Community Updates

Ken’s Seafood

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Tue - Thu 12-6 Fri - Sat 10-6 Sun 11-5 9270 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill

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Shorebirds Reminder

Least tern chicks on a Georgia beach. Photo provided by GADNR

Beach-bound this summer? Keep an eye out for birds.

Georgia’s beaches are not only vacation destinations, they’re top spots for nesting shorebirds and seabirds and for migrating species feeding on flights to the Arctic.

American oystercatchers, Wilson’s plovers and least terns use sites such as Little Tybee Island, St. Catherines Island bar, Cumberland Island and Jekyll Island's southern end. Among other species, black skimmers, royal and sandwich terns, brown pelicans, and gull-billed terns also nest on Georgia beaches and sandbars.

When these birds are nesting, human disturbance poses a significant threat. Shorebirds and seabirds also face risks from predators and high tides. Pets can be destructive, too, killing or scaring birds.

How can you help? • Avoid posted sites. (Eggs and chicks are camouflaged and easy to overlook.) • Walk below the high-tide line. • Back away from any nesting birds you accidentally disturb. Adults frightened from a nest will often call loudly, exhibit distraction displays – such as dragging a Wilson plover chick. Photo by Tim Keyes, GADNR wing – to draw predators away and even dive-bomb intruders. • Enjoy beach birds, but from a distance. • Leave dogs at home or, if visiting a beach where they are allowed, on a leash.

Sea Turtle Season Update

Sea turtles are still nesting on our coastal beaches. At print time, there are 1,736 nests on Georgia shores. Cumberland Island leads the way with 456 nests, followed by Ossabaw Island with 268. There have been 1,381 false crawls and 25 nests lost (storms/tides or predators). There are an estimated 50,930 eggs to date. Most of the nests were laid by loggerheads, with two greens, one Kemp's Ridley, and two of unknown Loggerhead sea turtle. Photo by Mark Dodd, GADNR origin. Beach goers are reminded to observe all turtle safety protocols, to include no lights on or near the beach and not disturbing turtles as they leave and enter the water.

To follow nesting season data, visit: www.seaturtle.org/nestdb/?view=3

The Georgia Marine Busineass Association (GAMBA) will host its annual Summer Social on Thursday, July 22, at Thunderbolt Marine's Crew Lounge, in Thunderbolt, Ga. The event is open to anyone in the marine industry. It will include live music by Savannah Steel Drum, food provided by Tortuga's Island Grille, an open bar, drawings for door prizes, and an opportunity to network with other marine businesses in the coastal region. For more information on this event, to contribute door prizes, or to become a GAMBA member, visit: GeorgiaMarineBusiness.org or call (912) 484-3611.

RETAIN GPS and Satellite Communications Act

Taking from one and giving to another has consequences. A bill introduced on June 22, by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), aims to right the wrongs of an April 2020 FCC decision to permit Ligado Networks LLC to use radio spectrum in a way that would cause interference with GPS, and force the company to pay for costs incurred by businesses and consumers to ensure continued GPS reliability.

Ligado’s slice of licensed “L-Band” radio spectrum, designated for space-based navigation and communications, is located near lower frequency bands used by hundreds of millions of GPS units in public safety, health, government, transportation, military, commerce, agriculture and more. BoatUS and other coalition members believe that, as the Ligado network is rolled out, instances of signal interference will increase. Beyond the issue of safety, failure of the GPS system could potentially cost the national economy approximately $1 billion a day or more, according to a study commissioned by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Passage of the “RETAIN GPS and Satellite Communications Act” would fix the issue of fairness of who should pay to ensure GPS remains reliable. While the 2020 FCC decision included language to ensure “Ligado shall expeditiously repair or replace any U.S. government GPS devices that experience or are likely to experience harmful interference from Ligado’s operations,” nongovernment users were left holding the bag. BoatUS also notes FCC’s decision didn’t provide an adequate description of the potential costs to federal agencies whose budgets are ultimately supported by American taxpayers.

The RETAIN (Recognizing and Ensuring Taxpayer Access to Infrastructure Necessary) act acknowledges the harm to GPS and satellite communications end users caused by the FCC decision and ensures the burden of costs to all users sits squarely where it belongs — on Ligado — and not on boat owners, aviators, farmers, weather forecasters, transportation companies and many other users.

Joining BoatUS in support of RETAIN are nearly 100 industry and public/private associations including the Air Line Pilots Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, International Air Transport Association, American Trucking Associations, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Weather Association, U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, National Defense Industrial Association and others.

“It is critical that recreational boaters have a reliable GPS system to safely navigate,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “Ligado must be held accountable for any costs to maintain continued reliability of the GPS system for all users. We thank Senator Inhofe for working on behalf of recreational boat owners and many other users who rely on GPS every day.”

BoatUS urges boaters and anyone who relies on GPS to ensure their state’s senators sign on to the RETAIN legislation as cosponsors.

If your organization or business has news to share, please send it to: amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

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info@safeharborriggingservices.com www.safeharborriggingservices.com John S. Ramsey, Owner