Recent Awards
Coastwatch has a long tradition of honors, which most recently has included these awards.
2025
Winner, 2025 National APEX Grand Award for Publication Excellence for the Winter 2024, Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Winter 2025 issues.
Winner, 2025 National APEX Award for Publication Excellence for “Ice to Ocean” by Dave Shaw with Cayla Cothron, SME.
2024
Winner, PICA Special Judges Award for the Spring 2023, Summer 2023, and Fall 2023 issues, designed by Linda Noble and printed by Correction Enterprises.
3rd place, 2024 Science Communicators of North Carolina Award for Journalism for “Ice to Ocean” by Dave Shaw with Cayla Cothron, SME.
2023
Winner, 2023 National APEX Award for Publication Excellence for “From Hurricane Hazel to the Morning Light: Coastal Carolina through a Shrimper’s Eyes,” Melody Hunter-Pillion’s interview with Harry Bryant.
Winner, 2023 PICA Special Judges Award for the Spring 2023, Summer 2023, and Fall 2023 issues, designed by Linda Noble and printed by Correction Enterprises.
Winner, 2023 Science Communicators of North Carolina SciComm Award for Journalism for “The Mystery Ship Off Pappy Lane” by India Mackinson.
3rd place, 2023 Science Communicators of North Carolina SciComm Award for Journalism for “An Angler-Inspired Approach: How Descending Devices Can Save North Carolina’s Reef Fish” by Dan DiNicola.
2022
Co-winner, 2022 Science Communicators of North Carolina SciComm Award for Journalism for Model Behavior by Julie Leibach
Co-winner, 2022 Science Communicators of North Carolina SciComm Award for Journalism for Magic at 64.4 Degrees: Science, Serendipity, and Farmed Striped Bass by Dave Shaw (Ben Reading, SME)
3rd place, 2022 Science Communicators of North Carolina SciComm Award for Journalism for Wings of Change by Lauren D. Pharr.
Winner, 2022 National APEX Grand Award for Publication Excellence for Hook, Line & Science, an online series and a regular feature of every issue.
2021
Winner, 2021 Best Print Publication from the NC Association of Government Information Officers (NCAGIO) for the Spring 2021 issue
Runner-up, 2021 Best Print Publication (NCAGIO) for the Summer 2021 issue
Winner, 2021 National APEX Award for Publication Excellence for the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter 2020 issues
Winner, 2021 Best Feature (NCAGIO) for Plan, Respond, Recover, Adapt by Sarah Spiegler
Runner-up, 2021 Best Feature (NCAGIO) for The Butterfly Effect by Julie Leibach
Runner-up, 2021 Science Communicators of North Carolina SciComm Award (Journalism) for Blood Draw at the Horseshoe Corral by Julie Leibach
3rd place, 2021 Science Communicators of North Carolina SciComm Award (Journalism) for The Greatest Show on the East Coast by Dave Shaw (Stan Riggs, SME)
2020
Winner, 2020 National APEX Award for Publication Excellence for the Autumn 2019 issue
2020 National Sea Grant Honors for Excellence in Communication
Winner, 2020 Best Print Publication (NCAGIO) for the Spring 2020 issue
Winner, 2020 Best Feature (NCAGIO) for Blood Draw at the Horseshoe Corral by Julie Leibach
Runner-up, 2020 Best Feature (NCAGIO) for The Road to Resilience by Julie Leibach
2019
Winner, 2019 Best Print Publication (NCAGIO) for the Autumn 2019 issue
Winner, 2019 Best Feature (NCAGIO) for Testing the Waters by Julie Leibach
Runner-up, 2019 Best Feature (NCAGIO) for Land vs. Sea by Sarah Spiegler
2018
Runner-up, 2018 Best Print Publication (NCAGIO) for the Summer 2018 issue
Winner, 2018 Best Feature (NCAGIO) for The Long View by Julie Leibach