Southern Tides July 2020 by Southern Tides Magazine

Southern Tides all about the water

July 2020

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Southern Tides

In the Tides

all about the water

CREW

Issue No. 59 / July 2020

Publisher/Editor Amy Thurman

7 Editor's Note

amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

The Bitter End Columnist Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill

9 Around the Reef

theoriginalcaptaingator@gmail.com

11 Ethanol 15 Update

Around the Reef Columnist Taylor O'Neill for Michelle Riley

12 Beautiful Ceylon

michelle.riley@noaa.gov

17 High Tech Fish Tracking

Consulting Naturalist John "Crawfish" Crawford

19 Summer Fun

crawfish@uga.edu

20 Sea Turtle Season Update

Contributing Writer Dan Chapman

22 The Bitter End

dan.chapman@fws.gov

Contributing Writer Michael Sullivan mike.sullivan@skio.uga.edu

All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission. Southern Tides is a free magazine, published monthly, and can be found at multiple locations from St. Marys, Ga., to Beaufort, S.C.

(912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com Visit us on social media: www.issuu.com/SouthernTidesMagazine.com Facebook.com/southern-tides-magazine Instagram @southerntides_mag Southern Tides Magazine is printed by Walton Press, Monroe, Ga.

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About the Cover:

Letters to the Editor:

A female loggerhead makes her way back to the water after five unsuccessful attempts to nest due to a nearly missing back flipper. The injury suggests the damage was caused by a propellor strike. More turtle images and nesting information can be found at the GA Sea Turtle Cooperative Facebook page. Photo by Mark Dodd, GADNR

July 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

We love hearing from you! Questions, comments, ideas, or whatever you'd like to share, please do! Send your thoughts to any of our email addresses listed above.

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Editor’s Note

River Thera py

e’re just a couple months shy of our five-year anniversary and despite an upward turn in the first quarter of the year, Southern Tides has slipped slightly from “going strong” to “holding steady.” Which is especially frustrating given that summer is when we should be going wide open throttle. Still, holding steady is better than struggling to hold on, and we’re far from that point. The general consensus among our advertisers is that anything pertaining to outdoor activities is thriving, and as a result, they’re sticking with the magazine – by pulling together as a community, we’ll all make it through these troubling times. Please continue to let Southern Tides advertisers know you saw their ads and appreciate their continued support of the magazine. Although we’ve dropped back to our winter page count (all part of the holding steady plan), we’re still able to bring you a variety of content this month. From news about the hotly debated E15 gas, to the latest sea turtle stats (and some stunning photos to go along with the article). Also, don’t miss the beautifully written feature on the Ceylon WMA, Georgia’s newest wildlife management area, by Dan Chapman, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our dear Captain Gator has also shared the story of a recent boating accident that left him with missing pieces. Of course, this immediately brought to mind the old pirate practice of being compensated with pieces of eight for lost appendages, so be sure to ask him how many he earned. I’m also reminded of the adage, “If you can’t be a good example, you’ll just have to be a horrible warning!”

All teasing aside, Captain Gator is one of the most safetyminded boaters I’ve ever met, which is proof that accidents can happen even to the best of us – so pay attention and be safe out there. A hospital is the last place you want to go right now. My dear friend, Jamee Barnard, frequently refers to getting out on the water as “river therapy” and that’s the most apt description I’ve ever heard. Being out there in the elements helps put things in perspective, reorders one's priorities, and brings peace in ways nothing else can. Need ideas? Check out our list of activities to get you on the water (page 19), and we’ve added a few air-conditioned options too for when the heat gets to be too much – all in keeping with social distancing protocols. So, get out there and enjoy a little river therapy of your own! As always, thank you for reading Southern Tides, for sharing it with your friends, and for supporting our advertisers! See you out there!

Amy Thurman

Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

Image above: As you can tell by my attire, this picture was taken when it was still a bit chilly out. I'm long overdue for another session of river therapy! Photo by Don Crum

July 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

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Around theReef By Taylor O'Neill Communications Intern Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary

nglers and divers know Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary as a special place to fish and dive. The sanctuary is home to more than 200 species of fish, as well as threatened loggerhead sea turtles and other endangered species. Gray’s Reef is part of the only known calving ground of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. More than 900 species of invertebrates cover the nooks and crannies of the reef, creating a dense carpet of animals and giving it the name, “live bottom.” Still, what lies under the sea is very much a mystery to scientists. Fortunately, Gray's Reef offers a marine environment nearly free of any human footprint, making the reef attractive for scientists and university students to conduct research. In December 2011, NOAA established roughly one-third of the 22-square-mile sanctuary as a research area. This research area creates a control for scientific studies by substantially reducing human activities that may affect the ecosystem, including sensitive habitats found at Gray’s Reef. It also provides scientists an opportunity to observe and identify differences between natural changes to species, communities, and

habitats and changes caused by human impacts. In May, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary released its "Review of Scientific Research In and Around the Designated Research Area of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary" report, a part of the National Marine Sanctuaries Conservations Science Series. The report is a snapshot in time of 16 science projects that took place across five years (2012-2016). This research can begin to provide answers and information about our ocean, the animals that call it home, the effects of human activities, and marine life's response to their changing environment. Of course, changes to the environment are not instantaneous and can take many years to understand; for this reason, research and science projects go on continually at Gray’s Reef, which underscores the sanctuary’s description as a living laboratory. Additionally, data collected from these studies and from other reviews and monitoring activities inform the superintendent of Gray's Reef and helps him manage the resources and take care of the sanctuary. The data also are used when sanctuary staff generate condition reports about gray’s reef, and create management plans to maintain the sanctuary’s health. The report can be found on NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries website, at sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/conservation/ grnms-research-area-report-2020.html

For Information contact Michelle Riley: (912) 598-2417 michelle.riley@noaa.gov More than 200 species of fish, such as the toadfish seen here, inhabit the live bottom of Gray's Reef. Photo provided by NOAA

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Ethanol 15 Update

about the hazards of using ethanol gas in your boat: bit.ly/ethanol_ damage BoatUS, along with additional stakeholders, is asking why, after consistent urging, EPA has not done a better job warning boaters, those with gasoline-powered equipment, and vehicle owners not warrantied for fuels above E10 to stay away from this new generation of higher ethanol fuels intended to increase America’s consumption of government-subsidized corn-based ethanol. In comments filed June 29 by BoatUS and its partners on EPA’s proposed Fuels Regulatory Streamlining rulemaking provisions on mitigating misfueling with 10.5% to 15% ethanol (E15) fuels, the group of consumer and industry associations said, “As EPA has worked to broaden the availability of E15 in the U.S., including most recently in last year’s repeal of seasonal restrictions on the sale of higher-blend ethanol fuels, our organizations have consistently urged EPA to implement a more effective Misfueling Mitigation Program. … The misfueling of marine engines and vessels, offroad vehicles, motorcycles, and outdoor power equipment places significant burdens on both the American consumer and product manufacturers. Risks outlined for consumers include potential product damage and/or compromised performance, economic loss and potentially unsafe products.” The partners urge public education efforts; improvement to the ethanol content warning label type, size and pump location; evaluating the adoption of different fuel pump nozzle sizes; ceasing misleading marketing of ethanol fuels; evaluating the use of physical barriers and keypad systems; and offering a dedicated pump for E0 (0% ethanol) fuel.

Choose Your Gas Wisely From BoatUS

ith summer boating season in full swing, it’s now common to see recreational boats being filled up at gas stations across the country. However, making sure the right fuel gets in the boat’s tank isn’t always assured: 54% of consumers in a recent Harris Poll believed that the small orange E15 fuel warning label on a gas station pump isn’t good enough to protect consumers. Poll respondents believe the label, about the size of a pack of gum, needs to be larger, clearer and mandatory on all gas station fueldispensing pumps. E15 (fuel containing 15% ethanol) is prohibited by federal law for use in recreational boat engines and voids many marine engine warranties. “It’s clear that the Environmental Protection Agency has not done enough to protect boat owners and a range of consumers,” said Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “Some fuels are being marketed and sold to consumers as low-cost alternatives but without having the necessary clear warnings on the pump that highlight increased ethanol content. ‘Regular 88’ fuel, typically the cheapest choice at the pump, contains 15% ethanol (E15), enough to harm a vessel’s motor and void the engine manufacturer’s warranty. Only 22% of consumers in the Harris Poll correctly identified the fuel as E15.” “We are cautioning our members this summer that they may find badly labeled fuel choices at the pump and inadequate education around ethanol-blended fuels that were never intended for recreational vessels,” Kennedy added. Boaters have no love for ethanol in their gas due to the proven damage it causes to boat engines and fuel systems. View a short two-minute video here July 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

Above Left: This little orange E15 warning label on a gas pump could be all that separates boaters from misfueling their boat, says BoatUS. However, it might not be that easy to see on the gas pump. Photo provided by BoatUS Above: E15 gasoline is illegal for use in boats, many other vehicles, and power equipment. Can you spot any effective warning label indicating the increased 15% ethanol content in the “regular 88” fuel? Photo provided by National Marine Manufacturers Association 11

Beautiful

Ceylon

History Lives in this Coastal Preserve Above: Overhead view of Cabin Bluff and Ceylon properties. Photo by Mac Stone

By Dan Chapman Public Affairs Specialist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

eorgia's newest Wildlife Management Area sits a half mile off Interstate 95, yet a world removed from the hurly-burly of modern life. Pass the entrance on Ceylon Road, which runs through some of the Southeast’s most beautiful and pristine coastal lands, and step back in time. Stately stands of longleaf pine and live oak, some two centuries old, tower over savannah-like prairies and freshwater wetlands. More than 4,000 burrows, home to at-risk gopher tortoises, dot the landscape. Artesian water bubbles up from the ground in spots from the aquifer below. And then there’s the vine-covered Ceylon Cemetery, with one graveyard for whites and another for blacks, offering stark reminders of the former plantation and timber mill communities that once prospered along the banks of the Satilla River. History, both manmade and natural, abounds at the Ceylon Wildlife Management Area, an enchanting coastal redoubt made

possible, in part, with financial and scientific support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “It’s gorgeous,” said Cynthia Bohn, who, until recently, was the Service’s Coastal Program coordinator in the Southeast. “The large expanse of undeveloped coastline. The sort of untouched old growth areas. The history. And the habitat for just a whole myriad of coastal species. It’s one of the premier coastal properties in Georgia, for sure. It’s a special place.” Yet the importance of the Ceylon tract goes well beyond cultural and recreational amenities (including hunting) offered by the one of the largest unprotected tracts along the Eastern seaboard. Ceylon, and the adjoining Cabin Bluff tract, serve as critical linchpins in conservationists’ plans to create a seamless conservation corridor along the Georgia coast and into Florida. “Ceylon is the connective tissue tying together the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the Satilla River, the salt marshes and the 12

Southern Tides Magazine

July 2020

Jason Lee (GADNR), Maria Whitehead (Open Space Institute) and Andrew Schock (The Conservation Fund) discussing Ceylong. Photo by Dan Chapman, USFWS

This artesian well (above) and cemetary (left) are examples of both the scenic beauty and history of Ceylon WMA. Photos by Dan Chapman, USFWS

barrier islands,” said Jason Lee, head of wildlife conservation on the coast for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “We’re creating all sorts of pathways for red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, black bears, migratory birds and wading birds. It’s really just a big transportation corridor. And it’s not just for Georgia; it’s a regional corridor.” "Tons of history all over this place” Ceylon isn’t the typical public-private conservation deal. The wealth of habitats and rare species makes the 16,000-acre tract a naturalist’s dream. And then there’s the fascinating history which, Lee insists, will remain a key part of Ceylon’s story. The village of Yufera, home to the Timucuan Native Americans, was perched on a bluff above the Satilla River. By 1650, though, with the advent of Spanish settlers and their diseases, the Timucua who once spread across large swaths of Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida had been wiped out. A century later, the English conveyed land grants to their settlers, including James Nephew, a prominent planter in Georgia and South Carolina. The plantation was named for Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), the South Asian country renowned for its rice and tea plantations. Roughly 120 African-American slaves worked the rice fields before the Civil War, according to the state of Georgia. After the war, with enslaved people freed and the plantation system dead, locals turned to timber and naval stores for their livelihoods. Massive longleaf pine logs were floated down the Satilla 13

to a deep water harbor alongside Ceylon for export. The Ceylon Mill Village, built in 1874, flourished into the new century until the pine forests were decimated. In 1915, according to local lore, a night watchman didn’t add enough water to the mill’s boiler prompting the boiler to explode and rocket to the other side of the river. About all that remains today are the dead. The Ceylon Cemetery is shrouded in moss-covered oaks, tall pines, sparkleberry and saw palmetto. Most of the headstones are illegible or decayed. Not William McNish’s. He was a plantation owner, who died in 1828, and wealthy enough to encircle his rather ornate tombstone with a wrought iron fence to keep hogs and cows at bay. Mrs. Eliza J. Peaddick wasn’t as fortunate: a gopher tortoise burrow lies underneath her headstone. Nobody knows how many African-Americans are buried in the sandy soil. Surveys indicate 76 graves, but most are unmarked, their wooden crosses long since disintegrated in the near-tropical torpor. Baileys, Harrises, Mungins and Sheffields are buried here, though. And so is Corporal Andrew Bailey, an ex-slave believed to have served in the Union Army during the Civil War. “We definitely want to clear all this up,” said the DNR’s Lee, who spent seven years cobbling together the Ceylon deal. “There’s just tons of history all over this place.” Stitching together the needed funding The Sea Island Company, owners of the posh Sea Island resort 15 miles up the coast, also owned the Ceylon and Cabin Bluff tracts and offered prime hog, deer and turkey hunts to their well-heeled clientele. Cabin Bluff served as a hunting club and retreat, with golf course, swimming pool, conference center and just-so cabins. There were plans to build 10,000 homes, shops and marinas until the economy collapsed in 2008. A Texas private equity group bought the properties in 2010. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), along with the Open Space Institute (OSI) and private donors, bought the 11,000-acre spread eight years later to, in essence, hold until the state of Georgia and partners could afford it. TNC, though, is selling the cabins, conference center and 3,250 acres for $15 million. A conservation easement will remain on the coastal property no matter the buyer. The Conservation Fund, along with the OSI, bought the adjoining Ceylon property and will one day transfer it to the state as well. A slew of private nonprofits, including the Robert W. Woodruff, Bobolink and Knobloch Family foundations, have also kicked in substantial money. Lee is busy applying for grants from federal and state sources. Georgia, via its still-new Outdoor Stewardship Program that voters approved in 2018, will kick in $6 million for the Ceylon and Cabin Bluff properties. The U.S. Department of Defense may join the funding bandwagon due to its desire to keep boats away from its submarines at the nearby Kings Bay naval base. Fish and Wildlife is considering requests from Lee, including two, million-dollar National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants which are funded via excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel. “When a state like Georgia identifies areas that are critically important to us, and our trust resources, we try to provide them the financial support and expertise they need,” said the Service’s Cynthia Bohn, who’s now a National Coastal Barrier Resources Act specialist. “These properties are expensive and you have to piece together lots of other funding sources.” “The foundation of conservation science” “Trust resources” are things like migratory birds, fish, threatened and endangered species — of which Ceylon has boatloads. Lee has tallied more than 2,000 individual gopher tortoises, a huge number that could go a long way towards keeping the at-risk species off the federally threatened or endangered lists. The turtles are keystone species that burrow deep into the ground providing habitat for 300

other reptiles, birds, amphibians and insects, including threatened eastern indigo snakes. Biologists have tagged 14 indigos on Ceylon and the Service expects to use the property as a recovery site for more snakes. Ceylon can also expect the translocation of redcockaded woodpeckers, possibly from the nearby Fort Stewart Army Base. “We’re assuming this is pretty much ready-made red-cockaded woodpecker habitat,” Lee said in the midst of a near-perfect, 200acre longleaf pine savannah filled with tortoise burrows and pitcher plants. The state, like previous owners, will prescribe fire across the old plantations to boost pine habitats. The abundance of more common species also excites wildlife officials. “The wilderness conditions here are incredible, yet a huge emphasis in our work is public access and recreation,” said Maria Whitehead, a senior project manager for OSI while standing atop a 25-foot bluff on a bend in the Satilla River. “This is the largest unprotected piece of coastal property in Georgia, and maybe on the entire East Coast. And it’s all easily accessible to the public.” Long-term, though, Ceylon’s real benefit might just be its location. It’s a key piece in a conservation puzzle that, once put together, will extend from Savannah through Fort Stewart down the Altamaha River corridor over to the Okefenokee and into the Big Bend area of Florida. Hundreds of years from now, even with the vagaries of a warming climate, creatures large and small will be able to migrate virtually unimpeded across hundreds of Southeastern miles. “Wildlife corridors are the foundations of conservation science,” Bohn said. “Ceylon really puts that philosophy into action.” For information visit: georgiawildlife.com/ceylon-wma

Sunset over Ceylon WMA. Photo by Dan Chapman, USFWS 14

Southern Tides Magazine

July 2020

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High Tech Tools for Fish Tracking By Mike Sullivan External Affairs Manager UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

UGA

Skidaway Institute of Oceanography scientist Catherine Edwards is participating in a collaborative project that will track the migration patterns of important fish species using artificial intelligence and a fleet of underwater robots. The project is a joint effort among UGA Skidaway Institute, Georgia Tech, Michigan State University, Wright State University and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. The researchers use a combination of two different types of autonomous underwater vehicles equipped with acoustic receivers. Edwards specializes in gliders — torpedo-shaped crafts that can be packed with sensors and sent on underwater missions lasting weeks. The gliders will join a group of six robotic fish designed by collaborators at Michigan State. Both types of robots will use their “underwater ears” to listen for the sound signals from fish that had previously been tagged with acoustic transmitters. The tags on each fish transmit a different sound signal, allowing the researchers to identify fish movements over time and distance. The gliders will monitor the density of the water which controls the speed of sound through it. Using that data, Edwards and her colleagues will be able to better locate the tagged animals as well as to identify the location of the gliders themselves — a problem that has been a significant challenge in underwater navigation. “Marine robots can be used to accurately map and track marine animals, which will lead to a better interpretation of their migration patterns,” Edwards said. “But because fisheries managers, oceanographers and roboticists have different perspectives and knowledge bases, it can be difficult to take advantage of cutting

edge research in each field without a significant effort to translate among the groups.” The overall goal of the project is to develop an interface that will translate the missions and needs of fisheries managers into multi-level planning for a fleet of marine robots to monitor fish populations in a dynamic coastal ocean environment. While preparing for the first field season, the team is developing an interface that uses artificial intelligence as a powerful tool to plan out the actions of the robots to identify hotspots based on these insights, helping their human pilots, and ultimately fulfilling the goals of fisheries managers. “An important component of our work at NOAA’s Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary is to study marine organisms’ use of the sanctuary, whether as a migration route, foraging location or other function,” said Stan Rogers, superintendent of the sanctuary. “The glider and robotic technology Dr. Edwards and her team will deploy in Gray’s Reef can help us track the movement patterns of animals that use the sanctuary and identify specific features of Gray’s Reef that are highly attractive to fish.” The researchers hope to begin preliminary field testing this summer, depending on COVID-19-related restrictions. The other members of the research team are Fumin Zhang from Georgia Tech, Xiaobo Tan from Michigan State University and Mike Cox from Wright State University. The project is funded by a three year, $1 million National Science Foundation grant.

Technicians prepare to deploy a glider. Photo by Kim Donoghue

A Skidaway Institute glider named "Angus" begins a mission. Photo by Kim Donoghue

July 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

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Summer Fun Ideas D

uring this time of social distancing and avoiding large gatherings, it can be challenging to find activities to keep from going stir-crazy. Here are some ideas. If planning a visit to any public facilities, call first to make sure they’re open and find out if there are any special requirements. FISHING · If you don’t have a boat, consider fishing from one of the many fishing piers along our coast. Search “fishing piers near me.” · Give surf casting a try. Check online for the regulations at various beaches. · Take a break from the salt and try your hand at freshwater fishing at a state park or one of the many public fishing areas in the state. For a list, visit georgiawildlife.com/allpfas · Introduce the next generation to the water and take your kids fishing too. It’s more important than ever now to find healthy outdoor activities for them. · To get or renew a fishing license visit GoOutdoorsGeorgia. com. · For more on fishing in Georgia, visit georgiawildlife.com/ fishing/angler-resources and georgiawildlife.com/fishingforecasts. BOATING · Don’t have a boat? Search “boat rentals near me” or “kayak rentals near me” and rent one, or charter with any of the countless charter captains on the coast. · Explore the large rivers feeding into our coastal plains – the Savannah, Ogeechee, Altamaha, Satilla, and St. Marys Rivers all flow into our coastal region and all are unique. Go explore! · Take a day trip – plan a half-day ride to another area on the coast, then beach or anchor and have a picnic lunch before riding back. Remember to leave a float plan with someone. · Kayaks are boats too! They’re easy to operate, available for rent all along our coast, and allow you a water-level view of the marshes, rivers and creeks and all the flora and fauna that reside there. BEACHES · Beaches are open to groups of 10 or less and with social distancing restrictions. Visit any of the public beaches on Tybee Island, St. Simons Island, or Jekyll Island. · Search for shells, sea glass, driftwood and other treasures from the high tide line down to the water. · Identify (from a distance) the many birds you’ll see. Download “My Shorebird Watcher” from your app store to learn about them. · Build a sandcastle. It’s harder than it seems! What can you create? · Get your fitness on – do yoga, go for a walk (in the water to boost resistance), a jog, or a swim (check rip currents first). · Pick up a new hobby and try surfing or SUP. Lessons are available and no close contact is required. · Or simply relax. People watch, nap, read a book, or just contemplate – there’s no better place for it! July 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

Photo by Keely Kasper

MORE OUTDOORS · Search for fossils and shark teeth. · Explore our area’s many historic sites. · Visit the lighthouses along our coast. Some are open to the public and you can find more information about them by visiting bit.ly/georgia_lighthouses · Plan a day or a weekend at one of Georgia’s many state parks. Visit Gastateparks.org SHORESIDE · UGA Aquarium will begin offering visits by appointment on August 5. Visit bit.ly/uga_aquarium_visit to learn more · Enroll your child or grandchild in the Boater Safety Course offered by the GADNR and Chatham County Marine Patrol. Anyone born after January 1, 1998, they must have this course to operate any vessel in Georgia waters. Plus, it’s just good to start them off with good boating skills and habits. (See ad on page 8 for more info.) · For those rainy or hot summer days, step inside the Ships of the Sea Museum and learn about maritime history with model ships, paintings, antiques and more. www.shipsofthesea.org · Love sea turtles? Take a trip to Jekyll Island and explore the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s interactive displays, turtle tanks, gift shop, and more. www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org · Visit the Submarine Museum in St. Marys stmaryssubmuseum.com. ··· We hope this sparks some ideas and helps you have a great summer! Again, please remember to check for hours and restrictions and adhere to safety protocols. Be sure to take drinks, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray and anything else you might need to be comfortable and enjoy your adventures. Share your own ideas and your stories on our Facebook page! Photo by Amy Thurman

Sea Turtle Season Update

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Nesting data for the Georgia Coast, through July 14

Nests: 2509 1st Nest: Cumberland Island, April 26 1st Hatch: St. Simons Island, July 9 Nests Relocated: 631 Emergences (hatches): Seven Nests Lost: 35 Estimated eggs to date: 76,453 Emerged hatchlings: 83 Nesting Species: · Loggerhead - 2,493 · Green - 6 · Unknown - 5 Most nests to date: Cumberland Island - 802 2019 nest total: 3,956 2019 emerged hatchlings: 258,270 20

Southern Tides Magazine

July 2020

Ken’s Seafood Support Your Local Seafood Industry!

Left: A clutch of eggs on St. Simons Island. The eggs have a soft, leathery texture. Photo courtesy of St. Simons Island Sea Turtle Project Right: A volunteer measures a female loggerhead on Tybee Island Photo courtesy of Tybee Sea Turtle Project

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We’re working for you! • Protects, defends and restores the watershed by monitoring pollution and polluters. • Talks with legislators about bills that could better protect the watershed.

This turtle has injuries consistent with a boat propeller strike, including the loss of most of her back right flipper. She was witnessed returning to the water by Mark Dodd, GADNR, on Ossabaw Island in early June. He found evidence of five attempts to dig a nest, each without success due to her missing flipper. Please watch carefully as you operate boats in our tidal estuaries. Photo by Mark Dodd, GADNR

www.seaturtle.org/nestdb July 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

• The 14,000 miles of the Altamaha watershed includes Ocmulgee, Oconee, Ohopee and the Golden Isles.

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The BitterEnd

background is in visual arts, both in still photography and video production. This accident has forced me to learn to become more dependent on my left hand. From the way I hold cameras, even to the way I use a computer for fine editing in programs like Photoshop and video editing software. Not an easy task. So, allow me to iterate this to all of you: while boating is a pleasurable and fun activity, it comes with certain elements of risk and hazard. Even simple things like minor cuts becoming infected with marine bacteria and potentially being catastrophic or even fatal. Treat all cuts as a major event, use peroxide and antiseptics, and keep your tetanus shots current. When docking, stay focused on the task at hand, there will be plenty of time for BS-ing and beer once the boat is secure. NEVER, make a jump from the boat to the dock. I see this so often and have seen it turn nasty. I remember a Force Recon buddy of mine who made a leap of about six or seven feet from a sailboat once. His foot and leg went through the dock and the board snapped, resulting in a near broken leg. I’ve seen people miss the dock and end up in the water between boat and dock, which luckily did not result in major injuries, but easily could have. Please remember, if you are helping tie up a line and you are injured, you are no longer capable of giving assistance – instead you’ve become a liability. Back to the injury. I had an awesome surgeon, Dr. Daniel Most, and a great therapy team: Hollis, Amy, Sylvia, and Craig, who have worked with me to regain the use and strength of my hand, Kudos to the team at Memorial Hand Therapy. I have returned to work doing what I love, running boats and helping tourists make memories. Know this: Adversity does not define who we are, we define who we are through adversity. I'll see you on the water — be safe out there!

Living Left-handed in a Right-handed World By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill

Peace and love, shrimp and grits ... and wash your hands!

ou’re probably looking at the title of this month’s Bitter End and wondering, “Where the heck is this going?” Well, prepare to head down the rabbit hole with the ol’ Gator. Sometimes things happen that change our lives forever, and recently one of these happened to me. This day was May 17, 2020, and although your first thought might be COVID-19, this was not the case. But it did happen right after returning to work after the shutdown. During a routine morning I had just docked Monster, the tour boat I operate, when we had another boat in our fleet come in. On this particular day, the tide and wind were running contrary to one another, as is sometimes the case here in the lowcountry, and these conditions pushed the boat sideways into the corner of the dock. All hands moved to assist the vessel. (I should also note that the boats we operate are all 40- to 50-feet or more.) I was at the end of the dock pushing the bow out, and the next thing I knew, my hand was caught between the rub rail and a piling. Needless to say, soft squishy parts should never be in this location, and it resulted in my right index finger being crushed. Which, a few hours later, resulted in the amputation of said finger. For years, and to this day, I’ve preach boat safety. Especially two specific things: Be careful jumping off the boat to tie up, and don’t get caught between the boat and the dock. Somehow, I find it ironic that I am the one this happened to. But, as I have stated many times to mates, things happen in the blink of an eye. Take your mind off what you’re doing for one second and your life can be forever changed. Any idea how many times a day you use your index finger? Never having counted, me neither, but I’ll tell you, it’s a bunch. For those who do not know me personally, part of my

Photos by Captain Gator

Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com 22

Southern Tides Magazine

July 2020

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