Dear Editor,

On behalf of the Board and employees of the S.C. Department of Natural resources, I thank you and applaud your recognition of the difficult choices DNR is having to make concerning programs as a result of declining budgets. Your support of responsible conservation decisions including catch and release has always and continues to be much appreciated.

DNR serves as the principal steward of and advocate for our state’s great natural resources, and the DNR staff take this mandate very seriously. While funds for the fish tagging program have indeed been cut and therefore we can presently purchase no new tagging kits to supply to trained taggers, fishermen are still encouraged to report tagged fish they capture by calling 1-888-Tags-4-SC (1-888-824-7472).

As pointed out in both your article and editorial, Red Drum as a species has great interest for many people. 2009 is an important year for Red Drum as DNR has the obligation to initiate South Carolina’s stock assessment to meet federal guidelines. This information will guide future public policy regulating creel and slot limits.

Concerned folks who want to do their part to support the work of the DNR and insure that those programs that have merit but are in danger due to lack of funding can do so simply by the purchase of a Hunting or Fishing License – whether they go hunting and fishing or not. Licenses may be purchased online via the DNR Web site, www.dnr.sc.gov, by telephone at 1-866-714-3611, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, or at many local sporting shops. One can also speak with your legislators about the importance of these programs.

Be part of the solution to insure that South Carolina continues to excel in one of the areas that we get compared to our neighboring states: the management of our states natural resources.

Thank you,

Michael G. McShane

Chairman

Department of Natural Resources Board