Places at Risk: Carolina’s Coastal Waters

We’ve reached the critical point for coastal and ocean conservation. Global climate change is a real concern. And so is which fish is safe to eat for dinner. People, with more wealth than ever, are coming to South Carolina’s coast. They are launching their boats for the weekend or putting down roots and building the homes of their dreams. Meanwhile, inland the state continues to grow, sending more pollution downstream.

South Carolina’s fortune has always been linked to its waters. Historically, rivers powered industry, provided transport, and supported lush farmlands. Marshes helped create the rice culture. Our coast connected the state’s economy to the world.

Today, coastal tourism represents billions of dollars to our annual economy. Commercial fishing accounts for millions more, providing shrimp and other seafood relished by those who visit here. The port of Charleston is not only important to that city, but is also a key to attracting major manufacturers such as BMW to the Upstate.

Preserving the balance between our natural resources and economic success is essential to the state’s future.

The Nature Conservancy has protected South Carolina’s coastline since the chapter’s inception. But The Conservancy has been defined traditionally by work to preserve land. Now, we extend our attention to include marine conservation. There’s no time to lose.

In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency released its second National Coastal Condition Report. The southeast region ranked from fair to good, the best rating in the nation. That news is tempered by other reports—reports of unprecedented construction and population growth in the state’s coastal counties. The pressure has never been greater.

In South Carolina, oyster populations are declining. Our tidal wetlands, an important nursery for juvenile fish, are threatened by growth. Feeding areas for shorebirds are facing pressure from development.

Worldwide, The Nature Conservancy has made a commitment to protect oceans and seas. In South Carolina, marine scientist Mary Conley has joined The Nature Conservancy staff in Charleston. She will coordinate efforts in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, with a focus first on the coastline from the South Carolina border south to Charleston.

“Our success relies on making everyone aware of how the land and sea are connected,” Conley says, “how near shore activities affect our rivers and coastal waters. Then, cooperation is the key.” She’ll be bringing state, private, and non-profit groups together to solve problems and restore troubled habitats.

Your continued support is critical too. It enables The Conservancy to bring experienced scientists like Conley to South Carolina and to facilitate work among agencies to preserve the marine resource on which we all depend, the acres and acres of ocean that no one of us can own.