A recent poll by Louisiana State University of Gulf area residents found 57% of them said they were less likely to buy local seafood because of the spill.
– Seafood.com

True, you may be worried about seafood like Gulf residents are right now, but know this:

• of the 17% of the seafood Americans eat that comes from domestic sources, only 2% of that comes from the Gulf, according to the National Fisheries Institute, a trade group.

If everybody were aware of those numbers, the seafood market would largely remain stable throughout this environmental crisis. It still doesn’t solve the problem shrimpers are having with a huge reduction in supply out in the ocean though, but for shrimpers willing and able to make an occupational shift of sorts, shrimp farming may be an option worth looking into.

I had no idea how widespread shrimp farming is around the world until I just watched this video from Texas (A&M I think). I touches on all the different steps needed to get a shrimp farm going, but I’ll tell you right now, you’re probably gonna need some serious financial backing to get this project going.

According to Wikipedia, the U.S. hit a high of 5,000 tonnes of farmed shrimp production per year back in 2003 and 2004, but we’ve since slid back to 2,000 tonnes of farmed shrimp production (as of 2007); who knows, maybe you can get a piece of the market now.

Anyway, this diagram from SCDNR shows all the stages shrimp go through in their life cycle, something you’ll be intimately involved in if you work on a shrimp farm. Happy harvesting!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Shrimp: if you can’t catch’em, grow’em

This is considered a first step to combat the population decline of the striped bass fishery in the Santee Cooper system by reducing the amount of fish an angler can harvest, as well as increasing the minimum size limits.

The regulations also include (when applicable):

1. Reduction in creel limits from five to three
2. Points system: increase to 14 points for violation
3. Increase in minimum size limit from 21 inches to 26 inches
4. Striped bass must be landed with head & tail intact so enforcement officers can measure the complete fish

Because striped bass can live in fresh water for long periods of time, they are stocked in many inland reservoirs. However, only two East Coast reservoirs have self-sustaining populations: the Kerr Reservoir in Virginia and North Carolina, and the Santee-Cooper Reservoir in South Carolina.

It is SCDNR’s and our job as sustainable anglers to insure that this hardy species keeps flourishing in our waters, and the only way to do that is to occasionally cut-back on fishing limits as the Striped Bass Stakeholders Group recommended to Gov. Sanford last year.

From the Shem Creek blog.

New striped bass regulations in effect

Congrats George!

You can check all the current South Carolina Freshwater Fish Records online.

The DNR in Columbia maintains all-tackle sportfishing records for freshwater fish and bowfishing records for a few species of nongame freshwater fish. No records are kept for individual line-test categories, for individual bodies of water, or for fish caught in nongame devices. Bowfishing records are kept for three species: common carp, bowfin and longnose gar.

Freshwater all-tackle sportfishing records are kept for 32 species: Striped Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Bass, White Perch, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Redeye Bass, Bluegill (Bream), Shellcracker, Redbreast, Warmouth, Flier, Pumpkinseed, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Sauger, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Chain Pickerel (Jackfish), Redfin Pike, Muskellunge (Muskie), Blue Catfish, Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, White Catfish, Mudfish (Bowfin) and American Shad.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Midlands angler breaks bullhead catfish record

Interviews, photos, video: Dr. Doug Woodward, professor and researcher, University of South Carolina Moore School of Business; Natural Resources Society Board Members; South Carolina Natural Resources Director John Frampton and others. Digital images and video of South Carolinians using and enjoying the state’s natural resources will be available for attending media.

For more information, read SCDNR’s Green Report, which states that S.C. natural resources contribute $30 billion to the economy.

From the Shem Creek blog.

The Economic Impact of SC’s Natural Resources

S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) boating safety and enforcement officers will perform a quick, but thorough, inspection for items such as required safety equipment and proper boat and motor registration. Those who are not in compliance with safety regulations or registration requirements will not be ticketed during the complimentary inspections. Instead, they will be given an opportunity to correct the problem before they launch their boat. DNR officers will also be available to answer questions and give boaters tips on how to stay safe on the water.

To report boating violations such as reckless operation or an intoxicated boat operator, call the DNR toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-922-5431. For a copy of South Carolina’s boating regulations, to find out about local boating safety courses or to obtain a free float plan form contact the DNR Boating Safety Office at 1-800-277-4301.

The schedule of their courtesy safety inspections are located on the SCDNR site.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Memorial Day Weekend brings DNR ‘courtesy’ boat inspections

Those that do make it out will be rewarded with a nice catch – assuming everything goes according to plan – because SCDNR officials say shrimp have been keeping their own out in the ocean – the question, “is how many boats are gonna be out there to catch them?”

SCDNR also says that the in-water catch rate of immature loggerheads has been increasing, which at first sounds alarming, but then you realize it means management efforts such as nest protection and the required use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TED’s) in commercial shrimp trawl nets may be paying off.

“…in the Charleston shipping channel, catch rates have increased significantly since 1990.” – SCDNR

Although sea turtles were not captured in 75% of the tows, several noteworthy trends were evident for the 25% of tows that did capture sea turtles:

• * Loggerhead sea turtles accounted for 94 percent of all sea turtle species captured.
• * There was a strong north/south gradient in catch rates, with highest catch rates off northern Florida and southern Georgia.
• * A strong north/south gradient in loggerhead size was noted, with the greatest frequency of smaller loggerheads collected off northern Florida & southern Georgia.
• * Significant increases in catch rates were observed between 2000 & 2008 for two sizes of loggerheads, notably the size representing reproductively mature adults and the next smallest size group.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Commercial shrimp season starts, more turtles are being caught

Currently a saltwater recreational fishing license is required for people:

• * Harvesting oysters or clams
• * Fishing for fin-fish from a private boat or transporting catch in a private boat.

The new legislation will also require a saltwater recreational fishing license for:

• * Recreationally fishing from shore (beach, bank, private dock, free public pier, etc.)
• * Recreationally harvesting shrimp and/or crab.

We can purchase a license 24/7 via 1-866-714-3611 or www.dnr.sc.gov/purchase.html.

There are a few exceptions allowing people to harvest marine resources without a saltwater recreational fishing license:

• * fishing off a licensed commercial public fishing pier,
• * fishing off a licensed for-hire vessel (charter and headboats),
• * taking shrimp over bait (still required to have Shrimp Baiting License)
• * fishing with 3 or fewer drop nets,
• * fishing with 3 or fewer fold-up traps, and
• * fishing with 3 or fewer handlines with a single bait and no hooks (chicken necking).

A South Carolina resident 64 years or older may obtain a statewide lifetime hunting & fishing license which includes the privilege of saltwater fishing. A person who has been a South Carolina resident for at least one year, and has been determined to be totally disabled, may obtain a statewide fishing & hunting license which includes the privilege of saltwater fishing.

Revenue generated from Saltwater Recreational Fishing License sales will be used for the direct benefit of South Carolina’s marine recreational fisheries. – SCDNR

The same Saltwater Recreational Fishing License fees remain:

• * 14-day Resident – $5
• * Annual Resident – $10
• * 14-day Non-Resident – $11
• * Annual Non-Resident – $35

From the Shem Creek blog.

Saltwater Recreational Fishing License changes

SCDNR has added Terry’s striped bass from Lake Russell as the current fresh water record at 67 lbs. – beating the previous one by over 3lbs.

There are strict guidelines for setting new records in S.C.: they must be caught by sport means, using standard tackle or pole & line or, in the case of bowfishing, bow & arrow. Fish caught in nets & traps or on trotlines & set hooks will not be considered.

Obviously Mr. McConnell from Eastanolle, GA knows a thing or two about fishing – congratulations!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Georgia angler breaks his own SC striped bass record

A homeowner’s guide to living with bears has been published by DNR, offering handy tips for peacefully co-existing with black bears. Authored by Ruth, “A Homeowner’s Guide: Living with Bears” offers common-sense advice to homeowners that will help them avoid unpleasant encounters with the black bear. The bear brochure also details some interesting natural history information on this often-feared and frequently misunderstood wildlife species.

To obtain a copy of the homeowner’s guide to living with bears brochure, visit the DNR offices in Clemson, Georgetown or Florence, or call the Columbia DNR office at (803) 734-3886.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Beware of black bears roaming from Myrtle Beach fires

She caught it aboard her & her husband’s 21′ Sea Chaser boat when they went out Saturday before last. They had trekked 55 miles offshore from Murrells Inlet to fish near the Winyah Scarp when she caught it.

This smart angler knew immediately that her Sharpnose was a keeper, so she contacted DNR and had it weighed in when they returned to shore. David Player, a fisheries biologist with the Marine Resources Division in Charleston, met Lori at Seven Sea Seafood in Murrells Inlet to verify and certify the catch, and now she’s in the gamefish record books.

Congratulations Lori!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Lori gets the new Atlantic Sharpnose shark record