New flounder legislation a proactive step forward

Columbia, S.C. – With the waning hours of the legislative session in sight, members of the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate worked diligently to come to terms on new management measures concerning one of the Palmetto State’s most popular saltwater species. Flounder, particularly Southern Flounder, have been at the forefront of much of the angling community’s attention due to its continuing downward trend. The new legislation calls for sweeping changes to management measures, science and programs, and both non-recurring and recuring funding.

“The willingness of our elected officials to work collaboratively on the issue was commendable,” said Tombo Milliken, CCA SC Government Relations Committee chairman. “Both bodies had different reads on the issue and how to go about making a course correction but in the spirit of effective public policy they took input from fisheries managers, constituents, and interested parties to forward a sound plan.”

Efforts by Representatives Lee Hewitt, Phillip Lowe, Marvin Pendarvis, Bill Hixon, and House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Chairman David Hiott produced and ushered a strong measure to the Senate where Fish, Game, & Forestry Committee Chairman Chip Campsen along with Stephen Goldfinch and Thomas McElveen provided the vision necessary to complete the process.

The continued decline of Southern Flounder across its geographic range is well documented by fishery managers from Texas to North Carolina. The legislation represents a conservation win that technically ends overfishing of southern flounder via reasonably adjusted size and creel limits (16 inch minimum size, 5 fish per person/10 fish per boat), creates and funds a new stocking program along with infrastructure improvements to aid and bolster a declining wild stock, and delivers a resounding new license fee structure to allow the Marine Division to address the ever-increasing tasks (stock assessments, scientific research, law enforcement, etc.) being asked of it by the angling community, fisheries managers, elected officials, and the general public. The revenue of saltwater fishing license sales go directly to the Marine Division and the expenditures are reviewed by the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee (SRFAC) comprised of appointed citizens.

“South Carolina is blessed with an abundance of natural wonders, which contribute to our genuinely unique and enviable quality of life. Through sound fisheries management practices, as H.3957 represents, the future of recreational flounder fishing in South Carolina has the potential to take another giant step forward; truly a proactive opportunity,” said Scott Whitaker, CCA SC executive director. “We value the dedication by our elected officials to our state’s marine resources and their efforts to seek sound management through legislation, commitment to conservation, and consideration of the publics’ continued use and open access to those resources.”

Topwater Action Program and Coastal Initiative having a lasting impact

3021-10 McNaughton Dr., Columbia, SC 29223
Website: www.ccasouthcarolina.com Email:Swhitaker@ccasouthcarolina.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 12, 2021

Columbia, SC – Last week Coastal Conservation Association South Carolina (CCA SC), in partnership with Sea Hunt Boat Company and the Department of Natural Resources, completed the organization’s 14th artificial reef project off the Palmetto State’s coast. The 50-foot all aluminum retired sportfishing hull was deployed in approximately 60 feet of water at the Little River Offshore Reef. This project marks the second deployment CCA SC has made on this site and fish and fishermen will begin to enjoy the benefits of the structure this summer. It also completes another step in the grassroots organization’s goal of deploying reefs on all 43 of the State’s reefing sites by 2030.

“The reefing effort that is part of our Topwater Action Campaign Coastal Initiative continues to produce amazing results,” said Gary Keisler, CCA SC’s Topwater Action Campaign Chairman. “The organization recognized a need, had a vision of what could be accomplished, and we have worked tirelessly towards putting a program in place that would have a direct impact on improving the resource. It is truly a thrill to be part of and to know that generations of recreational anglers to come will enjoy these efforts.”

CCA SC established the Topwater Action Campaign in 2010 as a dedicated habitat arm of the marine conservation and angler advocate organization. The resource-first, science-based, angler advocate group has built a reputation for working towards sustainable fisheries and sound management practices that benefit both the resource and South Carolina’s recreational fishing community. With this program, CCA SC has added advocacy and stewardship of the coastal habitat to the agenda. Since its inception the program has been instrumental in recycling thousands of pounds of oyster shells annually, created 63 oyster reef sites, deployed 14 artificial reefs, funded needed fisheries research with the DNR, and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment to bolster programs in the marine field. In all, the total investment over the short life span of the program surpasses $1 million for marine habitat and fisheries enhancement.

“South Carolina is blessed with what many, including myself, believe to be the crown jewel of Atlantic coastal habitat,” said Scott Whitaker, CCA SC executive director. “Couple that with the envied sporting heritage and traditions that our state’s culture has nurtured and enjoys, and it is easy to see why this program is having such a dramatic impact on our coastal and marine resources.”

3021-10 McNaughton Dr., Columbia, SC 29223
Website: www.ccasouthcarolina.com Email: Swhitaker@ccasouthcarolina.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2021 CONTACT: Scott Whitaker 803-865-4164
Flounder legislation passes House, heads to Senate for further consideration

Columbia, S.C. – With a vote of 106 to 3, the South Carolina House of Representatives has advanced legislation that would adjust the state’s flounder regulations with an emphasis on increasing the spawning stock of the popular species. H. 3957 was introduced in late February by a bi-partisan group of legislators based on concerns from anglers, constituents, and data from the first ever regional stock assessment indicating that the fishery continues its downward spiral. The legislation comes after 18 months of meetings and discussion among fisheries managers, the angling community, and state decisions makers.

“We are thrilled by the level of engagement that has been shown and the willingness to act by both bodies of the General Assembly” said CCA SC Government Affairs Committee Chairman, Tombo Milliken. “Recreational anglers in SC have consistently asked for conservation measures to be taken over the years and yet we find ourselves at a place that further action simply must be taken, and we have willing partners throughout the state management process eager to respond.”

South Carolina is not alone in the need to take action to address declining flounder numbers. From Texas to North Carolina, states are enacting new management steps as a response to troubling stock assessments. A first of its kind regional stock assessment provided in 2019 suggested that southern flounder harvest be reduced by 72 percent across the South Atlantic region (North Carolina to Florida), with North Carolina implementing a 45-day season for recreational anglers. Florida also acted in December to reduce its harvest.

The legislation passed in the South Carolina House of Representatives would implement a 5-fish-per-person creel limit with a maximum 10 fish boat limit. It would also implement a 16”-20” slot limit on the size of flounder, with anglers being able to retain 1 fish over that slot limit per person and a maximum of 2 per boat. While utilized in the management of other species, red drum and black drum for example in South Carolina and spotted seat trout in states such as Texas, Alabama, and Florida, the SC flounder slot limit would be the first time it has been implemented in the country for flounder management. The principle behind the measure in all the cases is the same; to bolster the larger spawning stock of females.

The legislation now resides in the Senate and has been referred to the Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee, where CCA SC anticipates additional management measures will be considered and with the same enthusiasm by members to act.

“Looking back on the process, the level of engagement from state fisheries managers at the SCDNR to frame the issue, elected officials in both bodies of the House and Senate to work on bi-partisan legislation, and from the recreational community to engage the process, has been remarkable” said Scott Whitaker, executive director of CCA SC. “We’ll see where the developments take us in the coming weeks.”