'Awesome' discovery

Public gets a peek at Marine Resources Center

Out of the brackish water came the net, chock-full of creatures most of the boat's passengers had never seen. No one kept his seat.

Kristen Hankla
The Post and Courier

Alex Williams shows her mom, Stacy Williams (not shown), the turtle she caught from a touch tank during an open house held at the Marine Resources Center on James Island.

They held a limp-legged brittle star, came face to face with an electrifying stargazer and saw a hermit crab minus its shell. Or without his pants on, as Marine Education Coordinator Katie McMillan put it, to the delight of younger passengers.

The trip into Charleston Harbor aboard the E/V Discovery was part of a full day of free educational activities hosted by S.C. Department of Natural Resources at its Marine Resources Center on James Island. The purpose was to teach the public about the area's unique resources and show what the department is doing to protect and manage them.

"Our open house gives us the chance to invite folks to come and see what's beyond the gates at the Marine Resources Center at Fort Johnson," Robert Boyles Jr., DNR deputy director for marine resources, said in a statement.

Kristen Hankla
The Post and Courier

Aboard the E/V Discovery, Marine Education Coordinator Katie McMillan talks about a crab caught during the voyage. The boat trips into Charleston Harbor were offered free to the public during an open house for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources' Marine Resources Center.

Spread across the center's lawn were more than 30 booths, displays and hands-on activities, teaching passers-by about shark research, nuisance wildlife, monofilament recycling and knot tying, to name a few. An exhibit on crustacean research included dozens of jars filled with shrimp or blue crabs at different stages in their life cycles.

Another booth showed people how to filet and cook seafood, such as triggerfish and vermilion snapper.

"This place is awesome," said Nicole Hayes, who brought a couple of Girl Scouts from the troop she leads in Bluffton. "They have not stopped going 'oooh' and 'ahhh' since we got here."

Kids climbed on the heavy machinery used to build shellfish beds, did fish printing and had sharks and shrimp painted on their faces.

Three seminars were offered throughout the day, one on sea turtle conservation, one on artificial reefs and another on the history of Fort Johnson.

Joan Ivett of West Ashley called the day "very rewarding," and said it was educational for all ages. She said she'll be back next year, hopefully with the grandkids.

Reach Kristen Hankla at 937-5548 or khankla@postandcourier.com.