Marine

The Division of Marine Resources is responsible for the management and conservation of the state's marine and estuarine resources. The division conducts monitoring and research on the state’s marine resources and makes recommendations for the management of those resources. The division is headquartered at the Marine Resources Center on Charleston Harbor.

Fishery managers open and close marine fishing seasons, recommend size and catch limits for fish, track trends in abundance of marine species and review coastal development activities. Through the use of permits and permit conditions the managers control the harvest of fish, shrimp, crabs and shellfish. Marine Resources Division staff actively work with regional authorities such as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to ensure that marine fisheries are effectively and sustainable managed throughout their range.

The Marine Resources Research Institute monitors the status of marine species and the marine environment. Through the use of oceangoing vessels, modern lab-oratory equipment and computer-generated maps, staff monitor inshore and offshore finfish and shellfish populations and their environments. Research is aimed at understanding life histories and the impacts of nature and man on important marine organisms. Waddell Mariculture Center is the center of the division’s efforts to develop methods for the reproduction and grow-out of marine animals in manmade ponds. The Marine Division manages the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), which encompasses portions of Colleton, Charleston and Beaufort counties. Research conducted at the reserve helps to inform management decisions impacting coastal resources. The ACE Basin NERR also works to enhance stewardship of estuaries through education programs serving diverse audiences.