Shark Guide Available To Public Free of Charge Through State DNR
(Please Note: This Guide Is No Longer Available In Print As Of March 2008)

August 30, 2004

Release from: South Carolina DNR News

The first comprehensive guide to sharks is now available to the public free of charge through the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

"Sharks of South Carolina" is the first comprehensive guide to shark species in the state and covers 13 families and 39 species indigenous to inshore and offshore waters. All but a few of the species presented in the publication are regulated by specific size and possession limits or are completely protected by both state and federal laws. Therefore, it is important for anglers to be able to distinguish between the various species.

"Sharks of South Carolina" is available to the public free of charge through S.C. Department of Natural Resources coastal offices as well as various tackle shops, sporting good stores and marinas along the coast. For the location of the DNR office or private vendor nearest you, call the DNR's Charleston switchboard at (843) 953-9300. If you would like to receive a copy by mail, send a check for $2 payable to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, to PO Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422-2559. The $2 cost covers the postage cost and does not benefit the DNR.

One of the primary purposes of the publication is to provide an easy to use guide since sharks generally are very difficult to identify. Readers are also provided with a unique pullout brochure that gives current state and federal regulations on all of the regulated species discussed inside.

"Sharks of South Carolina" includes the following:

* 160 pages of information, including a section where anglers can document catches.

* A description and overview of 13 families of sharks.

* 39 species presented individually with professionally drawn illustrations pointing out the key characteristics essential in the identification process.

* Common and scientific names provided for each of 39 species. * A detailed description of the body, teeth, coloration, size and other distinctive characteristics compared with other similar species to assist anglers in identifying sharks.

* A stand-alone brochure insert that lists current federal and state regulations on all regulated species in the guide. * General information on biology, life history and potential dangers of sharks.

* Tips on fishing for sharks and the importance of catch and release. * Artificial reef locations and other local areas where anglers target sharks.

* Feeding habits, local and worldwide distribution, reproduction methods, and special adaptation.

* An identification key that when followed enables the reader to arrive at the correct species identification.

* Law Enforcement Operation Coast Watch and how the public can assist field officers learn about marine resource violations.

The guide delivers a strong message on the conservation of sharks. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages anglers to keep only what they need and release others unharmed back into the wild. Shark populations have been in decline for the past three decades and more both locally and worldwide, and conservation of these important animals is imperative.

"Sharks of South Carolina" was written by Charles Farmer of the DNR. "Sharks are poorly understood, difficult to identify by the general public, and have an undeserved bad reputation," Farmer said. "Hopefully this guide will provide the information to inform the public on the true nature of sharks, and will serve as a valuable reference manual for fishermen in the field and students in the classroom."

"Sharks of South Carolina" is also designed to be a useful manual for DNR law enforcement officers in working with fisherman to further help them stay in compliance with rules and regulations.

The publication was made possible through broad financial support from the South Carolina Saltwater Recreational Fishing License Program, the Joint Enforcement Agreement between the DNR and the National Marine Fisheries Service for Law Enforcement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Clean Vessel Act, and the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve Program for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"This publication is an example of the DNR using multi-source funds to provide a product that is useful to fishermen, who purchase a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License and support the program," Farmer said. Farmer is currently the director of the DNR's Office of Public Affairs in Charleston, but has had a long career with the agency that began in the summer of 1969. During his initial years as a field biologist, Farmer spent a lot of time on research vessels and commercial shrimp trawlers working with sharks, collecting specimens and conducting field studies. He received a master's degree from The Citadel in 1973 while working full time with the DNR.

Farmer continued work with the DNR as a field biologist for 15 years and was involved in a wide variety of resource related projects in both inshore and offshore waters. In 1984 his responsibilities were expanded to include a wide range of administrative, public relations and legislative responsibilities. Then in 1994 he was promoted to the director of the Office of Public Affairs, and began serving as the spokesperson for important issues involving the agency and the public. In 2002, Farmer received the DNR's highest Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service over his many years of employment.

Farmer cites his mentors for his success over the years. "Whatever success I have had during my career can be attributed in large measure to the educational opportunities I was fortunate to receive from the graduate program at The Citadel," Farmer said. "I grew up professionally under the guidance of exceptional professors like Dr. Joe Kelly, Dr. Jimmy Magoules, Dr. Bob Baldwin, Dr. Emory Crosby and Dr. Oliver Bowman. It's difficult to believe now, but that education was actually made possible through the financial support of the DNR, then called the South Carolina Wildlife Department. At that time, the department had a very small staff of only three marine biologists, and educational advancement was strongly encouraged by the agency's Commission.

"I have also had the opportunity to work with many fine agency employees, a large cross-section of the public, much of the media, commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, and most members of the South Carolina General Assembly, all of which have served as valuable learning experiences. If there is one formula for success it is building personal relationships based on trust," Farmer said.

Farmer is also convinced that the DNR's future success will be determined by its ability to focus on fundamental responsibilities and priorities, and communicate that message to the public. "I have always held the belief that the agency benefits greatly when the public is aware of and involved in what we do," he said.

Although "Sharks of South Carolina" can be considered a timeless guide, Farmer wrote it with the knowledge that there has been a remarkable change in the attitudes of today's fishermen compared with those of 35 years ago when he began my career.

"Anglers now recognize that the ocean and related fishery resources are not limitless, but finite, and therefore they must be protected," Farmer said. "Those fewer and fewer fishermen who insist on abusing our resources can expect a warm welcome from DNR law enforcement officers who based on my experience are the best trained and most professional in the country."

But Farmer sees that there truly has been a shift in attitudes over the years due to education outreach and understanding by the public. "Most fishermen today have a deep appreciation of the value of these fragile resources and abide by the conservation-driven regulations that have been established by the DNR through the South Carolina General Assembly," he said.

"Sharks of South Carolina" was one of Farmer's final goals to complete after 35 years of employment and a retirement that is planned for December 2005. The publication is dedicated to Clyde A. Elztroth and Charles M. Bearden, who promoted the creation of the Marine Resources Division in the late 1960s, and who Farmer feels established a standard of excellence that continues to serve the citizens of South Carolina today.