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 and southern Georgia.
• * Significant increases in catch rates were observed between 2000 and 2008 for two sizes of loggerheads, notably the size representing reproductively mature adults and the next smallest size group.

Related Post(s)

1. Shrimp: if you can’t catch’em, grow’em
2. Saltwater Recreational Fishing License changes
3. ‘Carolina Caught’ captures S.C. shrimping industry
4. Loggerhead nesting for 2008 was 7th highest year on record
5. Lobster-size tiger shrimp caught off S.C.
6. Mt. Pleasant ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ 2008
7. Super-Intensive Raceway Shrimp Farming Technology (SIRSFT) is coming our way
8. Save Our Seas, a SC Aquarium event benefiting wildlife rescue at home and in the Gulf Coast
9. ‘Bench Mark’, winners of the 2010 MegaDock Tournament
10. Australian Black Tiger prawn – the newest shrimp on the block

From the Shem Creek blog.

Commercial shrimp season starts, more turtles are being caught

A week or two ago I was reading about GE’s wind turbine manufacturing facility UpState, and this morning I read about IBM stepping up to the plate for the future of water management across the globe, so here’s a few things to look at if you’re interested in them too:

• GE wind-power
• IBM’s Advanced Water Management

To be honest, I can’t think of any two companies that would be better at tackling these global problems:

the energy crisis and water management.

Now, what’s left:

Earth, Fire, and whatever other elements you can throw in…

Related Post(s)

1. SC takes control of managing its long-term water needs
2. Commercial shrimp season starts, more turtles are being caught
3. May is “South Carolina Wetlands Month”
4. What does sustainability mean to you?
5. Who’s “gray water” is it anyway?
6. Boats, Bass, and Bubba
7. Win YouTube contest, EPA pays you $2,500
8. International water and seafood events today
9. Geology expert: no offshore oil or gas, but wind is everywhere
10. Researchers receive $800K to clean contaminated water from gas, oil drilling

From the Shem Creek blog.

GE wants wind, IBM claims water

In a study you know didn’t appear over night, the DOE has put together a nationwide map of wind currents as they move across the country 50 meters off the ground. From this wind resource map, you can determine if an area should be further explored for maximum wind power.

After enlarging the map above, you can easily see that the whole coastline of S.C. is rated either ‘good’, ‘excellent’, or ‘outstanding’ as a source of wind power. So when you hear that South Carolina’s potential state tax credit for the development of an off-shore wind farm is $1,063,333, it’s a no-brainer that we head in this direction.

A 10′ weather buoy – 1 of 6 – for measuring winds offshore from Georgetown, S.C.
Credit: Santee Cooper

Dr. Mitchell Colgan, chairman of the College of Charleston’s Geology and Environmental Geosciences Department, who’s worked for Shell Oil, the U.S. Geological Survey and three different oil reservoirs in Alaska, New Mexico and Texas, has already publicly stated that “I really don’t think there’s any oil out there” and “…there is no economically recoverable gas off our coast”. With that dilemma all but closed, we should be full steam ahead on wind power now – and it looks like we are.

With weather buoys being placed offshore at strategic locations to maximize wind monitoring, and workers retraining for wind-energy jobs in this tough economy – not that it would be a bad job anyway! – things are really starting to pickup now.

Using the DOE wind resource map as a guide, there should be no problem finding the best wind currents out there – although the map is for 50 meters off the ground and the buoys are nowhere near that high. Still, Santee Cooper hopes to get there monies worth out of their research, and along with grant money from the DOE, we have nothing but hope for both of them.

Related Post(s)

1. Do you oppose expanding offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean too?
2. Commercial shrimp season starts, more turtles are being caught
3. GE wants wind, IBM claims water
4. Researchers receive $800K to clean contaminated water from gas, oil drilling
5. SC loves cool breezes – without coal’s black soot
6. A NOAA Chief that’s fine with offshore drilling?
7. Cousteau, Danson, Activists want offshore drilling ban
8. South Carolina, lets talk offshore drilling
9. Is South Carolina ready for offshore wind power?

From the Shem Creek blog.

Geology expert: no offshore oil or gas, but wind is everywhere

My take away from the article was this piece I feel we are really missing out on here in SC – offshore wind power:

Now is not the time for South Carolina to beg off from meeting expected federal renewable energy standards. Wind alone has the potential to bring ten to twenty thousand manufacturing jobs to South Carolina, according to a study conducted by former Clemson professor, Dr. Nick Regas. He estimated that offshore wind could supply 20 percent of the state’s energy at a cost of $3 million to $5 million per megawatt of installed capacity. That figure compares favorably against a new coal plant — $1.8 billion for 600 megawatts of wind versus $1.3 billion for 600 megawatts of dirty coal for a new plant.

It was mentioned in an earlier post how wind power in SC would be a great source of energy for all of us – especially after reading that other places have already started using it.

I’ll be attending the Common Agenda meeting Upstate tomorrow to learn more.

Related Post(s)

1. Commercial shrimp season starts, more turtles are being caught
2. GE wants wind, IBM claims water
3. Geology expert: no offshore oil or gas, but wind is everywhere
4. Is South Carolina ready for offshore wind power?

From the Shem Creek blog.

SC loves cool breezes – without coal’s black soot

While the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) used wasn’t a decision-making document, the analysis conducted was to determine whether a recent wind farm proposal Massachusetts made was environmentally sound or not.
Here are some major points from the study:

1. Cape Wind will reduce regional air pollution emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury, pollutants that harm human health.
2. Cape Wind will reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change by 880,000 tons per year.
3. Building Cape Wind will create hundreds of jobs and generate over a half-billion dollars in non-labor purchases in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
4. Cape Wind will not increase energy prices in New England and could help to lower energy clearing prices.
5. Most of Cape Wind’s electricity will be consumed on Cape Cod and the Islands where it will supply ¾ of that region’s electricity and improve electric transmission performance.
6. Cape Wind will have a substantial positive impact on electrical generating capacity and help Massachusetts achieve its renewable energy requirements under the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.
7. Cape wind will have no major impacts on navigation, fishing, or tourism.

“This report validates the project will create new jobs, increase energy independence and fight global warming while being a good neighbor to the ecosystem of Nantucket Sound.”
– Jim Gordon, project developer

As usual, there are critics to new ideas – this time it’s offshore wind power:

1. the Coast Guard worries of potential radar interference to vessel navigation, and
2. the FAA worries of potential impacts to the flights, including the “potential for physical and/or electromagnetic interference to radar systems”.

So, like all things political, these items may take time – 7.5 years so far – but it looks like Cape Wind will be done with their permitting process by March. Once that’s complete, hopefully Massachusetts will have our nation’s 1st offshore wind farm – wouldn’t it be great if South Carolina was 2nd?

South Carolina + Wind Power = A GOOD THING!

See also: The Potential Economic Impact of an Off-Shore Wind Farm to South Carolina

Related Post(s)

1. Commercial shrimp season starts, more turtles are being caught
2. GE wants wind, IBM claims water
3. Geology expert: no offshore oil or gas, but wind is everywhere
4. SC loves cool breezes – without coal’s black soot

From the Shem Creek blog.

Is South Carolina ready for offshore wind power?