Skip to main content
Fall 2022

Fall 2022

Whats So Special About NC Oysters? Savoring the NC Oyster Trail

Oysters once were as popular as the fast-food burger is today. Since the late-1880’s, people have collected, consumed, and enjoyed oysters up and down the East Coast.

Read More

More From Fall 2022

blue stormy ocean waves with white foam

Letter from the Executive Director

This time of year is made for venturing outdoors to enjoy the nicer weather and to take advantage of the opportunities our coast provides — fishing, hiking, birding, boating, lighthouse exploring, and eating, among many other great pursuits — once the temperatures dip below hot-hot-hot.

Coastal Currents

The latest research, news, and info.

Is There a Future for Oyster Relaying in North Carolina?

For years, oyster farmers in our state have been telling researchers that they have seen greater numbers of healthy oysters in areas they harvest than in those they leave alone.

Troubled Waters: Flooding, Contaminants, and Heightened Risks 

Underserved communities in North Carolina disproportionately experience the adverse effects of flooding and poor water quality. Why is this? And what can we do about it?
image: Upper Cape Fear River.

Natural Solutions and a Clean Water Future for the Cape Fear

With more people living in the Cape Fear River Basin and climate change bringing heavier rains, a new project is forecasting the effects of stormwater runoff as well as how strategic buffers can lessen pollution. 

Hook, Line & Science

Southern flounder move offshore to spawn, but their migration patterns might be more mysterious than we thought.

Ecofriendly Solutions: Social Media for Sharks 

A new study shows that YouTube can serve as a conservation management tool when it comes to misunderstood wildlife.

Healthy Habitats: How Do Restored Oyster Reefs Compare to Live Oyster Reefs?

A new study shows additional benefits from oyster reef restoration — after only six months.

Climate Resilience: NC’s State-of-the-Art Warning System Strengthens Flood Planning

This hurricane season, the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) is relying on an advanced flood-warning system that includes 400 river and stream gauges. Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette calls it a “state-of-the-art warning system” that “will help us be better prepared for the next major storm.

Cultivating the Sea: Is There a Profitable Market for Farm-Fresh Black Sea Bass? 

If you've been fortunate this summer to make it out fishing on hard-bottomed areas, including ship wrecks and reefs, you might have landed a Black Sea Bass. This North Carolina favorite feeds on crabs, clams, and shrimp, which gives it a firm, white flesh and a delicate and sweet flavor — ideal for a variety of cooking techniques.

Mariner’s Menu: Oysters Casino, Snapper Fillets, Stuffed Clams, and More

Mariner’s Menu, North Carolina Sea Grant’s popular online seafood guide, features blogger and photographer Vanda Lewis’s pictures with hundreds of recipes that Joyce Taylor developed.