Editor's Note

While I didn’t actually plan on most of this issue being about oysters, I’m happy it turned out this way! After all, these OYSTERS delicious tidbits are one of the best things about fall and winter – along with good fishing, the end of mosquito and gnat AND seasons, not being roasted like a turkey, and, of course, football. MORE

And because they’re so tasty, these mollusks have become part of our coastal culture, going back countless generations. From Native American shell rings dating back thousands of years on through the centuries to tabby construction in the early days of the colony, from canning facilities that provided jobs in the early and mid-20th century to modern day oyster farming and the rebuilding of oyster reefs through installations of living shorelines, oysters have always played a role in life in coastal Georgia.

Today, many of us simply enjoy eating them, whether in small batches made up with a favorite recipe, or by the bushel at oyster roasts with friends old and new. We do love our oysters!

In this issue, Captain Jay answers some questions about harvesting for newcomers to the coast (along with a favorite recipe), Neva has compiled some interesting facts about Eastern oysters in Did You Know?, my dear friends Jamee and Don share a favorite recipe in Taste of the Tides, and our feature article shares an update about Georgia’s growing oyster mariculture program.

I’d also like to remind all of you to please recycle your oyster shells. They’re used by both DNR and the UGA Shellfish Lab in restoring existing reefs and creating new ones – which benefit us all, not only in providing new sources of one of our favorite delicacies, but also in cleaner water.

Also in this issue, contributor Dory Ingram shares a new app that allows us to report wildlife impacted by marine debris. Tangled in Trash, a NOAA project, is a useful tool in helping save and protect marine species. Read about it on page 17 and please download the app. You can make a difference. Fishermen, you spoke and the DNR listened. You may remember the public comment period a couple months ago regarding redfish rule changes. Due to the 1,300 responses, the DNR has postponed changes until they can review the comments. See more on page 20. There’s plenty more in this issue and we hope you enjoy it all! Let us hear from you! I wanted to remind everyone to please submit your photos on the Southern Tides Flickr page. We’re planning a section for reader photos, but you have to send them before we can get it started! Visit www. flickr.com/groups/southerntides/ to upload your images. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving this month and that you take time each day, not just on the holiday, to be thankful for the good in your lives. See you out there! Readers! Submit your photos, like this one by Nick Riccio, Jr., a ruddy turnstone taken on Jeyll. Amy Thurman Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

Oyster reefs serve as habitat for marine life, they restore and protect shorelines from erosion, and are critical to our coastal ecosystems. When dropping off oyster shells, please be sure not to include trash such as napkins or cracker wrappers, and do not leave behind bags or other carrying devices. Drop off locations include: Please also do not attempt to recycle the shells yourself by placing them in the water or on the bank − oyster shells must first be quarantined and cured before being used to construct reefs and oyster banks. • DNR Coastal Resources Headquarters, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick • Champney Boat Ramp, Hwy 17, just south of Darien • UGA Shellfish Lab, 10 Ocean Circle, Savannah The oyster shell recycling program is undergoing some changes. More locations are forthcoming and Southern Tides will share the information when it becomes available. In the meantime, you can learn more by visiting gacoast.uga.edu/education/adult-education/ oyster-restoration/ or call (912) 598-2348 etc. 205.

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