Are We Protecting the Beneficial Functions of Coastal Landforms? an Analysis of Activities Permitted on Coastal Landforms on Cape Cod in 1999

Chesapeake Bay, the Nation’s largest estuary, has been adversely impacted by excess nutrients. Excess nutrients have caused low dissolved oxygen levels leading to loss of fisheries and other living resources. The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) is leading an effort to reduce nutrient sources and loads in the Bay watershed to meet dissolved oxygen criteria in the Bay by 2010. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with several agencies, has monitored the concentration of nutrients entering the Bay since the late 1980’s. The data are used to assess trends in load and concentrations of nutrients in rivers entering the Bay and understand the factors affecting those trends. The trend analysis revealed a large variation in the annual nitrogen and phosphorus loads to the Bay due to changes in yearly stream flow but slow reductions of the nutrient concentrations. The primary factors affecting the trends in concentration were stream flow, changes in nutrient sources, and influence of watershed characteristics (including in-stream biogeochemical transformations and the influence of ground water). All these factors influence the lag time between implementing nutrient-reduction practices in the watershed and water quality improvements in the Bay. The CBP is using these results to help refine, and assess the effectiveness of, management strategies to reduce nutrients in the Bay watershed. EVALUATING SOUTH CAROLINA’S SHELLFISH MANAGEMENT Rebekah J. Walker, NOAA Coastal Management Fellow William D. Anderson, SC Department of Natural Resources Steve Moore, SC Ocean and Coastal Resource Management South Carolina’s predominantly intertidal shellfish resource, and, in particular, subtidal oyster beds, have diminished over the years primarily due to salinity regime changes and wetland drainage. Shellfish are still abundant along the coastline, but comparisons between recent and historical surveys and fishery dependent data reveal that the resource may be heavily harvested in certain areas. It is important to ensure that shellfish are being adequately protected through proper management. The eastern oyster, Crassosstrea virginica, in South Carolina is unique in that nearly all beds are intertidal. Due to continual spawning and successive attachment of new generations, oysters grow in clustered reefs. Heavily harvested areas and environmental perturbations are the greatest threat to oysters in South Carolina, but could be mitigated through proper management and replanting strategies to propagate this renewable resource. Two agencies share responsibility for management of the state shellfish resources. The South Carolina Department of Heath and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) through the Bureau of Water’s Shellfish Sanitation Program is concerned with the public health aspects of shellfish harvesting, marketing and consumption. The SCDHEC classifies harvest waters based upon regularly collected water samples from each approved harvest area. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is concerned with the natural resource aspects of shellfish, including husbandry, and regulates commercial and recreational harvesters. State grounds have been leased for commercial harvest since 1906 when legislation was passed to protect the shellfish resource from non-resident harvesters. In 1986, state laws governing shellfish resource management were changed to make available state bottoms for both recreational and independent commercial harvesters (i.e. commercial harvesters without leases or culture permits). Where leaseholders failed to meet planting quotas or were handed over to the state, lease areas were designated in whole or reduced in size as State Shellfish Grounds (SSGs). SSGs are managed by the DNR through rotational openings and closings. Former leases were termed Culture Permits (CPs) and SCDNR was given the ability to revoke permits if legal requirements were not met. In addition to an annual rental fee, permit holders must cultivate their land through shell planting or alternative cultivation methods. A third type of shellfish area is Public Shellfish Grounds (PSGs). PSGs are opened to only recreational harvesters during the shellfish season (May 15-Sept. 15) and the DNR routinely replants these areas as funds allow. Harvest levels have remained relatively stable over the past ten years and in 2001 South Carolina produced more oysters than North Carolina, Georgia and the east coast of Florida combined. However, a disproportionate portion of the landings is taken from the SSGs (common property areas) suggesting continued long-term sustainability of these grounds may need more active management. Each SSG is field assessed and evaluated annually to determine current standing stock before a decision to open the SSG is made. Presently all state grounds are open during only half of the nine month season and some are closed for the entire season due to the previous season’s heavy harvesting. More active management, and possibly shell replanting, may be necessary to keep SSGs in sustained harvestable condition.