Tyler Dominey Metal Art
Sea Turtle Moments
Lowcountry Oyster Farming
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ow! The response to our first issue was overwhelmingly positive! Thank you so much for reading, and for taking the time to call and email your congratulations and thoughts! We love hearing that we’ve provided you, our readers, with information and material you’ve enjoyed. I hope you find the same level of satisfaction with this issue, and that you continue to reach out to me, and to our writers, to share your views. To make that easier for you, our Facebook page is up and active. We’ve “liked” our advertiser’s pages and those of the organizations who contribute and share a similar mission of promoting education, research and conservation of our local waters. We’ve also gotten our first review this month – four stars! Please visit us and our friends, post a review, read content that we didn’t have room for, check out events going on in the area, and more. And please share interesting things that you come across as well. Catch a record fish? Post a photo on our page. Rescue a sea critter? Tell the story. Have an event coming up that would be of interest to our readers? Post it on our page. Also this month, we’ve added an online “flip book” to our web page. Yes, the rest of the page is … well, it lacks oomph, but a full scale site is being designed. In the meantime, please share the digital issue with friends and use it yourself when you can’t get your hands on the hard copy. I’d also like to note that all links to websites and email addresses, including those of our advertisers, are live and active, so please click through to our advertiser’s websites. This second issue has been fun! Following last month’s
article with Kelley Luikey and her amazing photography, this month we’re featuring Tyler Dominey’s beautiful depictions of sea life and other local flora and fauna, sculpted in metal. It seems we have an artist series in the making, so if you know of other artists in the region who focus on water-related works, please bring them to our attention. And we have turtles! Lots of turtles! I have to say there are worse ways to spend time than poring over dozens of baby turtles pictures. It’s a rough job, but someone’s gotta’ do it. The articles included in this feature represent just a few of the area’s nesting programs, and since there are still active nests, look for periodic updates in the coming months, both here and on Facebook. The part of my job I love most is being outside, learning something new about our local flora and fauna by actually seeing it, smelling it, and touching it with my own hands. This month I went on my first adventure with the magazine and visited Lady’s Island Oyster farm where I learned about both the business and the science of farming oysters. I could have filled twice the pages, so we’ll continue next month with more on the topic. October and November are exciting months in our region. Great fishing, events every weekend, cooler weather, oyster roasts, extreme tides, bird migrations, each day is new and fresh with something different and interesting. Get outside and enjoy some adventures of your own!
Amy Thurman Editor in Chief
SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015
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Contributors
Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill is a born Virginian but claims to be a native of Savannah by osmosis. Captain Gator is an avid naturalist and historian; he describes himself as one part story teller, one part educator, and one part entertainer. In his free time he manages Bull River Marina.
Dorothy Ingram and her husband moved to the South Carolina lowcountry from Atlanta three years ago. She volunteers her time both as a team leader with the Hunting Island Sea Turtle Conservation Project and as a member of the Friends of Hunting Island communications team, serving as the managing editor of the Loggerhead Log and Caretta’s Corner. Ingram is a Master Naturalist and holds multiple degrees.
Kelley Luikey is a photographer, teacher, and naturalist. As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and adventure lover she is on (or under) the water with her camera as often as possible. Through her work, she hopes to inspire in others a love and appreciation of the beauty of the Lowcountry. Find her work in downtown Beaufort at 208 West Street or visit her website www. naturemuseimagery. com.
Breanna Ondich is a park ranger at Jekyll Island State Park. She has worked with the Jekyll Island Authority - Georgia Sea Turtle Center since 2011, conducting applied wildlife research and education. She is also a wildlife and nature photographer.
Cody Shelley is the communications director for Tybee Island Marine Science Center. She works with incoming groups and island visitors to promote conservation and stewardship of coastal Georgia. She is originally from Atlanta but now lives in Savannah with her wife and their many pets.
Michael Sullivan has been the external affairs manager at the UG Skidaway Institute of Oceanography for more than 10 years and is responsible for communications, public relations and governmental relations. Sullivan is a graduate of the University of Florida. He and his wife live on Wilmington Island in Savannah.
Publisher/Editor – Amy Thurman Creative Director – Bridgette Thurman Distribution – James Riley Contributing Writers/Photographers Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill Dorothy Ingram Kelley Luikey Breanna Ondich Cody Shelley Michael Sullivan
Copyright © 2015 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, SC. Mailed subscriptions are available – call or email for details. PO Box 30724 Wilmington Island, GA 31410 (912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com www.SouthernTidesMagazine.com Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/southern-tides-magazine
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SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015
CONTENTS
08 14 21
Check out this month’s featured artist Tyler Dominey and his beautiful metal creations.
As nesting season comes to a close, three area nesting programs share some special moments.
Learn about the benefits, and the science, of oyster farming with Lady’s Island Oysters and May River Oyster Company.
also in this issue 03 06 12 21 21 26 28 29 30
Editor’s Note Marine Science Day Community Updates Shellfish Season Opens Did You Know? Wood Stork Band Reporting Calendar of Events Save the Date Breathe In, Breathe Out This page photo courtesy of SC DNR.
About the Cover – A leatherback making her way back out to sea near the Tybee pier. Photo by Chelsea Spaulding. Southern Tides offers sincere apologies to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, and our readers, for the misspelling of “Gray’s” in two spots in the September 2015 issue. Deadline stress and late-night spellcheck oversight were the cause. And thank you for not bombarding us with emails pointing out our mistake!
Marine Science Day
at Skidaway Institue By Michael Sullivan
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diversification and elevate one of Georgia’s best-kept culinary secrets from the backyard roast to the tables of the finest restaurants from Savannah to Atlanta and beyond. The hatchery tour is just one feature of a lengthy program of activities, displays and tours making the annual event a popular family event that close-up look at Georgia’s first attracts thousands of visitors each year. oyster hatchery will be one of the featured attractions The UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography’s 92-foot, ocean-going, at Skidaway Marine Science Day Research Vessel Savannah will be open on Saturday, October 24. The tours and will exhibit science displays. The following organizations will for campus-wide open house will be Elsewhere on campus, Skidaway Institute will be participating in the event: held from noon to 4 p.m. on the present a variety of marine science exhibits University of Georgia’s Skidaway and hands-on science activities, including the Youth for a Cleaner Island campus, located on the GA DNR-Coastal Resources Division ever popular Microbe Hunt and Plankton The Dolphin Project Environment north end of the island. Sink-Off. Skidaway Institute scientists will The Nature Conservancy The oyster research team Savannah Wildlife Refuge present a series of short, informal talks and Friends of the Wildlife will provide behind-the-scenes Georgia Sea Turtle Center question-and-answer sessions on current Refuge tours of the new hatchery, which Tybee Marine Science Center scientific and environmental issues. Long Term Ecological is a project of the UGA Marine The Nature Conservancy The UGA Aquarium, operated by UGA Research (LTER) Sapelo Extension’s Shellfish Laboratory Skidaway Island State Park Marine Extension, will be open to visitors The Georgia Conservancy and Georgia Sea Grant, units GA DNR - Law Enforcement with no admission fee. Aquarium educators Savannah State University Caretta Project of UGA Public Service and will offer visitors an afternoon full of activities Tybee 4-H Outreach. It is hoped the Armstrong State University including a hands-on reptile exhibit, behindDiamondback Terrapin Project Savannah Tree Foundation oyster hatchery will make the the-scenes peeks of the aquarium, fish feedings, Georgia Power Georgia oyster industry more UGA Oysters Research and microscope investigations. A brand new durable, contribute to aquaculture touch tank exhibit will allow guests of all ages 6
SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015
Left: UGA Shellfish Laboratory director Tom Bliss (right) examines bags of oysters in the grow-out phase in Wassaw Sound with clam farmer John Pelli. Photo by Mike Sullivan Right: Two young visitors encounter a baby alligator. Photo provided by UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography.
to get up close and personal with common coastal invertebrates. Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary will offer visitors the experience of using the tools of the trade. They can explore an underwater reef with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and find out how youth can participate in Savannah’s own MATE ROV competition. ROVs are underwater robots used on NOAA research vessels worldwide and are crucial for data collection in marine environments. Visitors can also visualize themselves SCUBA diving at Gray’s Reef with a photo booth and post their pictures on social media. Along with the campus organizations, Skidaway Marine Science Day will also include displays, demonstrations and activities from a wide range of science, environmental and education groups, such as The Dolphin Project, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, The Nature Conservancy, and others. Georgia Power will also be on hand to provide information on the upcoming wind turbine project planned for the Skidaway Institute campus. All activities at Skidaway Marine Science Day are free. For additional information, call 912-598-2325 or 912-598-2355, or visit www.skio.uga.edu.
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Sea Life in Metal with Tyler Dominey By Amy Thurman
Metal as art? Absolutely, in the talented hands of Tyler Dominey. What started as a hobby 17 years ago has grown into a viable portion of the family business and his creations are on display in over 25 galleries and shops from New Jersey to Key West, Florida. When he bought the business from his father two years ago, he added “Metal Art� to the name and upgraded the process he uses to cut the designs. 8
SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015
and
I n the beginning, he drew his designs on metal with a marker and cut them by hand with a gas torch. In time he upgraded to a hand-held plasma torch which allowed him to be more concise. Today, he draws the designs on a computer, enters the size and number to be cut, the designs are cut on a computerized plasma-cam
But it isn’t just about the bottom line, of course. “I’m thinking about the future,” Dominey said with a smile, “and I can see myself doing this full-time when I retire. Working in flip flops, you know?” He goes on to add, “Someone once said if you enjoy what you do, you won’t work a day in your life. That’s the truth.” SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015
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system. This gives more consistency to the cut pieces and allows him to produce more in a shorter period of time. It also keep costs down so his pieces are more affordable than one might expect, with even larger pieces going for less than $200.00. But cutting metal is only the first step in the process. The art of it comes from shaping the pieces, grinding them to bring out both smooth and textured surfaces, and bringing out color in the metal, making each piece unique. “It’s raw,” Dominey explains, speaking of the finished pieces. Smooth surfaces with rough edges, light and shadow displayed through texture, and shades of blue, green, gold and red that are not painted on, but brought out of the metal by heat. Each color is a result of heat being applied at varying temperatures and for varying lengths of exposure.
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Dominey’s pieces range from small single sea creatures a n d scenic settings, ianches in diameter, to larger settings and individual flora and fauna, such as a four foot sea turtle (his biggest seller) or the “shadow box” design of an underwater setting. With the scenic pieces, he credits his understanding of composition to studying fine art in galleries. “Like if I have a turtle swimming up instead of down, it gives a more positive impression,” he said. Why sea life? “I love the water, everything about it. I’ve scuba-dived since I was 12, I love to surf, sail, fish. I’ve always been drawn to the beauty of sea life and to the beauty of our coast. I love it here. I love the water. There’s beauty and mystery underwater that just captures me.” http://www.domineymetalart.com/
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Community Updates Sea Kayak Races Raised $10K for Marine Science Center
SC Shrimp-baiting Season Opened September 11
Despite overcast skies and sprinkles of rain, 68 hardy souls participated in the 17th Annual Tybee Island Sea Kayak Races. Some said the cloud cover kept the temperatures low which was more pleasant than the scorching sun of last year’s races. Race Director, Debbie Kearney, was simply thankful there was no lightning and that so many came out to support the races, including a multitude of volunteers. This year’s event raised approximately $10,000 for the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. After the races, more fun came in the form of the awards ceremony, with the many door prizes donated by generous sponsors, and the camaraderie of kayakers, supporters, and volunteers. Afterward, Kearney was already talking about next year’s races scheduled for September 17, 2016. For a complete list of winners, visit Southern Tides on Facebook!
Recreational shrimpers who purchase a shrimp-baiting license can legally cast their nets for shrimp over bait during this season, which will remain open until noon Tuesday, Nov. 10. After a strong spring spawn and a season of good environmental conditions, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR) biologists are optimistic about the Casting for shrimp. Photo by Debo Boddiford. fall shrimp season. “Our crustacean monitoring trips this summer have indicated good numbers of white shrimp in estuarine waters,” said Mel Bell, director of SC DNR’s Office of Fisheries Management. Resident licenses cost $25, and non-resident licenses cost $500. Licenses may be applied for online https://dnrlicensing.sc.gov/ or by phone (1-866-714-3611). Catch limit is 48 quarts of shrimp measured heads-on (or 29 quarts heads-off) per boat or set of poles per day, and each boat is limited to a set of 10 poles. When taking shrimp over bait, no cast net may be used having a mesh smaller than one half-inch square measure or one-inch stretch measure.
Ahoy Watermen – Information and Artifacts Needed The Richmond Hill History Museum is currently going through a major revitalization project. While the museum focuses on the history of Bryan Neck (lower Bryan County), Richmond Hill and Henry Ford, we also need to include the maritime history of the area. The theme of the Richmond Hill Historical Society is “A River Through History,” though unfortunately the museum has very little information and no artifacts about the shrimp, crab and oyster fisheries. We are in need of photographs (digital preferred), stories and articles, a Turtle Excluder Device (TED), oyster tongs, old oyster rakes, wire crab traps, hoop nets, a model shrimp boat (or contact information for someone who could build one), and any other tools or artifacts related to these maritime industries from the 1800s through the 1960s. If you have any of these items, or information, please contact Peach Hubbard (912) 657-3927 gadolphin@comcast.net.
Area Riverkeepers Receive National Award On Saturday, September 19, Georgia River Network (GRN) presented an award for Watershed Group of the Year 2015 to Georgia Riverkeepers for their work fighting the Palmetto Pipeline. Every year at Weekend for Rivers at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell, GA, GRN hosts their annual conference and celebration of rivers. As members of Push Back the Pipeline Coalition, the Savannah, Ogeechee, Altamaha and Satilla Riverkeepers were recognized for their rapid response and leadership in stopping the largest pipeline company in the world, Kinder Morgan, from seizing private property with the heavy-handed tool of eminent domain, in order to put a pipeline through Georgia’s coast, providing nothing for L to R: Gwyneth Moody with Georgia River coastal communities. “The coalition Network, Mary Freund with Satilla Riverkeeper, includes many other vital partners in Jen Hilburn, Altamaha Riverkeeper, and Tonya this process and we couldn’t have done Bonitatibus, Savannah Riverkeeper, Emily this without communities willing to Markestyn, Ogeechee Riverkeeper. Photo speak up,” said Jen Hilburn, Altamaha provided by Altamaha Riverkeeper. Riverkeeper. To learn more, visit www. pushbackthepipeline.com.
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Talking Trash on Blackbeard On September 19, thirty-seven volunteers with the non-profit organization Clean Coast cleaned an estimated 600 pounds of trash from 3.5 miles of the natural, undeveloped beach on Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge. Plastic debris floats on ocean currents and washes up on remote beaches worldwide. Throughout the year Clean Coast visits Georgia’s barrier island beaches and coastal marshlands to remove some of the debris which mars the beauty of this mostly wild and wonderful coast. If you’d like to help, visit www.cleancoast.org.
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898-1550 6 a.m to 4 p.m Closed Mondays Clean Coast volunteer Britta D’Angelo at work on Blackbeard. Photo courtesy of Clean Coast.
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It was a banner year for nesting turtles along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts. Numbers are still being tallied for nest and hatchling totals, but it seems nesting is on the rise all along the coast. This is due, in part, to the tireless volunteer efforts of turtle program members. Some special moments and rare events are shared here by contributors representing programs on Hunting Island, Jekyll Island, and Tybee Island, along with amazing images by photographers Carl Berube, Kelley Luikey, Chelsea Spaulding, and others.
Loggerhead hatchling on Hunting Island headed to sea. Photo by Kelley Luikey
Left: Loggerhead hatchling. Bottom: Volunteers build ramps around Buddy’s Folly. Photo by Chris Crosley.
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Hunting Island – A Season to Remember
By Dorothy Ingram
ocated between Port Royal Sound to the south and St. Helena Sound to the north, Hunting Island is a pristine, dynamic barrier island, characterized by dense maritime forests, salt water lagoons, and marshes. Its four miles of beach constitute a prime loggerhead sea turtle nesting area, patrolled at dawn every day from May 1 until the end of sea turtle nesting season by the volunteers of the Hunting Island Sea Turtle Conservation Project. At least one major surprise, a remarkable event, and an important initiative marked the 2015 season on Hunting Island, where we located and protected 82 sea turtle nests in 2015. The major surprise took place on June 5, when a set of loggerhead tracks was discovered leading up the beach on the north end of the island, over the highest dune, across the back of the dune field, and eventually over another dune to the south and back into the ocean. Her tracks suggested that the mother turtle, who laid her nest at the landward base of the first dune, then spent perhaps four or five hours trying to find her way back to the point of entry. An object of great concern on the part of volunteers, the in situ nest was checked daily throughout the next few weeks for predation. In fact, when the anticipated time of emergence approached, volunteers built a series of ramps from the nest up and over the dune, designed to lead hatchlings in the direction of the ocean. Dubbed “Buddy’s Folly,” after one of our permit holders, the ramp wasn’t entirely necessary. Surprisingly, the nest hatched on July 30, and a myriad of hatchling tracks led directly back over the dune, bypassing the ramps in places, fanning out over the beach and into the ocean, with no signs whatsoever of misorientation. The 133-egg clutch had a hatch rate of 90% and an emergence rate
of just under 73%, as a few predators did take advantage of an easy meal, and a few hatchlings could not endure the herculean trek over the dunes to the ocean. However, if anyone doubts the ability of a loggerhead hatchling to locate the ocean, this nest provides abundant evidence of the power of natural instinct. A remarkable event took place on June 7, when a leatherback sea turtle laid a nest on Hunting Island, the first of such nests since 2011. Leatherback nests in South Carolina are rare, occurring perhaps once or twice a year in the entire state, and the previous nest on our beach had produced only two hatchlings, with no visible signs of the emergence or of the hatchlings. On August 10, the 2015 leatherback nest hatched, and when it was inventoried three days later, the hatch rate was found to be 26% and the emergence rate was nearly 20%, a terrific success rate for a leatherback nest in South Carolina. The inventory was well attended by excited sea turtle volunteers from Hunting Island and neighboring Fripp Island, who thrilled to the sudden appearance at the end of the inventory of a live leatherback hatchling trapped in dune grass at the bottom of the nest. It was released into the ocean amid a cheering throng and became, that evening, perhaps the most photographed animal in Beaufort County. Finally, the season’s important new initiative was inspired by recent research
Left: Hunting Island leatherback hatchling making its way to the ocean. Photo by Carl Berube. Right: Green sea turtle tracks have a symmetrical pattern since they pull themselves across the sand with both left and right flippers in unison, unlike loggerhead sea turtles, which crawl with alternating strokes, creating an asymmetrical pattern. Photo courtesy of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
indicating that virtually all stranded sea turtle hatchlings, and virtually 50% of all sea turtles worldwide, have ingested land-based plastics … anything from tiny shards of plastic that lacerate the digestive system, to plastic bags that fill the turtle’s intestine, to microplastics that degrade in sunlight amid the Sargasso sea and float below the surface of the water, poisoning marine life with toxins. Determined to do what we can to stop the plastic pollution of our oceans at its source, we declared a “war on plastics” during our daily patrols, which have always included trash pick-up as a part of our duties. First, we ceased collecting beach trash in single use plastic bags and instead turned dozens of donated tee shirts into “tee bags,” reusable cotton sacks that can be used to collect trash, then be washed and re-used. Second, we joined the Southeast Atlantic Marine Debris Initiative, partnering with NOAA, Georgia, North Carolina, and other coastal communities in South Carolina, by logging in the trash we’ve been collecting into the Marine Debris Tracker (MDT) app, available as a free smart phone download. The MDT allows us to place a name, number, and location on garbage that invades our beaches, leading, hopefully, to improved education of the general public. We are grateful to Dr. Christine Crosley, DVM; Buddy Lawrence, permit holder for FOHI and South Carolina DNR Nest Protection Volunteer of the year; Denise Parsick, President of FOHI; and Megan Stegmeir, permit holder for the park, for their dedication and leadership of the Hunting Island Sea Turtle Conservation Project.
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Green Sea Turtle Nests on Jekyll Island
By Breanna Ondich
eptember 2 was a cloudy, gray morning as the sea turtle patrol team at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) on Jekyll Island, Ga., set out to check on the remaining 30 loggerhead sea turtle nests left incubating on the beach. The morning was typical of late-hatching season, until the team came upon a pair of enormous fresh sea turtle tracks leading straight from the sea, up into the sand dunes, and back again. Prior to this, the latest recorded date of fresh sea turtle tracks on the Island was August 21, since nesting sea turtles began being studied on Jekyll in 1958. The coast of Georgia is home to five of the seven sea turtle species in the world today, only four of which have been seen nesting. The most common sea turtle to nest in Georgia is the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Less commonly seen are the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the world’s largest sea turtle, and the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), more typically seen in tropical waters. The rarest nester of all is the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), with only two documented cases on record in the state. The sea turtle tracks on September 2 led to a large, freshly dug crater, high in the dunes, which is very uncharacteristic of loggerheads. As this indicated the turtle had laid a nest, the patrol team called for assistance to locate the eggs. The track also created a pattern in the sand that was symmetrical in nature, along with a continuous drag mark down the center, marked with small indentations from the tail poking the sand. This track was not made by a loggerhead sea turtle, but in fact by a green sea turtle. The last time Jekyll Island had a nest laid by a green sea turtle was in 2007, the very first year that the GSTC opened its doors to the public. There is very little historical data on green turtle nesting in SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015 17
Georgia. The oldest record available that holds any confidence is from the summer of 1979: “One of the high points of the [1979] season was the arrival of a female green turtle (Chelonia mydas) on the night of 26 June. She was untagged, so we could not determine where she was from; we did tag her with Jekyll tags, however, and it will be interesting to see where she next nests. She laid 115 eggs …” (McNamara et al., 1979 unpublished report). Green sea turtles are far more common in the state of Florida, and have recently broken nesting records again in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, near Melbourne, FL, with well over 12,000 nests this year. “Thirty years ago, fewer than 50 green turtle nests were laid in any given season within the stretch of beach that [University of Central Florida] UCF monitored.” (Mansfield, 2015 email communication). Records have also been broken by loggerhead sea turtles in the state of Georgia, with 2,297 nests. Loggerhead and green sea turtle populations appear to be showing an increasing trend in the Atlantic Ocean overall. The green sea turtle nest (#160) on Jekyll Island is expected to incubate into the month of November, so the GSTC team will continue to diligently monitor it each day until it shows signs that hatchling sea turtles have emerged. Support for the research conducted on Jekyll Island’s sea turtle nesting beach largely comes from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, AmeriCorps, the Jekyll Island Foundation, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Applied Wildlife Conservation Lab. If you would like to help support sea turtle nesting research, donate, volunteer, sponsor a nest, and/or participate in one of our exciting summer beach programs, visit www.gstc. jekyllisland.com.
Rare Leatherback Visits Tybee Island
O
By Cody Shelley
n May 21st, 2015, Tybee Island Sea Turtle Project (STP) dawn patrol volunteers discovered a rare, adult, female, leatherback sea turtle on the beach near the pier. Project coordinator Tammy Smith, along with the volunteers and City of Tybee Island public works staff, took measurements, checked for her tag, and kept the area clear of beach visitors so the turtle 18
could return to the ocean. She was the first leatherback spotted on Tybee in 11 years and was tagged on Wassaw Island in 2011. Since sea turtles don’t reach reproductive maturity until they’re about 30 years old, we know that she’s at least 35, but likely older. This leatherback did not nest on Tybee, but did leave a body pit that suggested might have, so volunteers monitored the site for signs of life throughout the summer. On July 4th, STP volunteers on dawn patrol spotted a disturbance at the potential leatherback nest site. Unknown offenders had removed the stakes and sea turtle caution tape from the nest site and used them to rope off their pile of chairs, trash, and beach gear. Citations were issued for debris on the beach that morning, but Tybee Island Police Department had no suspects for the actual nest interference. The Marine Science Center staff and STP volunteers were extremely proud of the community response, which included many furious defenders of sea turtle conservation.
SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015
Leatherbacks are the largest species of sea turtle, weighing up to 2000 pounds. Their primary source of sustenance are sea jellies – they have special adaptions in their throats called papillae that move even venomous jellies safely to their bellies. Leatherbacks can eat their weight in sea jellies every day. Nesting moms lay several nests per summer, each with about 100 eggs, before taking a couple summers off. These turtles have a soft, leathery carapace which distinguishes them from other species of sea turtle. Marine debris (human trash) is the biggest threat to their survival; all sea turtle species are endangered and federally protected in the U.S. Tybee Island finished the 2015 sea turtle nesting season with ten loggerhead sea turtle nests. The loggerhead is our hometown Tybee hero and our record number of nests was 23 in 2012. www.seaturtle.org is a fantastic resource for up-todate nesting stats. The Tybee Sea Turtle Project is a conservation program of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center and member of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative. Project volunteers protect the island’s nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings by monitoring sea turtle activity. During the nesting season, May 1 to October 31, volunteer cooperators conduct daily dawn patrols (6:00 a.m.) along the beach. The patrol consists of walking the entire three miles of Tybee’s beaches and looking for evidence of sea turtle activity. When a viable nest is confirmed, it is roped off and posted.
Left Top: This green sea turtle was encountered by the Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Patrol Team in 2007. Sea turtles are sensitive to white light and flash photography is allowed under research permit only. Photo courtesy of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Left Bottom: You can sponsor sea turtle nests on Jekyll Island by purchasing a Nest Tracker package! Visit http://gstc.jekyllisland.tcom/support-us/nesttrackers to learn more. Photo courtesy of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Right Top: Monitoring her progress without interferring, (L to R) Kristin Penney , Tybee Island STP volunteer, Emily Baker, Marine Science Educator with Tybee Island Marine Science Center, and Tammy Smith, STP Coordinator. Photo by Chelsea Spaulding.
The average length of incubation is 60 days, so observation of the nests becomes a part of the daily dawn patrol. As a nest’s hatching time approaches, cooperators are assigned to “nest sit” during the night until that nest has hatched. When a nest hatches, the hatchling number is estimated by the number of tracks from the nest to the ocean. Five days after the hatch, the nests are excavated and egg shells are counted to determine the number of eggs laid, and of those laid, how many actually hatched. Nesting data is reported to the GA DNR.
SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015 19
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Did You Know? That horseshoe crabs have blue blood?
• Scientific name: Limulus polyphemus • Their blood is copper-based, unlike ours which is
Shellfish Season Opens Georgia commercial and recreational oyster harvest opens Thursday, October 1, at 7:00 a.m. For more information on recreational harvest and maps of public harvest areas, visit http:// coastalgadnr.org/maps. South Carolina commercial and recreational shellfish harvest opens one half hour before official sunrise on October 1. For licensing and additional information, please visit http://www.dnr.sc.gov/
iron-based • More closely related to arachnids than crabs or crustaceans • Their tales aren’t used to sting, but to flip themselves upright • Horseshoe crab fossils have been found dating back nearly 450 million years with very few changes from how they look today Horseshoe crabs have a compound in their blood that binds to fungi, viruses and bacterial endotoxins. This compound has made their blood invaluable to the medical industry and it is now used worldwide in testing for bacterial contamination. Fortunately, the crabs are not harmed in the process of being so beneficial to humans – after capture and their blood is drawn, they’re returned to the wild.
Shellfish Safety Tips
Here are a few things to remember or look for when buying oysters, clams, or mussels from seafood dealers and markets. •Only buy fresh in-shell oysters, clams, or mussels from a licensed retail or wholesale seafood dealer that has product properly tagged with a harvest location, dealer name and date. Likewise, when buying in-shell processed or shucked oysters, clams, or mussels ensure that the product has been processed by a certified dealer with the name, address, and dealer certificate number on the tag or label. •Also, only buy shellfish that have been refrigerated or iced at 45⁰ F or less. •Shellfish should never be consumed raw by individuals that have a compromised immune system such as diabetes, liver disease, cancer, and other disorders. •Risk of illness from consuming shellfish can be significantly reduced if the product is thoroughly cooked. Horseshoe image by John “Crawfish” Crawford.
SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015 21
F
Oyster Farming – A Sustainable Resource
armed fish and seafood get a lot of bad press these days, largely due to health issues posed by products imported from countries with little or no oversight or regulations in the farming process. And while a lot of that bad press is well-deserved for imports, the same can’t be said of aquaculture in the U.S. In fact, the benefits of farmed seafood, such as oysters, have a positive impact on the environment, the economy, and individual health. South Carolina oyster farmers Jared Mayhew, of May River Oyster Company, in Bluffton, and Frank Roberts, of Lady’s Island Oysters, in Seabrook, provided insight and information into this growing industry. An industry that stems directly from a need for conservation practices to prevent overcultivation of wild oyster stocks. The process begins with seed oysters, young oysters approximately 22
By Amy Thurman
Oyster seeds that will grown into May River Oysters. Photo by Mike Ledford Photography, used with permission.
six to eight weeks old, placed in mesh bags, which are contained in metal cages, then placed in creeks and rivers within the tidal range, which is the oyster’s natural habitat. Over a period of about ten months, the oysters are transferred periodically to bags with larger mesh, until reaching maturity. Safer from predators, such as boring sponges and crabs, than their wild cousins, and without the growth constrictions of having to cluster to survive, the survival rate of farmed oysters is significantly higher than in the wild. One half of one percent of wild oysters survive the larvae stage, compared to a full six percent survival rate of farmed oysters. After the oyster larvae set (adhere to a small sliver of ground oyster shell), the survival odds increase. “We only lose about 15% after they set,” Roberts said. The loss can go as high as 90% in the wild. Given that a single oyster can produce over 100 million unfertilized eggs in a single spawning, this equates to significant increases in the oyster population with farming. While it’s true that these farmed oysters will eventually make their way to our tables, the process is still highly beneficial to the environment. Filter feeders, including clams and mussels, are critical to the health of our coastal waters; a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day. “Shellfish aquaculture operations, such as the farms in South Carolina, can serve to improve water quality by helping to control phytoplankton and remove suspended solids from the water column,” said Dr. Peter Kingsley-Smith, a marine scientist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR). “Furthermore, by consuming algae, oysters have been shown to reduce nitrogen levels and may therefore play an important role in addressing eutrophication, or excess nutrients in the water that can lead to unwanted algal blooms.” Mayhew adds, “Oysters are filter feeders but they don’t actually consume pollutants.
SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015
To purchase locally farmed oysters:
Lady’s Island Oysters 35 Hutson Lane Seabrook, SC (843) 473-5018 www.singleladyoysters.com Visit them at the Port Royal Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings! May River Oyster Company Call for delivery or appointment (843) 384-2922 www.mayriveroyster.com 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Daily They’ll form a mucus around any pollutants and other harmful stuff, and eject it back into the water. This mucus falls to the bottom and is consumed by smaller organisms that don’t live higher in the water column.” Wild oyster rakes and the cages used with oyster farming also provide habitat for smaller marine life and feeding grounds for fish and crabs, offering prime fishing spots for local fisherman. In addition, farmed oysters take pressure off the wild stock, preventing over-harvesting, and allowing wild oyster rakes to continue to grow, thereby adding stability against erosion to water bottoms and estuary shorelines. This sustainable resource in turn has a positive impact on the economy. Oyster sales to restaurants and individual consumers is on the rise, as is the sale of seed oysters to other farmers in the southern states. “We’ve increased production 30-40% every year,” said Roberts, “and we’re selling everything we produce.” But what about the health benefits to humans? Unlike much imported seafood, which is often farmed in polluted ponds and fed a diet with growth and preservative additives, locally farmed oysters have the same diet as their wild cousins, with no additives, and live in their natural habitat. What you get when you open the shell is 100% natural. And you can’t beat ‘em for necessary nutrition. “Eating two oysters gives you all the minerals and nutrients you need for the day,” said Roberts, with a chuckle. To which Mayhew adds, laughing, “Frank says two oysters? I say four!” Roberts counters with, “Then make it a dozen!” Loaded with Omega 3 fatty acids and zinc, they’re also excellent sources of protein, calcium, iron, and Vitamins B and C. The body absorbs these nutrients at a far higher rate when consumed naturally than when taking as a supplement. Some studies have also shown that eating oysters raises HDLs (good cholesterol) and lowers LDLs (the bad stuff). Consider the oyster nature’s way of giving you something good for you that actually tastes good, too! “There’s a social aspect to consider, as well,” Roberts adds. “Oysters are part of our heritage here, whether you’re eating them or harvesting them. This industry is helping to keep these traditions alive.” Next month, look for more on oyster farming, including the harvest process for both farmed and wild oysters, Georgia’s steps toward oyster aquaculture, understanding the dangers of V.vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus bacteria, and more.
Top: Oyster larvae are monitored closely as they set, attaching to finely ground oyster shell grains, which will give them the start they need to begin growing their shells. Photo by Amy Thurman. Middle: Finely ground oyster shells used to set larvae. Photo by Amy Thurman Bottom: Jared Mayhew checking oyster cages. Photo by Mike Ledford Photography, used with permission.
A dventure Log - O yster F arming
By Amy Thurman
I arrived at Lady’s Island Oyster Farm on a breezy and overcast Friday afternoon, to snap a few photos for the oyster farming article. It had crossed my mind that I might write some sort of sidebar on the owner, Frank Roberts, to go along with the article, maybe a short profile piece or something. And in all honesty, after a hectic week of meetings, ad sales calls, tracking down information, and entirely too much time in front of a computer, it was also an excuse to spend a few hours doing something fun. I had no idea I was in for a lot more. The setting was, in part, familiar: huge live oaks bordering marsh grass, with the occasional driftwood trunk adding texture,
a dock running out over the river, gulls swooping and laughing, and the earthy and soothing scent of pluff mud that eases tension in the shoulders better than any massage. But there were a few distinguishing and less-familiar features as well, such as the cement-block former juke joint that’s being restored and given new life as a seafood shack, and the remnants of pilings from a dock that used to serve rum runners during Prohibition. (I love a place with a colorful history; this adds a bit of swagger to its step. Come to think of it, I enjoy people like that too.) Other distinguishing features were the hatchery shed and nursery station, where Lady’s Island Oysters, known as “Single Ladies,” get their start in this world, and where Frank started me in my education of lowcountry oysters. It all begins with a boy and a girl. Or in this case, a boy and five girls. After determining gender, a single male oyster and five females are isolated in a tub of river water at the appropriate temperature to trigger spawning, and can produce over 100 million fertilized larvae.
This setup begins at the same time oysters naturally spawn in the wild, usually beginning in April and ending in the fall. After careful monitoring and critical maintenance for 19 to 21 days, the larvae reach “setting” age, attaching to grains of finely ground oyster shell, roughly their same size, of approximately 100 microns. Using a dropper, Frank placed some in a small dish and we looked at them with a microscope. Round, amber-colored, with a small dark “eye,” and a valve that resembled a tiny tadpole, this microscopic oyster was attached to a sliver of shell – as I watched, it flexed, opening and closing, the movement that will one day open and close its shell as it filters nutrients.
Above: These baskets of Lady’s Island oysters were returned to the river until they’re ready to harvest. Photo by Amy Thurman.
Over the course of about four weeks, the oysters grow to around 1000 microns and are transitioned from hatchery to the nursery station in mesh-bottomed containers called silos. As the oysters grow, they’re moved to silos with a wider mesh. When they’re large enough to be transferred into mesh bags, they’re moved to the river. As the oysters grow, they’re periodically rotated into bags with larger mesh, until they reach the perfect size of three inches, at which point, they’re ready to be delivered to restaurants. Wild oysters take about three years to reach the 3-inch size preferred by restaurants for easy consumption and attractive plating. Roberts and his crew have reduced this time, with their farmed oysters, to ten months. After the nursery, we walked down to the dock where Brian Cabral and Julie Davis, who handle the harvesting side of the operation, had brought in a load of oysters to change bags, which
gave us the opportunity to take a look at the end of the process: fully grown oysters. I have never seen prettier, more perfectly formed oysters, anywhere! Each oyster had a deep, rounded “cup,” (the bottom shell of the oyster) caused by the rolling action of the water and freedom of movement. In the wild, oysters cluster together which impacts their shape. In mesh bags, their growth isn’t impeded by surrounding objects, allowing them to develop more fully. Frank demonstrated how to properly open an oyster (see the video on our Facebook page), then handed it to me. Though the government agencies regulating that sort of thing frown on him letting folks sample oysters straight off the boat while standing on the dock, it was obvious just from the fresh appearance and sweet, clean scent how tasty they would be. “You’ll have to come back in a week or two when we can let you taste them!” Frank said. Count on it. In addition to selling fully grown oysters to restaurants, Lady’s Island Oyster Farm also sells seed oysters to other oyster farmers in South and North Carolina. When I asked about competition with other oyster growers, Julie explained that it really isn’t about that. “It’s like wine. People have different tastes and prefer wines from different regions. Oysters are the same – what we grow here has a distinctly different flavor than oysters from the gulf or the Chesapeake, or even May River. It comes down to what the individual prefers.” “It’s like kissing the sea on the lips,” Frank said, quoting Parisian poet Léon-Paul Farque, speaking of his love for oysters. And it most certainly is. I look forward to going back for a visit and learning more about this amazing process with Frank and his crew. And to have a plate of oysters, of course! So look for another article next month on the harvest process for both his farmed oysters and their wild cousins. Top: Inspecting oysters, (L to R) Frank Roberts, Julie Davis, and Brian Cabral. Right: Frill, the white rim around the edge, indicates new, healthy, growth on this Single Lady oyster. Photos by Amy Thurman.
Young Masters A love for oystering runs in the family. Frank Roberts’ family settled in Maryland, near the Chesapeake, in the 1700s and his cousin still runs the family farm there today. Farming and oystering were big parts of Frank’s childhood. “Oystering was just what you did there.” Today, Frank’s children are carrying on the family tradition. Son Christopher, 11, and daughter Kaitlyn, 13, have both started their own spawns and are seeing them through to maturity, which will significantly assist their college funds. Then Kaitlyn took things a step
further. When a scientist studying which algae strains produced the best oysters had to halt his research, Kaitlyn took over the project herself. After conducting careful research, with Christopher assisting with feeding and tank cleaning, she was able to determine which strain of algae produced the best oysters and documented her work. Her results are being presented at Aquaculture 2016, in Las Vegas – billed as the largest aquaculture conference in the world. “And she can use her paper and research for her master’s thesis when she gets older!” Franks said, with the grin of a rightfully proud dad. SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015 25
SC DNR Asks Public to Report Sightings of Banded Wood Storks
D
uring 2015, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR) banded 59 wood stork chicks with field-readable bands, bringing the total number of wood stork nestlings banded in South Carolina to 202. The bands are orange with black numbers and are placed on the upper right leg, though several other color combinations are being used for other projects. Researchers throughout the southeast are banding storks as part of a collaborative project to learn more about their movements, demography, and longevity. “Last fall, while I was at an impoundment managed by DNR I resighted a wood stork with a faded yellow band. I learned that it had been banded 20 years ago in Georgia and was one of the oldest wood storks that have been recorded,” said Christy Hand,SC DNR Wildlife Biologist. The banded chicks have fledged (learned to fly) and are dispersing as they search for food. Young storks are vulnerable to starvation as they learn to feed themselves efficiently, so it is particularly important not to disturb groups of wading birds that are feeding in impoundments during the fall. Please do not disturb birds to read band codes. If you see wood storks, you can check to see if they have bands by looking at their upper legs. Some storks have multiple bands, but typically only one of the bands has a code made up of numbers and/ or letters. If you see a banded stork, you can contribute to this project by recording the following information: 1) color of band, 2) color of engraved code, 3) code, 4) location of band on stork – which leg, 5) color and location of any additional bands or transmitter on stork, 6) location where stork is located. Please report any sightings of banded wading birds to SC DNR at wadingbirds@dnr.sc.gov and also to the bird banding lab at www.pwrc. usgs.gov (use the search feature for bird banding lab) or 1-800-327BAND. We often can provide information about where and when the bird was banded. Satellite transmitters are also being used by researchers to answer Left: Juvenile wood storks in the nest. Photo courtesy of SC DNR. Right: Note band on left leg of the wood stork on the right. Photo courtesy of SC DNR. Bottom: Wood storks feeding. Photo by Kelley Luikey
a variety of management questions about wood storks. Nine wood storks were outfitted with transmitters at the Washo Reserve in South Carolina last year. This telemetry project is a collaborative effort let by University of Florida and Savannah River Ecology Lab biologists. “In addition to the storks that nest in South Carolina, many storks that nest in other states visit South Carolina during the fall to feed,” said Hand. “Storks are regularly seen throughout the lowcountry, sometimes in large groups. Storks are also occasionally seen farther inland.” For more information about storks and other wading birds in South Carolina, please visit http://www.dnr. sc.gov/wildlife/species/wadingbirds/.
Calendar of Events:
03 8-11 09 10 10 10
21st Annual CoastFest hosted by the GA DNR Coastal Resources Division, Brunswick, GA. Over 80 environmental, education, and research exhibitors from around the Southeast, entertainment and hands-on fun for all ages. Visit http:// coastalgadnr.org/ CoastFest for more information and directions.
11th Annual Tybee Island Pirate Fest. Swashbucklers, wenches, and scallywags of all ages will converge on Tybee Island for a fun-filled weekend to include a Pirate’s Ball, live music, costume contest, rides, and more. Visit www. TybeePirateFest.com Arrgghh!
24 31 Isle of Hope Art and Music Fest – Isle of Hope, GA. Great live local music, art, food, and more. For more information, look for Isle of Hope Art Music Fest on Facebook.
Night on the Sound – hosted by the Port Royal Sound Foundation, Maritime Center, Lemon Island, SC. The evening will include featured speaker Philippe Cousteau, grandson of famed ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, a seated dinner, cocktails, a silent auction, and live entertainment. To purchase tickets visit www. portroyalsoundfoundation. org or call (843) 645-7774.
Paddle the Savannah River with Swampgirls Paddle Club. A six-mile paddle with the current along the border of the Savannah Wildlife Refuge, beginning at Millstone Landing at 9:00 a.m. Loaner kayaks first come first serve. For more information call or email Linda Etchells (843) 247-9191 swampchicks@ aol.com
3rd Annual Riverkeeper Rendezvous with the Altamaha Riverkeeper, Macon, GA. Celebrate an elegant evening on the Ocmulgee River featuring a lowcountry boil, music, and silent auction. $50 donation requested. Please call Altamaha Riverkeeper for more information 478-845-5370.
Hayners Creek River’s Alive Clean-up, with City of Savannah and Clean Coast. Hayners Creek accumulates large amounts of trash from storm runoff. Use your own canoe or kayak or one of the boats provided. For more information visit www. CleanCoast.org/ calendar.html
National Wildlife Refuge Week – Visit by Land. Explore Savannah Wildlife Refuge with activities that include hikes, workshops, crafts, and more. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 694 Beech Hill Lane, Hardeeville, SC. Visit www.fws. gov/refuge/ savannah, or call (843) 7842468 for more information.
Ongoing Ongoing Classrooms on a Boat with Captain Amber of Marshland Adventures, Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center. 1st and 3rd Saturdays, October and November. Explore the lowcountry by water on a fun, learning cruise. Trips depart at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. Reservations required, call (843) 645-7774.
Gatorology 101, an all things alligator class. Join Jekyll Island wildlife researchers for this handson experience and learn about the American alligator. Tuesdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. at the Skeet House on Jekyll Island. For tickets or more information visit arestravel. com/6178_attraction-tickets_ a1303.html or call (877) 4-Jekyll
Ongoing Ongoing
From Bankers to Presidents, the Galletini Exhibit at Ships of the Sea Museum. The late Captain Joseph Galletini, of Wilmington Island, carved ship models for presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy. The John F. Kennedy model and other selected works will be on display through December 31. Visit the museum at 41 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Savannah. For more information, visit shipsofthesea.org or call (912) 232-1511.
Tuesday Talks, hosted by the Port Royal Sound Foundation, Beaufort, SC. Every Tuesday, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Enjoy learning with local naturalists, educators, authors, and more in these informal and fun sessions. Visit www. portroyalsoundfoundation.org/ calendar/ for more information on speakers and tickets, or call (843) 645-7774.
October
11 16-18 17 18 24
National Wildlife Refuge Week – Visit by Water. Enjoy a narrated tour aboard the Georgia Queen Riverboat, up the Savannah River and into the Savannah Wildlife Refuge. Lunch Buffet available. Board at noon, cruise sails from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For ticket prices and more information visit www. savannahriverboat. com or call (800) 7866404.
Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival, Richmond Hill, GA. Live music (including Joe Nichols), great seafood, arts and crafts, and fun activities for all ages. Visit www. GoSeafoodFestival. com for more information.
Rivers Alive Clean-up hosted by the Savannah Riverkeeper, Lake Olmstead, Augusta, GA. 9:00 a.m. to noon. Lunch provided and all volunteers will receive a free t-shirt! Visit www. savannahriverkeeper. org for more information.
Shark Tooth Fossil Hunt – North Beach, Tybee Island – A Shark Tooth Fairy Approved Event! Kids ages 2 – 12 will hunt for prehistoric shark’s teeth while benefiting Tybee Island Marine Science Center. For more information, visit Tybee Island Kids Shark Tooth/ Fossil Hunt on Facebook.
Skidaway Marine Science Day – Skidaway Island, GA. Noon to 4:00 p.m. Learn about our coastal environment in a fun family atmosphere! See page 6 for more information.
save the date: november 07 07 07 07 14
Savannah Riverkeeper Roast (see promo on page 31) Dolphin Survey with The Dolphin Project (register five weeks prior!) www.TheDolphinProject.org Altamaha Riverkeeper Clam Jam (478) 845-5370 Southern Tides Launch Party, Morningstar Marina, Brunswick (more information coming soon!) Catch of the Day – Oysters, UGA MAREX Aquarium Program (912) 598-2496
Photo by Kelley Luikey, Nature Muse Imagery.
B reathe In, B reathe Out
By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill
On a quiet morning, one can almost hear the steady respiration of the marsh; it’s long slow exhalation, a pause, and then a deep inhalation as life giving oxygen fills the deepest recesses of this wonderland. I’ve often used this analogy as way to teach people about my adopted home here in the lowcountry. Our salt marsh is as much a living creature as you or me and requires the same things to thrive that most living things do. On my nature and eco tours I often ask those in the group, “What is the first thing we need to sustain life?” I get answers like food, water and other things that do help sustain life. But the first and foremost thing we need is oxygen – we need to breathe. The marsh has its own respiration, albeit, a bit more slowly than ours, breathing in and out two complete times in just over 24 hours. In the same way we take in oxygen and move it, and other important nutrients, through the body via a series arteries and capillaries, the same process is repeated within the marsh. Large arteries (our large rivers) and smaller arteries (creeks and small rivers), and an abundance of capillaries such as all the unnamed tidal creeks that reach deep within the marsh, flood the march on incoming tides and drain the marsh as tides recede. In the human body, capillaries make the exchange from oxygen rich to oxygen poor blood, but just as importantly nutrients, vitamins and other important chemicals are transferred throughout the system. This also happen in the marsh with these daily tidal fluctuations. Where do these nutrients and vitamins come from, you may wonder? Our coastal region contains millions of acres of salt water marsh, much of which is densely populated with Spartina
alterniflora, or as we affectionately call it, marsh grass. This smooth cord grass is the breadbasket of the lowcountry, providing millions of metric tons of detritus that forms the first link of the intricate food web. Each year sees a new crop of Spartina in the early spring as fresh green shoots usher in our annual rebirth cycle. As spring gives way to summer, it grows at an astounding rate, reaching heights of four to seven feet in just months. As the end of summer approaches the plant flowers, and from then it’s a matter of weeks until fall steals the last bit of life from this all important plant. As months pass, what was once a verdant landscape is now replaced by dry and brittle brown stalks. But don’t be sad; this is when the magic really begins. Wind, sun and wave action over the next year break this plant down and tides carry it through our waterways. We see huge racks of marsh grass on the water after the spring tides, but the real magic is in the quiet tidal pools where the plant breaks down slowly, creating a rich organic soup. This organic soup is eaten by single cell organisms, which are in turn eaten by the itty-bittys: baby shrimp and fishes, turning the inner marsh into a huge nursery. These itty-bittys are in turn preyed upon by other fishes and birds and so on. But so much soup is created that the marsh can’t consume it all so the rest is either carried to the ocean to nourish others in the food chain, or returns to the soil to nourish it as well. This is the outgoing respiration. Then it’s time for inhalation and, just as in the human body, the incoming breath carries oxygen the marsh desperately needs. So a symbiotic relationship exists between the ocean and the marsh, each giving and receiving in kind. As any organism feeds and grows, it ages. A simple look in the mirror confirms that – I no longer see the youthful face staring out at me that once did. Likewise, in the nearly two decades I’ve lived here, many changes have occurred in the face of the marsh as well. Look at Williamson Island at the mouth of the Wilmington River, for example, which is now little more than a sandbar. And just as the marsh can age, it can also prematurely die. It’s up to us to be the stewards of our precious marsh, to protect and to pass down to the generations to come after us.
SouthernTidesMagazine.com October 2015 31
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