As Bob Hines adjusts a miniature green net on the side of a skimmer trawl model, he explains how commercial shrimpers can tell when they come upon a bounty of white shrimp.
Whitfield and her crew carry spears and specimen bags in expectation of a large catch of the invasive creature native to Pacific waters. The scientists lead the first Atlantic study on lionfish, a joint project by NOAA's National Undersea Research Center (NURC) at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and the National Centers of Coastal Ocean Science.
Vacationers on Ocracoke Island, lured by its pristine coastline and rich maritime culture, seldom notice the tiny, quiet woman who, at 100, is one of the island's most cherished and unique residents. On most days, friends and neighbors passing by her house will look for her sitting in her recliner, positioned just right to see through the storm door. A woman of kind heart and few words, she always returns a wave hello.
In just one growing season, dense growths can crowd out native vegetation and wildlife habitat — threatening entire aquatic ecosystems. Phragmites australis is particularly aggressive in low-salinity marshes and in wetland areas where salinity levels are lowered by human-induced changes.
