262-3053.

Coastal Technical Assistants Jill Huntington (L) and Jan MacKinnon are ready to help local governments
with their coastal resources needs.

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GCMP and You

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Coastal Advisory Council Roundtable Report

By: Jill Huntington Coastal Technical Assistant

The Georgia Coastal Management Program (GCMP) hosts quarterly Coastal Advisory Council (CAC) Roundtable meetings to encourage dialogue between the resource management community, the CAC, and the public. The summer CAC roundtable was held on July 24, 2001, at the Richmond Hill Holiday Inn. While most roundtable meetings center around one topic of concern, the primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss the make-up and function of the advisory council membership. Other agenda items included a summary of the NOAA 312 evaluation and an overview of the organizational structure of the GCMP.
In May 2001, NOAA conducted the Coastal Management Program's first mandatory section 312 programmatic evaluation. Jim Seymour, of the GCMP, briefly summarized the evaluation, during which time federal auditors met with various groups, including the CAC, to assess the program's progress towards its stated goals and objectives. Although the auditors' final report was unavailable at the time of the roundtable, the GCMP expects the report will reveal no findings or recommendations.
Recent additions to the GCMP staff prompted a discussion, led by Phil Flournoy, GCMP Program Manager, about the organizational structure of the GCMP. Mr. Flournoy pointed out the remarkably "flat" nature of the management structure that allows for a higher level of knowledge and expertise among all employees. With the recent additions of several staff, the GCMP has enhanced its ability to provide technical assistance to coastal local governments.
The Coastal Advisory Council plays a key role in ensuring the continued success of the GCMP. Membership appointments to the Council were initially made to represent a wide variety of interest groups, government agencies, and local governmental bodies. However, there has been a decline in active Council membership in recent years. In order to address the issue of Council membership, a CAC sub-committee will meet and present its findings at a future roundtable meeting. Just as important as the make-up of the CAC is its role in GCMP activities. Council members discussed a variety of issues in which the GCMP could become more involved including: water quality testing for oysters and shrimp; the effects of reverse osmosis facility effluent discharges into coastal waters; improving coordination with federal and state agencies; DNR's involvement in the Statewide Water Plan; and the potential impacts of a new Atlanta water district on aquifer recharge areas in southeast Georgia.
For more information about roundtable meetings contact Fred Hay of Coastal Resources Division at (912) 264-7218 or email fred_hay@coastal.dnr.state.ga.us.

2002 Roundtable Meeting Dates

January 22 April 23

For meeting locations please call Fred Hay at 912-264-7218.

Darien Brunswick

July 23

Richmond Hill

October 22 Darien

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By: Lea King Public Affairs Coordinator

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Boating "Short Cuts" Damage Tidal Marshlands
and Result in Fines

Taking "the shortest route" is not always the best idea, as in the case of high tide motor boating through Georgia's tidal marshlands. With increasing regularity during high tides, boaters are taking "short cuts" through saltwater marshes instead of boating around them on designated waterways. While marsh areas may appear completely covered with water at high tide, in actuality the marsh vegetation is just barely under this natural tidal covering and sustains damage, such as unnatural channel formation, from boats and propellers cutting through the marsh grass and mud.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural

Resources (DNR) Coastal Resources Division (CRD),

boaters taking advantage of the tidal influence this

way damage the marsh vegetation and jeopardize the

value and function of the wetland. Motor boating

through marshlands creates ditches that increase in

size over time due to natural tide flow. This unnatural

alteration to the marsh can lead to a shoaling effect,

the build-up of sediment, change in water flow, and

even impact property values. In extreme cases the

Sergeant Billy Partridge of Coastal Resources Division has erected warning signs at the most frequented trouble areas
of motor boating through the marshes.

flow of a river system can be altered, limiting or cutting off river access. "Boaters should enjoy Georgia's creeks and rivers but never cross into

marshes; this could damage both boats and the

marshes themselves. Your `short cut' through the marsh could very easily result in long-term problems for your

neighbors and the ecosystem," said Dr. Stuart Stevens, chief of CRD's Ecological Services Section.

The Coastal Marshlands Protection Act of 1970 (O.C.G.A. 12-5-280, et seq.) provides CRD with the authority to protect tidal wetlands. The jurisdiction of the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act includes marshlands, intertidal areas, mudflats, tidal water bottoms, and salt marshes within the estuarine area of the state. The estuarine area is defined as all tidally influenced waters, marshes, and marshlands lying within a tidal elevation range from 5.6 feet above mean tide level and below.

Georgia's coastal marshlands are immense, stretching over 700,000 acres. Serving as a vital natural resource, marshes provide both habitat and food for many species of marine and wildlife; serve as a nursery area for commercially and recreationally important finfish and shellfish; function as a buffer against flooding and erosion; and act as a filter to help control and disperse pollutants.

To increase public awareness of the violation of motor boating through the marsh, CRD is placing warning signs at the most frequented trouble areas. These signs designate the areas as prohibited to motorized vessels and warn that violators will be prosecuted. CRD encourages the public to report any illegal marsh boating activity to the Division office. For more information or to report an illegal marsh boating activity call the CRD offices at 912-2647218.

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By: Abbey Hafner ACCSP Outreach Coordinator

Good Data, Good Decisions
Georgia watermen are assisting fisheries managers by offering their socioeconomic data for an improved management process.

Fisheries resource managers have always struggled to conserve healthy stocks without threatening the livelihood of the citizens that harvest our seafood. While data on environmental factors are routinely collected, little information is available on the social and economic impact management plans have on fishermen. Unfortunately, fisheries-specific data necessary for responsible management are not altogether available through the U.S. Census Bureau, nor have they been routinely collected in a standardized way.
To assist fisheries managers along the entire Atlantic coast, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Coastal Resources Division (CRD) is testing methods for collecting these kinds of data. This pilot study, which began in 1999 and continues until March of 2002, is being conducted by the CRD through the cooperation of the 40 Georgia watermen who volunteered their time and attention to the project. The CRD is experimenting with telephone and in-person interviews to determine the most costeffective way to collect this information.
When the study is complete, the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP), a statefederal coastal marine fisheries data collection and data management program, will have a better understanding of the methodology for collecting social and economic research. This will give the ACCSP's partner agencies the tools to collect similar data within their states. Armed with these data, fisheries managers will be able to give greater consideration to the social, cultural and economic impact of their decisions on fishermen.
The ACCSP's 23 partners are the 15 Atlantic states' natural resource management agencies, including Georgia CRD, the regional fisheries management councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Together these resource managers have developed a plan to cooperatively collect, manage and disseminate fishery statistical data for the Atlantic coast, and to support the development and operation of a national program. For further information on the ACCSP or the social and economic pilot study, contact Abbey Hafner, ACCSP Outreach Coordinator, at (202) 289-6400 or abbey.hafner@accsp.org.

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From the Director

Who Are We - Good Guys or Bad Guys?
Given events of recent months, this seems to be a good topic to write about. Let me explain.
To some folks who represent the environmental community, DNR's Coastal Resources Division does not do all it can to protect Georgia's coastal resources. To others, we are unreasonable to the point some are given to calling us communists. Which category - good guy or bad guy - do we represent? Perhaps some examples will illustrate my point.
A permit was recently granted to construct bridges across coastal marshland for access to a marsh hammock. The environmental community did not believe that this permit should have been issued and the decision of the Coastal Marshland Protection Committee was appealed. That appeal is pending. In another instance, we have been accused of being communists because we will not allow an individual to place rocks on top of vegetated marsh to protect the upland property from erosion. The environmental community would probably applaud that decision but the property owner is very angry.
I can cite numerous examples of the good guy/bad guy syndrome in fisheries management as well. Commercial shrimpers are required to have Bycatch Reduction and Turtle Excluder Devices in their trawl nets to allow fish and sea turtles to escape the net and survive. The shrimpers decry that rule but recreational anglers and environmental advocates are strong supporters. I guess it is the old "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario.
So who are we - good guys or bad guys? (Note: I use the term "guy" to represent both sexes in this article) We are neither and we are both. How's that for philosophical gerrymandering? Here is the correct answer to that question. We are state employees who are responsible for enforcing the laws passed by the Georgia Legislature and rules adopted by the Board of Natural Resources. We are professionals who are charged with the responsibility to insure your children and grandchildren are left with healthy fisheries resources to enjoy when they become adults. Therein is the inherent conflict with the way we are perceived. If we do what you want us to do, we are the good guys. If we do not, we are the bad guys. That is the nature of the job. In this job one comes to realize pretty quickly that we cannot make everyone happy.
There is a very important line in the Jaycee Creed I learned early in my career with DNR. It is that "Government is made of Laws, not of Men." So, the purpose of this article is to remind our readers that we are simply instruments of the law. We do not make decisions based on what we, as employees of DNR, individually or even collectively believe. We make decisions based on the law and rules. Are we always right? No. Do we have an enviable record of having our decisions upheld in the courts? Yes, we do.
I am not nave enough to believe my writing this will make much of a difference in whether people blame us individually for decisions we make and call us names. It will not. Human behavior will continue to be that "it is the messenger's fault - the law can't possibly mean what they say it does." And, we as individuals will be called communists and thugs and insensitive bureaucrats. All I request is that before you make those charges against the good people at DNR, try to understand the law and why it is interpreted the way it is. It sure is a much better use of everyone's time when we can discuss these things intellectually rather than as warriors in the field of battle.

THE GEORGIA COASTAL

M A N A G E M E N T

Duane Harris, Director Coastal Resources Division
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Program Update

Georgia

By: Dr. Stuart Stevens Chief, Ecological Services Section

Coastal

Management Program

In my last update, I mentioned several opportunities on the horizon. With respect to funding, I updated you on President

Bush's budget proposal that included substantial increases in funding

for Coastal Zone Management (CZM) programs. Well, the House

passed its budget, which kept most of the President's increases. On the

Senate side, we are hearing positive news as well. Hopefully soon we will

have a budget that provides an increase in funding for these important

coastal programs. For Georgia, we will continue to pass through a minimum

of 60% of funds for competitive grants and continue to fund some basic research from our administrative

funds.

I also mentioned the addition of our Coastal Assistants, Jan Mackinnon and Jill Huntington. Jan and Jill are already making a difference with local governments. They have visited with most counties and cities in our coastal zone to explain the available grants and offer assistance with environmental issues. They have also questioned local officials, following a careful survey, to determine what the local issues might be. This helps us to design assistance tailored to local government needs. Kevin Brady, the Georgia Coastal Management Program (GCMP) attorney, has also proven invaluable with answering very technical legal questions regarding various state laws. His knowledge of administrative law helps us to make more informed decisions.

Now what's new: Congress passed new legislation last year referred to as the Beach Act. This Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop national guidelines for certification of waters as safe for swimmers, i.e., with regard to water quality. The Act also requires all swimming waters to be tested according to these guidelines. Fortunately, the GCMP has been monitoring our beaches for several years now so we do not have to develop a new program. However, we are seeking federal funds from EPA to enhance our existing beach monitoring. This enhancement will include developing an inventory of pollution sources, a survey of public use of swimming beaches, identification of "estuarine swimming beaches," and written procedures for responding to violations of water quality standards. These enhancements should begin in late Fall 2001.

Other activities are in the wings. For instance, we are partnering with several universities to develop a web-based database of all monitoring data for the coast. This sounds simple but is actually very complicated. There are different data formats, metadata differences, proprietary issues, etc. But there is a lot of interest in overcoming these problems and we will get this up and running. I am always amazed with the cooperation we get from other coastal organizations. Often an idea springs up, we mention it to another party, and before you know it, we are moving forward to create another tool we can use to better manage our coastal resources. That's coastal management at its best. That's what I am most proud of, working together to accomplish something positive for the coast.

If you have any questions regarding these activities or any aspect of the Georgia Coastal Management Program, contact us.

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By: Jim Music Commercial Fisheries Program Leader
Sponge Crab Management

In recent years the topic of the protection of "sponge crabs", adult eggbearing females, has become a highly charged issue causing serious debate
among the industry and the general public. Because of the currently depressed stock status, declining steadily since 1995, it is time for a re-examination by users and the Department of Natural Resources
regarding the best management actions necessary to insure the stability of Georgia's blue crab fishery. At present, reported commercial blue crab landings are at an all time low (3.2 million pounds in 2000), and the need to maximize this
species' spawning potential has never been greater. However, blue crab harvest is regulated almost exclusively through statute and sponge crabs are not protected. Currently, the Department of Natural Resources does not have the authority to prohibit the take of these gravid females or to regulate the season or harvest areas.

To fully understand how we arrived at the current debate today some background information on sponge crab management is necessary. From 1939 to 1955 the taking of sponge crabs was prohibited from February through April. Then from 1955 through 1957 the taking of sponge crabs was prohibited year around. In 1957, the law changed again and the taking of sponge females was prohibited only during May and June. Finally, in 1979, all harvest restrictions were dropped. For the first five years after repeal of the sponge crab restrictions, annual commercial landings were stable and averaged over 10 million pounds annually; then from 1985-1995 reported commercial landings did not exceed 9 million pounds except once (1995 @ 9.3 million lbs.). Since 1995, reported landings have averaged approximately 5 million per year, and currently landings appear to be at an all time low. Hence the renewed concern to protect sponge crabs.

Biological Background

The female crab mates during her "terminal molt" and can carry sperm for several months before she actually lays her eggs and forms the external "sponge." Each sponge contains from 700,000 to 2 million eggs, and the incubation period lasts about two weeks. It takes approximately two months to grow from the egg to a juvenile crab, and about 18 months to become an adult. The female can repeat the spawning process after her first sponge completes its incubation process and the first fertilized eggs have hatched and sloughed off. Although adult females no longer grow after reaching reproductive maturity, they are still available for harvest. There is no indication that sponge females in Georgia die as a result of the spawning process. In fact, they are repeat spawners if they escape harvest during their initial sponge stage.

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Blue crab landings are the largest volume (# of pounds) fishery in Georgia and the second most valuable fishery behind shrimp.

Why then is there any opposition to protecting sponge crabs? Several factors enter into the equation. Any change in Georgia's sponge crab harvest laws will likely have a negative economic impact on the blue crab market structure and will most likely lead to increased crowding and conflicts caused by displaced crabbers. This is because the crabbers have over time established "gentlemen's" agreements over recognized "territories" where each crabber places his/her traps. Many of these territories are in the open sounds and the larger rivers where salinities are highest and where adult and sponge-bearing females frequently dominate the catches. Commercial crabbers who have territories in these areas have over the last 24 years come to rely heavily on sponge crabs as part of their annual harvest.

Another factor to consider in the protection question is that according to historic biological research it was surmised that under normal environmental conditions and normal stock abundance there was not a need to protect sponge crabs. However, in more recent years crab stocks have been depressed along the entire Atlantic seaboard, and fishery managers are now re-evaluating their previous positions. We have just recently experienced three-plus years of extreme drought and documented die-offs of crabs from disease at a time when stock abundance was already at lower levels. To further compound the problem of low stock abundance, sponge crabs were and are still being taken before their eggs hatch and restock the population.

Obviously, the Department needs the authority to act when crab stocks decline to the point that they need maximum spawning potential, such as appears to be the situation at present. Whether or not it is decided that sponge crabs should receive full-time protection through a year round take prohibition, or part-time protection during peak spawning season (e.g., March through June), or whether it is decided that restrictions should be based on when biological sampling reveals that stocks have fallen below some designated trigger for implementation of protective measures, fishery managers need some formal mechanism to prevent the collapse of this very important fishery. Currently DNR is lacking that mechanism. Department staff are holding public scoping meetings this fall throughout the coast to obtain public Input on this important issue.

Since 1998, reported crab landings have remained below 5 million pounds.

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THE GEORGIA SOUND

FALL ,2001

New Research Vessel for
Water Quality Monitoring Program
The Coastal Monitoring Program recently purchased a 25 foot research vessel built by Parker Marine in Beaufort, North Carolina. The boat has been custom rigged for collecting water, sediment, benthic, and biological tissue samples from coastal waters. An aluminum davit arm and power winch, located in the starboard aft corner of the vessel, is used to deploy and retrieve a Young modified VanVeen grab sampler and a 16 foot Otter Trawl. The grab sampler is used to collect sediment and benthic organism samples, while the trawl net is used to collect biological tissue samples. An enclosed wheelhouse provides foul weather protection for crew members and lockable storage for the sampling gear. Powered by twin 150 h.p. Yamaha outboards, the research vessel has both the fuel economy and speed needed to cover the Georgia coast.

Coastal Resources Division Water Quality Monitoring staff now have a state-of-the-art research vessel to assist in their monitoring efforts along Georgia's coast.

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 www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/coastal
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.
Llea_king@coastal.dnr.state.ga.us

Contributors to this issue: Kevin Brady, Nancy Butler, Brooks Good, Abbey Hafner, Duane Harris, Jill Huntington, Lea King, Jan MacKinnon,
Kelie Matrangos, Jim Music, and Stuart Stevens. 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 2002 edition is December 1, 2001. We welcome suggestions
of articles and photography.

T H E

G EO R G I A

C O A S T A L

M A N A G E M E N T

P R O G R A M

O C T O B E R - D E C E M B E R

Georgia Sound
VOL.7, NO.4

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