Coastal Currents

News Briefs and Updates

A new coastal landscapes webinar series, the latest winners of the national Knauss Fellowships, the 2026 Sea Grant-APNEP winner,  remembering B.J. Copeland, and the return of the North Carolina Coastal Conference…

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The Food Network

Are Predators Following Blue Crabs?

Studying blue crabs and their surrounding aquatic environments can tell us about species higher in the food chain…

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Gauging Pamlico Sound’s Shrimp Population

Shrimpers, Scientists, and What They Tell Us

White shrimp have been on the rise, and a new North Carolina Sea Grant study shows that combining shrimpers’ local knowledge with traditional science leads to a clearer picture of why shrimp populations fluctuate…

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Touring the “Napa Valley of Oysters”

Day Trips and Weekend Excursions on the NC Oyster Trail

The NC Oyster Trail features more than 90 sites across the state, stretching from the beaches of Cape Hatteras to the mountains of Cashiers…

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At the Intersection of Culture, Training, and History

The South Atlantic Regional Commercial Fishing Academy and Apprenticeship Program

The diminishing number of commercial fishers threatens the resilience of the nation’s seafood industry — but apprenticeship programs offer a solution…

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The Disease Detective

Tracing the Spread of Parasites

Glory Kidimbu investigates the transmission of parasitic pathogens to waterways…

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Behind the Research

Repairing Jordan Lake’s Ecosystem with Zooplankton

A larger population of zooplankton could result in more fish, larger fish, and improved sport fishing…

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When Water Meets Rock

Water Quality Impacts from Lithium Mining

Researchers are investigating the residual effects of lithium mining — and shedding light on the potential impacts of future mining operations…

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Launching Careers

NC STEM Policy Fellows Fuel the Public and Private Spheres

Since the program began in 2020, talented North Carolina graduates have been serving in state offices, gaining valuable insights and experience that have prepared them for key roles in industry and government…

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Healthy Ecosystems

What Strategies Revive Public Oyster Grounds?

Rotating harvests and replenishing shells help oyster reefs recover…

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Conservation Update

Saving Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles

New research could help optimize sea turtle search and rescue…

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Hook, Line & Science

Interviews with Anglers, Cardio for Fish, and More

Half of the fish species in a new study are now inhabiting different areas of the East Coast…

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Across the Atlantic

Cold Water Meets Collective Will

Three southern African countries combine shared governance and regional cooperation to safeguard one of the world’s most productive marine ecosystems…

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Sea Science

Where Oceans Connect

The Panama Canal joins the Pacific and Atlantic, making it a critical route for global maritime trade — but this interoceanic link also increases the risk of unintended introductions of marine species to new waters…

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What the Whales Show

PFAS Concentrations in North Atlantic Pilot Whales

Samples during the last three decades show that legacy PFAS are declining in the open ocean, but newer PFAS remain a major unknown and may be accumulating in near-source environments…

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Letter from Susan White

Executive Director of North Carolina Sea Grant

A report from Tourism Economics says that travelers to our state in 2024 added $37 billion to our economy, up 3.1% from the previous year. North Carolina welcomes over 40 million visitors annually…

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From Last Year’s Spring Issue…

Off the NC Coast: Shipwrecks, Turbidities, and Other Wonders

Take a ride in an imaginary submersible, and explore unique creatures and geological features along the ocean floor. You never know what you’ll find…

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Rip Currents Safety

Share this poster and save a life.

Beachgoers often attempt to swim against a rip current and become exhausted before they can return to shore…

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More Than Seafood

The $100-Million Goal for North Carolina’s Farmed Shellfish

North Carolina Sea Grant and the NC Coastal Federation are collaborating on a bold project to accelerate growth of the state’s farmed shellfish industry…

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Why Is North Carolina’s Blue Crab Population Declining?

North Carolina Sea Grant and partners looked at clues from before and after the decrease began…

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What Will it Cost New Bern to Lose 60% of its Wetlands?

There could be a total loss of around $4 million from lost nitrogen removal services alone over the next 75 years, but, the lost environmental benefits from all of the ecosystem services that wetlands provide could be “much, much larger…”

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Leaking Landfills

Measuring Leachate Contamination in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico Watersheds

Increasingly frequent extreme weather events flush contaminants — including leachate from landfills — into coastal waterways…

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Drone Imagery Shows Shoreline Changes at Rachel Carson Reserve

A new North Carolina Sea Grant and NC Space Grant study using drone imagery reveals shifts in marsh and shoreline along Carrot Island in Beaufort…

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Would a Humpback Whale Pass a Basic Human Eye Test?

Whale eyes might be big, but some species may see the world much differently than we assumed…

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Ready, Set, Resilience

Two hurricanes and a global pandemic exposed a need to support students struggling with upheaval. Researchers at NC State and Duke collaborated with educators and others on a Sea Grant project to guide NC middle schoolers through turbulent times…

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Sharks of North Carolina

A Coastwatch Classic

The sounds, estuaries, and ocean waters in and around North Carolina provide a variety of habitats for water-dwelling species, including an abundance of sharks…

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Hook, Line & Science

North Carolina Sea Grant’s award-winning series for anglers

How can you tell a fish’s age — and why does it matter?

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Protecting North Carolina Coastlines with Natural Solutions

Sam Holberg, Sea Grant & Coastal Reserve Research Fellow

Researching the effects of oyster farms on shorelines could inform lasting, nature-based solutions for our coast…

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An Edenton Haunting

Told for true along the Beaufort waterfront, June 2016

“That was the Captain. . . His boat went down in a hurricane off Ocracoke back in the ’20s…”

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VIDEO: First Sighting of a Colossal Squid in its Natural Habitat

And It’s a Baby

One hundred years after the colossal squid’s discovery, a team on board a Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessel has filmed the species in waters off the South Sandwich Islands…

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Letter from the Executive Director

Winter 2026: A Hive of Activity

We’re anticipating another great year, with your support and engagement leading our collective path forward. Of note, we’re again delighted to announce the return of the North Carolina Coastal Conference in November…

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Currents

News Briefs and Updates

Two annual conferences, a new webinar series on eco-friendly plants, an open call for proposals for STEM Policy fellowships, and more…

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The Art and Science of Weather

Accounting for Extremes — And More
 
Constant fluctuation is part of coastal life. To work and recreate safely, we need to be able to predict the weather…

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Keeper of the Light

“We all reach that point where we think, ‘What can I do on this planet?’”

Until the lighthouse came into service on December 1, 1875, Currituck Beach was the last “dark space” to be illuminated on the East Coast…

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Coast to Coast

Community Engaged Internships
 
North Carolina Sea Grant has led a national effort that matches passionate undergraduate students with the needs of coastal and Great Lakes states…

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Deepfake Whales Could Be Key Conservation Tool

AI-Generated Images of Rare Species

Hyper-realistic deepfake images are notorious for celebrity pranking, but the technology has serious scientific applications, too…

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Green Solutions at Biltmore Hills Park

Reducing Stormwater Runoff for Rochester Heights Creek

“You lay awake and you think, Lord, when it storms, is that creek going to feed back up and be worse this time?”

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Snake-Hunting One Summer

“His purpose was not simply to catch snakes — he was trying to extend the range of some snake or another to the west of its known range in that part of the world, and to do so for The North Carolina Museum of Natural History.”

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Killer Whales Swim NC Waters

How Our Orcas Are Different

Sightings of orcas are extremely rare, and most occur in two seasons of the year…

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Hook, Line & Science

Venting Deepwater Fish — and More

Reef fish caught in deeper waters may not survive catch and release because of pressure trauma from surfacing too quickly…

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Rip Currents Safety

Spread the word. Share this poster — and save a life.

Rip currents can sweep even powerful swimmers away from shore…

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The Guide to Coastal Living

From Streets to Sea: Addressing Stormwater Runoff

Stormwater runoff is a big issue for coastal communities that rely on healthy waters for fishing, recreation, tourism, and drinking supplies…

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Currents

News and Research

New projects on sharks, crabs, HABs, run-off, radon, resilience, real-time tech for stormwater ponds, land-based sensors for coastal flooding, and more…

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From the Executive Director

Fall 2025: Storms, Science, and Serving North Carolina

What an amazing community we have, from the mountains to the sea, providing strength and support for North Carolina Sea Grant…

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Why Are Bonnethead Sharks on the Move?

What 44 Sharks from the North Edisto River Can Tell Us

Water temperatures may hold the answer…

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Will North Carolina’s Blue Crabs Go Extinct?

The Future of the State’s Most Valuable Commercial Fishery 

Environmental stressors may push blue crab populations to their breaking point…

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Turtle Road

Coastal NC Turtles — and More — from Bland Simpson

“He had just tried to get a snapper off of Old Greensboro Highway with a stick and his bare hands and arms, and that beast had bitten and slashed him till he looked as if he had been in a knife fight…”

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A New World for Microbes

Investigating the Plastisphere

Former Sea Grant fellow Austin Gray is exploring what happens when microbes meet microplastics…

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PFAS, Arsenic, and Trade-Offs

North Carolina’s Deeper Well Solution

“Comparatively, a bedrock well is the most cost-effective option…”

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Flooding, Hurricanes, and Community Perspectives

Carteret County and Ocracoke, North Carolina

“If you’re really trying to make change in a place, you have to know the people. Otherwise, it’s just not going to work…”

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Across the Atlantic

Marine Protected Areas: Ghana’s Dance with Conservation Efforts

Funding cuts, policy delays, and climate pressures threaten to derail Ghana’s first marine protected area, putting livelihoods and biodiversity at risk…

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Waste Not, Want Not

Recycling Wastewater for Potable Use

A new project explores wastewater renewal…

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Hook, Line & Science

The Award-Winning Series for Anglers

Landing the biggest dolphinfish, finding black sea bass, predicting tournament winners, and more…

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The Rip Currents Safety Poster

Print it out, put it up, or share the link. And save a life…

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Mariner’s Menu

Summertime Delights

Enjoy summer with choice fish cakes and easy shrimp rolls…

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Coastal Currents

News and Research

The South Atlantic Release Rodeo kicks off, land-based sensors offer a new look at coastal flooding, and more…

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Off the North Carolina Coast

Shipwrecks, Turbidities, and Other Wonders

You never know what you’ll find if you take a ride in a submersible and explore the unique creatures and geological features along the ocean floor…

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Gearing Up

How to Keep Terrapins out of Blue Crab Pots

Small gear adjustments can have a big impact…

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Safeguarding Water

Legislative Gaps and Innovative Solutions

A new approach to watershed health protects the Falls Lake drinking water supply for 500,000 North Carolina residents…

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Across the Atlantic

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing: The Silent Threat to Oceans and Livelihoods

Can Ghana reverse its declining marine resources?

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PET Predators

Can New Bacteria Transform Ocean Cleanup?

Chemical and biomolecular engineer Nathan Crook and student Tianyu Li at NC State University are developing a microorganism that can break down and absorb plastic waste…

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Vital Signs

NOAA’s Global Climate Report

Last year brought unprecedented high temperatures and numerous severe weather events…

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Networks of Recovery

Findings from the JustWater Project

From Matthew to Helene, the North Carolina Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network has connected organizations and vulnerable communities…

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Climate Change in the Napa Valley of Oysters

Global Warming and NC’s Most Important Shellfish

Rising seas and warming temperatures pose challenges for a critical, eco-friendly industry…

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Hook, Line & Science

Red Snapper Hideaways, Lunar Luck, and More

The latest research and news from the award-winning series for anglers…

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The Guide to Coastal Living

Algal Blooms: How to Stay Safe

How can we avoid harmful algal blooms?

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Mariner’s Menu

Springtime Specials

Here’s how to enjoy Crab Cakes with Wasabi Sauce and Cream of Shrimp Soup…

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The Rip Currents Safety Poster

Know Your Options

Share this poster and save a life…

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Currents

News and Updates

A novel crop resilience project earns new funding, and much more…

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Letter from the Executive Director

Spring 2025: Renewal and Growth

Susan White remembers a Sea Grant giant…

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Accounting for the Unaccounted

Thousands Hoped for Any Word of Family and Friends After Helene

Volunteer operators for a Community Emergency Response Team updated a database that provided responders with GPS coordinates to check as they searched mountains, valleys, and riversides… 

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Teachers on the Tower (video)

Frying Pan Tower: A Platform for Educators

What better way to give educators more tools to teach about the ocean than to take them out into the Graveyard of the Atlantic?

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A Booming Industry — And a New Threat

North Carolina Oysters Face Unexplained “Mass Mortality Events”

A cutting-edge project is addressing “the biggest hindrance to sustainable oyster aquaculture development in the Southeast.”

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Early Warnings

Satellite Imagery May Help Protect Coastal Forests from Climate Change

A former North Carolina Sea Grant-Space Grant Fellow is pioneering a new method that will inform conservation planning...

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The 2024 NC Coastal Conference in Review

A Look Back at the Biggest NC Sea Grant Gathering to Date

The 2024 North Carolina Coastal Conference in November brought together over 330 coastal enthusiasts…

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Managing Coastal Nitrogen Pollution

Lessons from New Bern

Engineered solutions help to maintain coastal resilience and protect local economies…

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Environmental Sentinels

Microplastics and Metals in Oysters

“Our goal is to provide scientific data in context that can aid decision-making and dispel misinformation.”

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Mind the Gap

Findings from the UN’s 2024 Emissions Gap Report

As emissions reach all-time highs, far more stringent goals are necessary to keep global warming under a threshold that would make heightened climate impacts unstoppable…

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Hook, Line & Science

Anglers vs. River Otters, Why We Fish Where We Do, and More

Here’s the the latest science and news for anglers…

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Vital Signs: New Sea Level Rise Projections for North Carolina

The NC Coastal Resources Commission Science Panel’s Report

A new report predicts marked sea level rise on the northern, central, and southern NC coast by 2050 and 2100…

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The Guide to Coastal Living

From Shore to Shady Spots: Plants That Thrive on Our Coast

Eco-friendly native plants and smart gardening practices can help to create healthy and beautiful coastal landscapes… 

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Public Trust

Bland Simpson Recounts “A Fisherman Challenged at Rich Inlet”

“If you don’t let us fish in peace, the Attorney General’s office and the News & Observer will soon learn there is a private North Carolina ocean beach not open to the public.” 

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Mariner’s Menu: Winter Wonders

Sautéed Tuna Steaks with Tarragon, Baked Clams with Garlic Butter, and Oyster Fritters

Enjoy these seasonal favorites from North Carolina Sea Grant’s popular online seafood guide…

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Coastal Currents

News and Opportunities from North Carolina Sea Grant

Two open fellowships, a new paid apprenticeship in the commercial seafood industry, a look ahead at an ocean acidification education project, and more…

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The Catastrophic Power of Hurricane Helene

North Carolina’s New History of Record-Breaking Storms

Only six years separate Florence and Helene, but these “once-in-a-thousand-year” hurricanes have much in common. Along with other storms that have hit our state, Helene offers lessons — and a warning…

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The Undersea Vision of Fabien Cousteau

Building the “ISS of the Ocean”

PROTEUS™ — the undersea equivalent of the International Space Station — will speed scientific discovery and may even spur medical breakthroughs…

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The Guide to Coastal Living

Storm Readiness and Recovery Basics

Here’s practical information for you and your community during and after a major storm…

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Tracking Loggerheads

The Mysteries of Sea Turtle Migration

Satellite tagging on Bald Head Island reveals that loggerheads cover long distances up and down the East Coast — and beyond…

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Hurricane Hazel

October 15th, 1954

“She had torn the south-facing beaches of Brunswick County all to hell and gone, wrecking the crab-and-fish houses and putting great schooners up into yards in Southport, and thrown fishing boats onto main streets in Morehead City and Beaufort.” 

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Mapping the Impacts of North Carolina’s Poultry Industry

A Novel Solution to a Lack of Public Data

How do concentrated animal feeding operations and their waste impact our state’s waterways? 

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Plastic from the Mountains to the Sea

Researchers and Community Members Join Forces on Plastic Pollution in North Carolina

From plastic trash along creeks and rivers, to microplastics in waterways — and in our bloodstreams — plastic pollution is present on every continent, including Antarctica…

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Hook, Line & Science

Shrinking Fish, Saving Manta Rays, and More

Scientists discover a global phenomenon — shrinking fish — but the reasons behind it aren’t clear cut…

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Coastwatch Classroom

NC Stream Watch’s Indoor-Outdoor Classrooms

“We have goals to raise awareness about natural resource careers earlier, rather than waiting until people are in college — trying to spark those little nuggets of this is a possibility early on.” 

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Mariner’s Menu

For Autumn Appetites

Here’s what to make this Fall — with videos about how to make it…

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Coastal Currents

News and Research Updates

New fellows, new hires, and exciting new projects…

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The Contamination of Indigenous Lands

BONUS CONTENT FROM THE SUMMER 2024 ISSUE

Health issues are becoming more frequent for “The People of the Falling Star.” The answers may lie at their feet… 

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North Carolina’s True Ghost Story

A Tale of Carbon, Salt, and Sea Level Rise

A new study is using satellite imagery to predict the next ghost forests...

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Soul of the Soil

The Contamination of Indigenous Lands

Health issues are becoming more frequent among the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe. The answers may lie at their feet…

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Catching up with John Mallette

The Untold Stories of African Americans in North Carolina’s Seafood Industry

“As long as I was around a boat and I was on the water, I really didn’t care about anything else.”

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Ancient Oyster Fisheries

Old Practices and What They Reveal

Indigenous peoples sustained massive oyster fisheries for 5,000 to 10,000 years — or longer…

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Seashells of North Carolina

Excerpts from the Updated and Expanded New Edition

Beachcombers and researchers alike have revered the original publication for decades. North Carolina Sea Grant and UNC Press have just released the latest edition…

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Hook, Line & Science

The Award-Winning Series for Anglers

Saving the red snapper, angling around windmills, and the night life of oyster toadfish…

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The Guide to Coastal Living

Bulkheads: Challenges and Tips

Bulkheads sometimes are cheaper to install, but the long-term costs of maintenance can be steep…

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1,000 More Miles

New Fish Passage Facilities Restore Access to NC Habitat

Updates at the Blewett Falls Hydroelectric Project now allow American eel and other fish to access previously blocked upstream riverine habitat…

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How Climate Change Affects Your Health

Infographics on Air Quality and Heat Waves

Global warming impacts human health, especially during summertime…

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Rip Currents Safety

Know Your Options

Over a million people have seen this poster in 2024. Share it and save a life…

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Vital Signs: Caribbean Creep

Warming Waters and the Spread of New Species

More species are moving into the Mid-Atlantic…

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Safety Alert: Hurricane Season Is Here

Tips, Tools, and Resources

New guidance from NOAA advises people not to focus on a specific storm category. A storm’s “scale” only reflects the strongest winds near the center of the storm — not potentially life-threatening flooding from storm surge or rain…

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Special Announcement: The NC Coastal Conference Returns to the Coast

Registration is now open.

This year’s conference will again feature a wide array of presentations that address pressing issues for our state’s coastal communities and ecosystems…

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Mariner’s Menu

New Cooking Videos

Here’s what to make — and how to make it.

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Letter from the Executive Director

The Latest Updates from North Carolina Sea Grant

June marked the start of another hurricane season, and NOAA has projected above-normal Atlantic hurricane activity through November 30th…

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Creature Feature: Conan O’Brien Worms, Sea Dragons, and Ocean Aliens

BONUS CONTENT from the SPRING 2024 issue

Recent research proves the ocean contains no shortage of curiosities…

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