Coastal Conservation League Spring 2024

SPRING 2024

35 years of striving to protect the South Carolina coast

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

COVER & BACK PAGE IMAGE:

Sullivan’s Island from the sky

CONTENT & DESIGN:

Lily Abromeit and Emmi Palenbaum

Headquarters

131 Spring Street Charleston, SC 29403

843.723.8035

GrowFood Carolina

1814 Harmon Street Charleston, SC 29405

843.727.0091

Columbia Field Office

1122 Lady Street Suite 705 Columbia, SC 29201

North Coast Field Office

301 Allied Drive

Coastal Science Center #160E Conway, SC 29526

843.349.4089

South Coast Field Office

1212 King Street Beaufort, SC 29902

The Staff

Executive

Faith Rivers James, Executive Director

Renee Elek, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

Communications

Lily Abromeit, Director of Communications & Public Relations

Emmi Palenbaum, Communications Manager

Darienne Jordan, Marketing & Events Coordinator

Leslie Bogstad, CRM Administrator

Conservation Programs

Emily Cedzo, Director of Conservation Programs & Policy

Merrill McGregor, Director of Government Relations

Rachel Hawes, Coastal Stewardship & Engagement Manager

Riley Egger, Land, Water & Wildlife Program Director

Brooke Blosser, Land, Water & Wildlife Project Manager

Robby Maynor, Communities & Transportation Program Director

Emma Berry, Communities & Transportation Project Manager

Jessie White, South Coast Office Director

Grant McClure, South Coast Project Manager

Becky Ryon, North Coast Office Director

Trapper Fowler, North Coast Project Manager

GrowFood Carolina Program

Benton Montgomery, Director of GrowFood Carolina

Becca Watson, Farm Outreach Manager

Rebekah Spaid, Farm Outreach Coordinator

Deirdre Tanner, Supply Chain Manager

Anna Ware, Sales & Marketing Director

Alexander Keesler, Sales & Marketing Assistant

Austin Lucas, GrowFood Carolina Program Coordinator

Paul Haire, Warehouse Operations Manager

Shawn Parks, Driver & Warehouse Associate

Matt Mays, Driver & Warehouse Associate

Michael Albin, Driver & Warehouse Associate

Mike Barrett, Driver & Warehouse Associate

Brett Hayes, Driver & Warehouse Associate

Development

Nancy Appel, Development Director

Amy Carter, Assistant Director of Development

Kati McArdle, Grants & Donor Communications Manager

Amy Meola, Annual Giving Manager

Administration

Jamie Roschal, Office Administrator Offices

843.522.1800

Elizabeth Gibson, Human Resources Director

Mike Mistler, Controller

Margaret Stanley, Accountant

Jill Sonka, Accounts Payable Specialist

SINCE 1989

Friends,

This year marks a major milestone anniversary for the Coastal Conservation League. This fall, we will celebrate 35 years of connecting with community members and partners to achieve incredible outcomes for our wildlife; 35 years of prioritizing the health of our coastal plain; and 35 years of advocating for more resilient practices to keep nature and community in balance.

In the beginning, our mission to protect the coastal plain started largely with attention to land use and the undeniable interdependence between communities and our environment.

This is still true—possibly now more than ever—and as development pressures have intensified over the years and demands on the land have changed, our response has thoughtfully followed.

35 years of keeping nature & community in balance

Our coast is constantly facing ever more pressures. A changing climate—paired with a rapidly growing population and increasing development pressures—leads to additional pollutants in our waterways, threats to our marshes and wetlands, decreasing habitat for our wildlife, and challenges for people who call the coastal plain home.

With your support and engagement, our conservation community has achieved a great deal over the last three and a half decades. We are excited to take some time this year to reflect and contemplate the path forward.

While much has changed over the years, we are proud that the same key principles established in 1989 guide us now: listening to our land and to our people, collaborating in partnerships toward collective goals, and keeping front of mind the bigger picture of the future of our coast.

We have an extremely solid foundation to build upon and will continue to advocate for preserving and protecting our invaluable coast. Reflecting on this lasting legacy is inspiring, and we owe much of this success to all of you: our partners and supporters who feel as

passionately about this work as we do.

Thank you for the advocacy, passion, and dedication you have shown to protecting our coast and continue to show to this day.

As we all know, there is still more to be done! In these pages, you’ll read updates on projects we are currently working on, and ways you can continue to learn more and stay engaged.

I look forward to continuing to build on the momentum sustained over these years, forming additional partnerships, and advocating alongside you to protect our coast.

In solidarity,

Faith Rivers James, Executive Director

IN OUR PAST

Keep an eye out for the “In Our Past” boxes throughout these pages for brief glimpses at the foundation of work we continue to build upon.

Capers Island Heritage Preserve / J. Henry Fair & SouthWings

The beauty of Lewis Ocean Bay

We are one step closer to saving Lewis Ocean Bay. On February 20, Horry County Council voted to defer the Conway Medical Center (CMC) rezoning for six months to give CMC time to discuss selling the property to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). While the fight isn’t over, this does put us one step closer to a conservation outcome. We are encouraged by this step, but look forward to a future where the land is owned by SCDNR.

Conservation League staff have been working alongside partners for over two and a half years to advocate for a conservation outcome for this land. One of our strongest partners in this effort is climate activist and Charleston-based artist Mary Edna Fraser.

This summer, Mary Edna spent time out at Lewis Ocean Bay, painting the preserve. She used her time there to encourage others to stand up for the nature preserve by signing a petition asking CMC to find a different site for their proposed hospital—one that isn’t directly adjacent to a heritage preserve.

Hospitals do not belong near a place reliant on prescribed burning to thrive. Siting the hospital here would limit the SCDNR and South Carolina Forestry Commission in their prescribed burning capabilities. Prescribed fires at Lewis Ocean Bay, which are also called controlled burns, are critical for the conservation of this natural treasure. These fires mimic historical lightning-ignited fires and remove shrubby vegetation build-up so that rare plants, like the Venus flytrap, can thrive. Prescribed burning is also essential in managing wildfire risk for the surrounding communities.

IN OUR PAST

Having a deep understanding of what makes our coastal ecosystems unique and functioning is critical to our work. This is why the Conservation League supported a prescribed fire bill that was enacted in 2012, which helps support places like Lewis Ocean Bay.

Watch Mary Edna Fraser paint among the plants.

Take action!

Sign a petition calling for the protection of Lewis Ocean Bay.

Mary Edna Fraser painting at Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve / Mary Edna Fraser

Road projects in our backyards and on the ballot

Decisions around unnecessary and overpriced South Carolina road projects are looming. Three major proposed highway projects continue to pose threats to the health of communities and natural resources along the South Carolina coast: the Mark Clark/I-526 Extension in Charleston County, the I-73 Extension, and the SC Highway 22 Extension (formerly known as the Southern Evacuation Lifeline), both in Horry County. This summer and fall, Conservation League staff will work to continue to advocate against these harmful road projects.

A BAD DEAL FOR CHARLESTON COUNTY TAXPAYERS

Over the years, I-526 has remained at the top of the Conservation League’s priorities. The extension would expand the existing interstate through multiple communities in West Ashley, along the edge of Johns Island, and across James Island, terminating on Calhoun Street on the Peninsula.

This outdated, overpriced, and unnecessary project would destroy 30 acres of wetlands, 20 acres of James Island County Park, and displace dozens of homes and businesses along the route. The project would have particularly severe impacts on historic African American settlement communities such as Ferguson Village and Cross-Cut on James Island. It would also escalate rural gentrification on Johns Island, 80% of which remains rural today, despite increased development along the Maybank Highway Corridor. To make things even worse, the cost has ballooned to $2.3 billion, over 80% of which would fall on taxpayers in Charleston County through a proposed sales tax referendum planned for November, draining critical funding away from other more pressing priorities throughout the county.

IN OUR PAST

The Conservation League has been challenging road projects in favor of optimal conservation outcomes since the beginning. For example, in 1996, after extensive community involvement and advocacy by the Conservation League against the road expansion on St. Helena Island, the Hwy. 21 widening project was defeated.

IN THE NORTH COAST: FIX IT FIRST, DON’T MAKE IT WORSE

The Conservation League has advocated against I-73 and the SC Highway 22 Extension for decades. The negative effects from these costly and unnecessary highways would be permanent and far-reaching. The proposed routes would destroy hundreds of acres of protected wetlands in the Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve and Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. It would also cut through farmland in Dillon, Marion and Horry counties, and through communities like Bucksport and Burgess, compounding with existing flooding issues.

Horry County is discussing a referendum for a 25-year transportation tax to be on the ballot in November. This would raise $2 billion in sales tax revenue, with the bulk of funds going towards new roads instead of improving existing roads that are in need of repair.

This winter, Conservation League staff worked with partners to host multiple meetings to help community members understand the risks and problematic details associated with these projects, and encourage them to speak out. Community members submitted comments raising their concerns, but despite public input, the sales tax commission is planning to keep these controversial projects on the list to submit to Horry County Council for their review in May.

The proposed I-526 Extension route would cut through the Stono River and Johns Island marshland / Robby Maynor

Price Inlet with Bulls Island to the left and Capers Island to the right / J. Henry Fair & SouthWings

Columbia to the coast: our work at the Statehouse

The second regular session of the 125th South Carolina General Assembly began on January 9 with lightning speed. Our team has been busy at the Statehouse advocating for renewable energy, clean water, land protection, and thoughtful management of our shoreline.

So far, during this legislative session, our staff have testified on several bills and regulations impacting the coast and quality of life in South Carolina, including energy and coastal management.

BUILDING THE CLEAN ENERGY GRID OF THE FUTURE

Energy is a major focus this session with lawmakers seeking to find compromise between stakeholders on several issues including market reform, competitive procurement targets, energy efficiency, and reform of the Public Service Commission. Simultaneously, the General Assembly is working quickly to find solutions to meet anticipated electricity needs stemming from projected industrial growth.

Unfortunately for our environment and rural communities, one way that legislators and utilities would like to increase electric generation is by significantly expanding natural gas capacity across the state. A massive natural gas plant has been proposed at a former coal-fired power plant in Canadys along the Edisto River, bringing with it the potential for pipeline impacts through the ACE Basin or agricultural lands in Aiken County. The Conservation League will remain vehemently opposed to any legislation that would greenlight this project and potentially harm some of our state’s most significant natural resources.

ADVOCATING FOR THOUGHTFUL COASTAL MANAGEMENT

After our staff served on the SC Beach Preservation Work Group in 2022, the Department of Health and Environmental Control drafted new regulations to support the state’s policy of beach preservation. The Conservation League is working with partners to support the passage of these regulations that provide clarity in how the state manages our beaches. As climate impacts intensify and become more frequent, it is essential that the state has clear and enforceable regulations that protect our beaches in a way that provides for continued public access and wildlife habitat, both of which are threatened by attempts to hard armor the coast with seawalls.

Until session adjourns on May 9, the Conservation League team will be hard at work supporting these measures and other issues including signage for permitted pollutant discharge, wetlands protections, annexation reform, and additional funding for conservation and state agencies.

Protecting our Grand Trees

Grand trees are a defining cultural feature of much of our coast, having characterized our communities for centuries, while providing countless benefits.

Trees build resilience in the face of climate change, increased urban development, and flooding. Mature ones provide shade with their extensive canopies that cool us and our homes on hot summer days. Their root systems stretch underground and soak up excess water from heavy rains and flooding events. Their strong root systems also hold soil together and curb erosion. Trees offset carbon emissions, breathe in carbon dioxide, and breathe out oxygen, providing humans and animals with clean air.

Conservation League staff work continuously with multiple communities across the coast to protect these precious resources.

PORT ROYAL

Last spring, the Port Royal Town Council passed a new tree ordinance designed to protect a healthy and sustainable tree canopy. Port Royal’s new tree standards incentivize the preservation of trees rather than allowing for folks to pay the removal fee. When siting new development, priority must be given to retaining and replanting trees. Paying into the town’s tree fund is a last resort and carries a meaningful increase in fees. This fall, the Beaufort County Rural and Critical Lands program acquired the Cherry Hill Oak property in Port Royal, home to the oldest and largest tree in Beaufort County. Plans for a dense development near its roots could have compromised its integrity. Thanks to determined community members, this monumental tree will be protected.

CHARLESTON COUNTY

Over the past few months, our beloved grand trees along the roadways of Charleston County have been under threat. In October, Charleston County Public Works requested a full exemption from the tree protection and preservation ordinance for tree removals in county-led road and drainage projects. This exemption would eliminate independent oversight, public input, and mitigation from the tree removal process for Public Works. The Conservation League raised these concerns, and thousands of Charlestonians leant their voices to the trees, expressing opposition to these amendments. On third and final reading, Charleston County voted to include a dedicated public hearing for tree removal requests and require new trees to be planted as close to the site as possible for mitigation when tree removals are granted. This compromise shows the power of the public voice. During this lengthy process, it has become clear that these amendments are being made to clear the way for major new road projects, including the widening of Bohicket Road (Main Road Segment C) and construction of the I-526/Mark Clark Extension, which would impact trees along River Road and Riverland Drive. We must remain vigilant and scrutinize all county road project proposals to ensure impacts to trees (along with wetlands and communities) are avoided whenever possible.

GEORGETOWN COUNTY AND PAWLEYS ISLAND

This fall, Georgetown County Council passed amendments to their existing tree ordinance, increasing fees for the unlawful removal of protected trees, holding building permits when the ordinance is violated, and added longleaf pines to the list of protected trees on the Waccamaw Neck. Previously, the fee for violating the ordinance was only $500 per tree, even for a 42-inch live oak. The new amendment raised the fee to $500 per inch. And, building permits on that parcel will be held for up to two years. The Town of Pawleys Island also recently took steps to strengthen remedies for the unauthorized removal of protected trees, making established trees very costly to cut down.

HORRY COUNTY

In May, Horry County passed an update to the tree preservation ordinance that specifically added protections for specimen live oaks. Putting a hold on building permits for removing live oaks without a permit will serve as a deterrent to those who illegally clear lots in preparation for sale or development.

IN OUR PAST

Advocating for policies that support the resiliency of communities well into the future has consistently been a pillar of our work.

In 1990, the Conservation League helped to block the removal of the Bohicket Road tree canopy.

In 2013, our staff contributed to the defeat of the Angel Oak development, leading to its permanent protection.

Trees covering a neighborhood road on James Island / Rachel Hawes

Left page: Spanish moss-covered oak in Beaufort / Lily Abromeit

Sandscraping on Seabrook: A short-term response to a long-term problem

In November, the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, on behalf of the Conservation League, filed a Request for Contested Case in Administrative Law Court asking for a decision allowing a sand scraping project on Seabrook Island to be overturned.

The beach on Seabrook has experienced erosion for years, and multiple short-term projects to combat erosion have taken place. But sand scraping projects—disruptively excavating sand and transferring it to a different location—are shortterm responses and disturb beach habitat critical for coastal birds.

Sand scraping is an engineering technique that takes sand from one part of the beach and redistributes it. This artificially disrupts the beach and dune sediment and, as a result, the long-term resilience of the beach.

In 2023, Seabrook Island Property Owners Association received approval for a permit for a sand scraping project to periodically mine sand from the beach between central Seabrook Island and Captain Sams Inlet and transfer the sand further south near Seabrook Island Beach Club.

This is a short-sighted, short-term response and would set a dangerous precedent for approving temporary solutions to long-term beach erosion challenges.

Seabrook is also an integral part of a critical habitat complex for migratory shorebirds, like Piping Plovers, Wilson’s Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and Least Terns, all of which are “species of concern” in South Carolina. This habitat is considered critical to them, as they feed on the intertidal flats that would be mined. The KiawahSeabrook Island Complex is also a major stopover site for the Rufa Red Knot, a federally threatened species that performs one of the longest known migrations every year, stopping to rest at sites along the Atlantic Coast.

Our request to overturn the decision of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management implores them to consider the impacts of this project on current habitat and future projects.

Seabrook Island’s beach / Google Earth

Asking for review of septic on the coast

In real-time, we are seeing a triple threat of existing septic tank pollution damaging coastal communities, the worsening of coastal flooding events due to sea level rise, and extreme weather events. In addition, large-scale developments that are dependent on conventional septic tank systems are being approved near sensitive areas.

In late 2022, the Conservation League and Charleston Waterkeeper, represented by the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, filed an action in state court to require the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to review all septic permits for consistency with the Coastal Management Program, and to publicly notice septic system applications and permits in the coastal zone. This will ensure these important long-term decisions are being made transparently.

While this case is pending, we asked the court to prohibit DHEC from issuing septic permits for dense developments in the coastal zone. The court did not

IN OUR PAST

IN OUR PAST

In 1990, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge was nominated for an Outstanding Resource Water classification, something that still comes into play today in relation to development near the refuge.

enjoin these activities while our case is pending, but given the gravity of the potential harm to our waterways, we have asked the court to reconsider.

At the same time, our organizations have appealed DHEC’s recent staff decision to issue 44 individual septic tank permits for the White Tract Development in Awendaw. The White Tract is within the boundaries of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and adjacent to the Francis Marion National Forest. We have requested that DHEC’s Board review these permits.

Navigating the complexities of septic-dependent developments in the coastal zone is critical to understanding how the growth of our communities–and how we choose to use the land to accommodate that growth–impacts the natural world.

The Food & Agriculture program was launched in 2007 with the goal of protecting our state’s family farms. Soon, it became obvious that a food hub was critical to this work, and GrowFood Carolina was launched in 2011.

A new season for GrowFood

In October, Benton Montgomery became the new Director of GrowFood Carolina.

Benton joined GrowFood in 2011 as part of the original team to launch the food hub. He’s since coordinated a virtual taste test program with South Carolina students, executed a healthy food distribution and nutrition program with families enrolled in Charleston County Head Start Early Education Centers, and developed a routing plan to incorporate five new markets.

As Director of GrowFood, Benton will lead strategic direction and continue to advance opportunities with local growers, partners and customers.

Partner Highlight: The South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement Program

The Conservation League has been fortunate to support and partner with the South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement (SCORE) program on many volunteer events consistently over the last five years. We have engaged over 400 community members in picking litter out of recycled oyster shells, bagging oyster shell, constructing manufactured wire reefs, and building oyster reefs all over the coast from Hilton Head Island to Conway. Staff have also worked with SCORE to amplify the importance of recycling shells through city and county proclamations and connecting with restaurants.

SCORE is a SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)-sponsored program focused on improving our state’s natural resources through the creation or enhancement of oyster and marsh habitat. Community involvement in this program is crucial to their success. Partnerships also make a difference in growing the program, particularly through volunteer opportunities.

Reefs constructed in partnership with SCORE since 2020 support approximately 2,678,000 oysters and protect 625 linear feet of shoreline in the Charleston Harbor, Murrells Inlet and Beaufort.

In December 2022, the Conservation League, the SCDNR SCORE program, and other partners were awarded nearly $1.2 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund for large-scale oyster restoration approximately 3.2 acres—around the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island over the next four years. Since then, the team has hosted nearly two dozen volunteer events in partnership with SCORE up and down the coastline.

Oyster reef build on Shutes Folly / Rachel Hawes

Opposing mining around critical areas & community spaces

There are over 500 active mines in South Carolina, and sand is the most commonly extracted material. Over 20% of all of South Carolina’s mines are in Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley Counties. Horry County alone has 56 mines.

Sand is a necessary resource used for manufacturing and development, but we don’t know the longterm and cumulative effects mining has on our environment. It also has significant impacts on the communities surrounding the site. Where and how we mine is crucial to get right in order to balance growth with these impacts.

LOFTON ROAD MINE

A proposed sand mine near the intersection of Highway 17 and Lofton Road has the potential to adversely affect the environment, as well as disrupt the rural, agricultural, and community aesthetic of the McClellanville area. Blessing Investments, LLC attempted to receive a special exemption to establish a mine site, only 900 feet from Saint James-Santee Elementary-Middle School. The Charleston County Board of Zoning Appeals denied their request, and Blessing Investments sued the Board over the denial. The South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP), on behalf of the Conservation League and Friends of Coastal South Carolina, filed a motion to intervene and the court granted intervention in December 2023. This will allow our groups to protect our members’ interests in this action.

IN OUR PAST

In 2017, Berkeley County’s Huger residents began opposing an ill-conceived sand mine in their community. For years, the Conservation League stood alongside Huger residents to fight back and reached a legal agreement in 2021 to provide concessions to the residents after hard-fought, community-driven advocacy.

EDGE ROAD MINE

In June 2023, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control approved a permit application by Soilutions, LLC to operate a mine at Edge Road on the border of Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve. This decision is extremely concerning, as it would have serious impacts on the hydrology of Lewis Ocean Bay, habitat for Venus flytraps and amphibians that require specific moisture levels to survive. If the wetland vegetation and soils dry out, it could also increase the risk of wildfire and make maintaining the habitat through necessary prescribed burns more challenging. On behalf of the Conservation League, SCELP filed a motion to appeal to the Mining Council and in March 2024, an agreement was reached to set special conditions for monitoring the site and limiting the impacts to neighboring residents.

WEST COX FERRY ROAD MINE

A mine operating permit application for West Cox Ferry Road Sand Mine was withdrawn on March 11: a major win for the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. Moss Park Partners II, LLC withdrew its permit application to mine nearly 5 acres of sand and clay in Conway. This mine would have been surrounded by the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge on three sides, impacting water quality and potentially resulting in increased polluted stormwater runoff, reduced ecosystem services, and reduced flood mitigation potential. It was yet another example of a mine on the edge of conservation land that is supposed to be protected in perpetuity.

Old Gillard Mine in Berkeley County, South Carolina

History of giving: a legacy in the making

KIM AND PATRICIA REED

Stuart “Kim” Reed and wife Pat of Myrtle Beach made their first contribution of $30 to the Conservation League in 1996 and continued with annual support in the following years.

In January 2016, Kim sent a note saying he and his wife were considering a gift to the Conservation League in their wills. Kim said at the time that making a planned gift “sounded like something we would do” and that they would be happy to become members of the Coastal Legacy Society in recognition of their plans. In 2022, a portion of the proceeds from Kim and Pat’s estate were donated to the Conservation League.

Their gift will be used to expand the Conservation League’s impact across the South Carolina coast in the coming years, an enduring conservation legacy for the Reeds.

Join the Coastal Legacy Society

The Coastal Legacy Society recognizes individuals and families who have included the Conservation League in their estate plans. By naming the Coastal Conservation League in your estate plans as a direct or contingent beneficiary of specific assets, a portion of your estate, or your residual estate, you can help ensure we have the resources to continue this work.

Join this special group of dedicated conservationists by creating a gift that will protect South Carolina’s landscapes, wildlife, and quality of life forever. For more information, contact Amy Carter, Assistant Director of Development, at amyc@scccl.org.

Become a Coastal GEM

Our Coastal GEMs (Giving Every Month) are a community of reliable, engaged, and compassionate conservation stewards who provide year-round sustaining support for our programs. Giving monthly allows donors to achieve significant conservation impacts through regular, automated contributions. It’s a hassle-free way to protect the health of our coastal ecosystems and communities all year long.

GEMs receive a photo like the one above, taken by staff or members, every month in their inbox as part of our Photo of the Month series!

To donate directly, scan the QR code or visit coastalconservationleague.org/ways-to-give

A tricolored Heron at Caw Caw Interpretive Center / Amy Meola

Conservation-minded fishing tips

Spring and summer in the Lowcountry bring warmer weather, bigger tides, and a chance to chase after redfish in the high marsh. Around full and new moons, opportunistic redfish will swim onto the spartina grass flats that are only flooded for a small period of time. From April through the fall, redfish take advantage of these aptly-named “flood tides” in our estuaries to feast on crabs and shrimp. You might even see a redfish “tailing,” when a fish’s tail tips up out of the water. While redfish can be caught from Maryland to Texas, targeting tailing redfish on flood tides is unique to the Lowcountry. Nothing gets an angler’s heart racing quite like seeing that familiar tail crest out of the water—except for maybe making the perfect cast and catching the fish!

Before you head out there, take note of these conservation-minded fishing tips by South Coast Project Manager Grant McClure. Happy casting!

Acquire a fishing license and make sure it is up to date and on your person before heading out on the water.

Visit your local tackle shop and make sure you are outfitted with the proper gear to quickly land fish. A prolonged fight will stress the fish out!

The slime on fish’s skin is a protective layer which blocks parasites and disease. When practicing catch and release, remove gloves and wet your hands before you touch a fish to avoid damaging this important mucus.

Hold fish horizontally (not vertically!), grasping the tail and supporting the head. And keep your fingers out of the gills.

Practice catch and release techniques and only take what you need.

Recycle monofilament line at a nearby recycling station.

Keep fish wet for as long as possible. Consider taking a photo of the fish while it is still in the water.

Replace treble hooks on lures with single hooks. Treble hooks are often unnecessary and can be difficult to remove from a fish’s mouth—and your skin!

Use an inline or nonoffset circle hook. Circle hooks are effective and almost always hook fish in the corner of the mouth. This helps to protect fish from being “gut-hooked,” which causes higher mortality.

If a fish is “gut-hooked,” it’s best to cut your line instead of trying to pull it out. Over time, fish can pass or dislodge hooks.

If you plan to harvest fish, always reference SCDNR’s regulations for each species. It is also wise to check for fish consumption advisories!

Fishing on the Sea Islands / Andy Johnson, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Coastal Conservation League works to protect the health of the natural resources of the South Carolina coastal plain and ensure a high quality of life for all of the people who live in and love this special place.