Cooperative Research In South Carolina Final Report By Jason Powers1, David Whitaker1, Barry Gooch1, Nathan West1, Amber Von Harten2 1Marine Resources Division South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 2South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium Charleston, South Carolina December 2009 Final Project Report To The National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Grant Number NA04NMF4720306 Table of Contents Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………… . 5 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………8 Needs Assessment …………………………………………………………………………….8 Contracted Projects ……………………………………………………………………….. 14 1. Characterization of the Offshore Spear Fishery for Flounder and Collection of Biological Data on Southern Flounder by Brad Floyd and Julia Byrd………………………………14 2. Feasibility/Pilot Study for Under Dock Oyster and Clam Culture by Nancy Hadley……………..16 3. Pilot Study Using Pop-Off Satellite Tags to Monitor Dolphin (Corypheana hippurus) by Donald Hammond ………………………………………………………………………………19 4. Pilot Study Using Pop-Off Satellite Tags to Monitor Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) Captured in Port Royal Sound by Donald Hammond …………………………………………… ………….20 5. Characterization of Recreationally Caught Adult Red Drum Stocks in Port Royal Sound, SC by David Harter and Glenn Ulrich…………………………………………………………………………23 6. The Flow of South Carolina Harvested Seafood Products through South Carolina Markets By Mark S. Henry, Raymond J. Rhodes and Daniel Eades………………………………………… 25 7. Evaluation of the Ability of Camera Surveillance to Detect Landings at a Recreational Fishing Pier by C. Christian Johnson…………………………………………………………… 27 8. New Shrimp Net and Rigging Design by Anthony Lettich……………………………………………28 9. Real-time Water Quality and Weather Monitoring Station at Apache Oceanfront Pier and Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina by Susan Libes, David Whitaker, and Jason Power………………………………………………………………………………..30 10. Estimating the Size and Age Composition of the B-2 Fish (caught and released alive) in the Recreational Fishery for Red Drum in South Carolina by Christopher McDonough and Charlie Wenner………………………………………………………………………………………35 11. Rearing cultured single Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in Experiment Trays in Intertidal Areas in South Carolina by Joseph Morris ………………………………………………………………38 12. Assessment of Surf Zone and Near-shore Nekton Community in Horry County, SC by Jeremy Mull…………………………………………………………………………………………….39 13. A characterization of the South Carolina flounder gigging fishery and collection of biological data on Southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) by J. Powers. D. Whitaker, B. Gooch and N. West…………………………………………………………….42 14. Examination of the frequency of black gill disease in white shrimp in South Carolina Using Samples Collected by Commercial Shrimp Fishermen by J. Powers, D. Whitaker, B. Gooch and N. West……………………………………………45 15. An Examination of Migratory Behavior of Selected Finfish Species through a Cooperative Fish Tagging Program with Commercial Ocean Fishing Piers in Long Bay South Carolina by J. Powers, D. Whitaker, B. Gooch and N. ..………………50 16. A Study of the effectiveness of Turtle Excluder Devices in Crab Traps J. Powers, D. Whitaker, B. Gooch and N. West…………………………………………………54 2 17. Pilot study to establish a logbook survey for commercial Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) by J. Powers, D. Whitaker, B. Gooch and N. West…………………58 18. Effects of Tow Duration on the Quality of Shrimp with Black Gill by J. Powers, D. Whitaker, B. Gooch and N. West………………………………………………………………………60 19. Cooperative Research Project to Collect and Analyze Three Species of Snapper/Grouper Fishery from the Deepwater Complex by Steve Shelley, Byron White & Marcel Reichert……….66 20. Alternative Oyster Cultch by Eric Skaar…………………………………………………………………70 21. Life History Parameters of Kept Versus Discarded Fish Captured by Commercial Fishermen off the Southeastern United States by Jessica A. Stephen and Patrick J. Harris………………… 72 22. Foraging Ecology of Seabirds in Relation to Commercial shrimp Trawler Activity by Lisa Claire Wickliffe and Patrick G. R. Jodice…………………………………………………….79 23. Characterization of the Surf Zone Macrofauna at Folly Beach, South Carolina By Jacquelyn Wilkie………………………………………………………………………………………..82 24. Purchase of Whole Cobia from Recreational and Commercial Anglers for the Purpose of Characterizing a Coast Wide Population Structure by Justin Yost and Mike Denson………………………………………………………………………………………….86 Grant Projects 1. Study of the Commercial Long-line Fishery of Coastal Sharks Occurring in State Waters by Terry Annibale……………………………………………………………………………….87 2. To Determine Ideal Placement & Methodology to Grow-out Single Farmed Oysters in a Wild Environment by Roddy Beasley…………………………………………………..89 3. Evaluations of Icelandic Cambered Trawl Doors by Scott Cook……………………………………90 4. Establish a Toadfish Fishery in South Carolina by Fred Dockery………………………………….92 5. Crab Tagging in Stono Inlet by Fred Dockery…………………………………………………………93 6. Weakfish Tagging Project by John Dunphy…………………………………………………………..95 7. Alternative Bait for Crab Traps by Arthur Ford………………………………………………………96 8. Feasibility Study to Assess a Seasonal Blue Crab Fishery in Historically Closed South Carolina Waters by Robert J. Gault…………………………………………………..97 9. Study the Viability of a Commercial Octopus Fishery off South Carolina‘s Coast by Robert J. Gault II…………………………………………………………………………………….98 10. Cherry Point Oyster by Tony Geisman………………………………………………………………..100 11. Use of Microwave Telemetry X-PSAT tags to monitor behavior of cobia and dolphinfish by Don Hammond……………………………………………………………………101 12. Use of pop-off archival satellite tags to study cobia in Port Royal Sound, South Carolina and dolphinfish present off the East Coast by Donald L. Hammond…………..103 13. Slotted Trawl Door Study by Steve Kerchner………………………………………………………..106 14. Assessing Slotted Trawl Door Efficiency by Steve Kerchner………………………………………109 15. Recording Catch Composition and Rates of Undersized/Legal Black Sea Bass by Donald Lombardi…………………………………………………………………………111 16. Development of new gear for the commercial harvest of stone crab claw by Dan Morey…………………………………………………………………………………………….113 17. Evaluation of the Viability of a Stone Crab Fishery in South Carolina Using GIS by Dan Morey……………………………………………………………………………….115 18. Assessment of Fish Communities Associated with South Carolina Permitted Artificial Reef Sites with Comparable Natural Hard Bottom Sites by South Carolina Aquarium Divers by Arnold Postell, Raymond J. Rhodes, 3 Dale Swing and Brian Kennedy……………………………………………………………………….116 19. Atlantic Sturgeon Sampling in Winyah Bay and Edisto River, SC by Dr. Anna Toline………..120 20. Enhancement of Commercial Oyster Production by Dr. Anna Toline……………………………124 21. Determining Profitable Ways to Grow Premium Select Single Oysters by Edgar T. Van Buren…………………………………………………………………………………125 22. A History of the South Carolina Shrimping Industry by Ford Walpole and Vic Burrell……….126 Supplemental Project……………………………………………………………………..127 1. Supplemental Examination of the Effectiveness of Modified Turtle Excluder Devices in Crab Pots Placed in Abbapoola Creek, South Carolina by Jason Powers, David Whitaker, Barry Gooch and Nathan West……………………………………………………127 Program Evaluation and Recommendations………………………………………………131 Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………..132 4 Executive Summary In 2004 the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was awarded a grant to conduct cooperative research grant to provide information on existing and potential fisheries in South Carolina. This research was prompted by requests from fishing industry representatives who wished to see the commercial and recreation fishermen have a greater stake in the study and management of living marine resources. The project was undertaken in basically two phases. Phase 1 involved a Needs assessment Phase 2 took recommendations from the assessment and implemented cooperative research projects with the recreational and commercial fishing community members. Additionally, new research needs were uncovered over the course of the project and research projects were developed as opportunities arose. The research projects are grouped as Contractual projects and Grants. The Contractual Projects were largely specific programs that came directly out of the Needs Assessment. DNR Cooperative Research personnel developed project outlines and then contracted with private parties, primarily commercial and recreational fishermen, to complete the tasks. For projects that were anticipated to exceed a cost minimum established by state law, a bidding process had to be utilized. We also solicited ideas for research needs and projects from the public. Because DNR does not have the authority under state law to issue grants, The SC Sea Grant Consortium was contracted as a subrecipient to administer a grant program for cooperative research projects. This proved to be a successful collaboration; utilizing Sea Grant‘s grant review and evaluation process and their Marine Extension agents who brought valuable experience that greatly facilitated dealing with the fishing public. Needs Assessment The potential applied-fisheries, management-based research topics included those related to resource assessment, fishery biology, socio-economics, resource management, and sustainable harvesting technology. These research needs were to address potential projects for both commercial and recreational fisheries. The assessment took place during year one of the grant period with a report