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CIRCA 1870 GOODBREA D HOUSE

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Four andard gue r ms & two suites, all wi large private ba r ms. ay wi us and visit Cumberland Island and hi oric . Marys! Pet friendly. Dietary needs met.

Call for special Southern Tides Rates! (912) 882-7490

www.g dbreadhouse.com info@g dbreadhouse.com 209 Osborne . . Marys, Georgia

Proudly Serving Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida

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

Have you contacted a boat service company to get work done on your boat, only to be told they’re weeks or even months from being able to get to you? Part of the reason for this is a shortage of tradesmen or skilled labor. Many marine businesses in coastal Georgia have open positions to fill, but there aren’t enough qualified applicants available. Additionally, as older generations retire, there don’t seem to be enough younger generations choosing to follow similar career paths, which will eventually create a critical workforce issue. With 24,665 boats currently registered in the six coastal counties, 9,863 in Chatham County alone, there’s no shortage of work needed to maintain them.

To that end, the Georgia Marine Business Association (GAMBA) met recently with key personnel from Savannah Tech and the Chatham County Public School Systems to begin discussions on how to alleviate this issue in Chatham County and beyond.

The objectives of these discussions included: introducing students to potential careers in the marine industry, developing marine trades training programs at both high school and college levels, creating apprenticeship and intern programs, and even setting up scholarships.

More information will follow as talks progress and plans are put into action. To learn more contact GAMBA through their website at www.georgiamarinebusiness.org.

A young fawn resting during the day. Photo by Calvin Wakefield

In the spring, it is not unusual to see young wildlife that appear to be alone. Before you attempt to help – remember that it is best to leave wildlife where you find them, according to the GADNR Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). "When you take wildlife out of their environment and bring them into your home, it often takes away that animal’s ability to then survive in the wild, where they belong,” explains Kaitlin Goode, program manager of the Georgia WRD Urban Wildlife Program. “In most instances, there is an adult animal a short distance away – even though you may not be able to see it. Adult animals, such as deer, spend most of the day away from their young to reduce the risk of a predator

finding the young animal.”

The best thing people can do when they see a young animal is to leave it exactly as they found it for at least 24 hours. If the animal is still there after this time period, reach out to the local WRD office for guidance (georgiawildlife.com/about/contact).

Young wildlife demand a great deal of care and have specific nutritional requirements. If they are not cared for properly, they will not be releasable or retain the ability to survive on their own. Persons not licensed and trained in wildlife rehabilitation should not attempt to care for wildlife. In fact, Georgia law prohibits the possession of most wildlife without a permit.

For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com and click on “Living With Wildlife” or contact the local Wildlife Resources Division office (georgiawildlife.com/ about/contact).

Of the nation’s nearly 12 million registered recreational boats, those owners who federally document their vessels, or about 165,000 boats, will be spared the hassle of renewing their U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation every year as a result of recent rule change that now makes documentation valid for five years. The move was the result of Coast Guard costsaving efforts and requirements set forth in the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018. BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy notes the new rule also eliminates some options that were formerly available. “Going forward, the five-year Certificate of Boat owners will no longer Documentation is the only option available for need to renew their Certificate recreational vessels as the 2018 Act did not allow for of Documentation every year. alternatives,” added Kennedy. Photo provided by BoatUS Formerly, documentation was $26 per year and boaters could select the number of years, from one to five. The new five-year documentation cost for is fixed at $130. Additional fees apply for initial documentation as well as exchanges. The Coast Guard will not issue refunds if an owner chooses to cancel documentation before its five-year expiration or if a vessel is sold during the renewal period.

Boat owners generally choose to federally document vessels with the U.S. Coast Guard versus the more common practice of state registration, for one of two reasons: the boat was purchased with a bank loan and the lender required it or the owner plans to travel beyond U.S. waters. A Certificate of Documentation is internationally recognized and makes it easier for American vessels to enter and leave foreign ports.

In a related issue, BoatUS continues to advise boaters to be vigilant when renewing U.S. Coast Guard vessel documentation as official-looking vessel documentation renewal notices can lead to confusion and higher costs. Some BoatUS members have received notices that are not from the Coast Guard but rather third-party companies whose name or return addresses may appear similar to that of the official U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).

For more information on documentation go to BoatUS.com/Documentation.

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, in collaboration with Manomet, Inc., certified the first cohort of ecotour guides participating in the Coastal Awareness and Responsible Ecotourism (CARE) program which was developed through a Coastal Incentive Grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division. The CARE certification program provides ecotour companies with the tools to implement best practices when it comes to water-based tourism activities.

Fifteen guides participated in the16-hour course which focused on recreational use and potential disturbance of coastal habitats which has serious implications for wildlife, specifically for shorebirds.

Engaging ecotourism companies through a certification course will build support for conservation and stewardship of important habitats and wildlife on the coast.

The first CARE cohort includes veteran tour guides like Rene Heidt, owner of Sundial Charters on Tybee Island and those new to the profession like Sam Ghiotto works at Southeast Adventures based on St. Simons Island. Participants in the program provide tours by kayak, paddleboard, or boat along the Georgia coast. The guides graduated just in time for the spring birding migration and summer tourist season, allowing them to share information learned from the program with their customers.

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

(912) 756-8868

BLACKBIRD CHARTER CO.

CAPTAIN RAVEN ABLARD 307•851•6314

Sunset Cruise Fossil Hunting Dolphin Tour Bird Watching Golden Isles Tour Onshore Seining Inshore Fishing Day & Night Water Taxi Kayak Taxi