If it weren’t for such rough winds right now – gale-force winds in Charleston Harbor and 14-foot swells offshore – every shrimp boat captain alive would be pulling out of Shem Creek, McClellanville, etc. right now, especially with the reduced [sic] fuel prices.

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.

“We’re going to try to lobby for some money for South Carolina for advertising and marketing. Hopefully maybe some low interest loans for fishermen to get more efficient fuel motors”
– Capt. Magwood of Magwood Seafood

With all the fun at yesterdays “Blessing of the Fleet”, it’s easy to forget the real reason behind the annual event: to provide some help to our local shrimpers and wish them well in the coming season.

Unfortunately, that has become more and more of a real-world dilemma lately, as catch numbers continue to dwindle, and it’s because of that, and the local market being flooded with imported shrimp – which forces rock bottom prices for our local fishermen – that Captain Wayne Magwood, long time professional shrimper, has more than last year’s $4 fuel prices to complain about now.

In a proactive move, several members of the Southeastern Shrimpers Alliance are heading to Washington today “to lobby for some money for South Carolina for advertising and marketing. Hopefully maybe some low interest loans for fishermen to get more efficient fuel motors”.