Funds under this grant award will be used to maintain a network of acoustic receivers in coastal waters off south carolina, analyze the data received, and provide the data to the agency and regional…

This $100,000 Formula Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) will fund the maintenance of a network of 67 acoustic receivers along the coast of South Carolina. The receivers will collect data to analyze the distribution and movements of marine species in coastal waters, including areas such as shipping channels, artificial reefs, and sandy bottoms. This continuous monitoring data will be provided to the agency and regional researchers to improve assessments of species vulnerabilities to anthropogenic disturbances and inform mitigation strategies. The grant period runs from July 2, 2025 to July 1, 2026 and is being awarded to the Natural Resources South Carolina Department, the state's natural resources management agency.

Funds under this grant award will be used to maintain a network of acoustic receivers in coastal waters off south carolina, analyze the data received, and provide the data to the agency and regional researchers.during the project period,13 arrays totaling 67 acoustic receivers off the coast of south carolina (encompassing both state and federal waters) will be maintained. 15 of these receivers are located between winyah BAY, SC and the SC NC border, 40 occur offshore of charleston, and 12 occur between two large sound systems (ST. Helena and port royal) in the southern part of the state.across receivers three general habitat types are represented: shipping channels (29%), artificial reefs (40%), and predominantly sandy bottom (31%) representative of borrow areas for beach RE-nourishment and sediment disposal areas. As such, this type of continuous monitoring is incredibly beneficial for refining assessment of species vulnerabilities to anthropogenic disturbances and, in turn, improving mitigation strategies for said threat exposures.