The south carolina department of natural resources (SCDNR) will conduct a monitoring effort to precisely characterize discards from charter reef fish trips off the coast of south carolina

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) was awarded a $340,000 Cooperative Agreement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Unallied Science Program (CFDA 11.472) to conduct a monitoring effort to precisely characterize discards from charter reef fish trips off the coast of South Carolina. The award period is from March 1, 2025 to February 29, 2028. Experienced SCDNR fisheries staff will act as observers onboard fishing trips to collect detailed data on fishing locations, times, depths, discard type, treatment, disposition, and size. This effort will complement ongoing at-sea for-hire surveys in Florida and involve collaborative data collection with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) and the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF).

Experienced fisheries staff will act as observers onboard fishing trips to record detailed data on fishing locations, times, depths, discard type, treatment, disposition, and size. This proposal was developed in collaboration with the georgia department of natural resources (GADNR) and the north carolina division of marine fisheries (NCDMF). The data collected as part of these three programs will complement floridas ongoing at-sea for-hire survey.