Rebecca Nagy

Sep 1, 2010

Science Serving the Coast: Specter of Oil Spurs Research Response

For months, eyes were fixed on efforts to permanently stop the flow of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico from the ruptured Deepwater Horizon rig. Now, the struggle continues as researchers from across the nation try to assess and, if necessary and possible, to mitigate adverse effects on ecosystems, livelihoods and communities of the region.

Jun 1, 2010

Rebuilding the Economy, One Oyster at a Time

This article was published in the Summer 2010 issue of Coastwatch. Pamlico Sound’s economy and ecosystems are getting a much-needed boost this year, courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.…

Jun 1, 2010

Listening to the Sea

  This article was published in the Summer 2010 issue of Coastwatch. To many of us, “spiny dogfish” are meaningless words. Some of you might know it’s a small species of…

Jun 1, 2010

For-Hire Fishing: Rich in Coastal History; Enriching Coastal Economies

This article was published in the Summer 2010 issue of Coastwatch. It’s late afternoon dockside at the Hatteras Harbor Marina. Excitement ripples through a gathering crowd waiting for a string…

Dec 1, 2006

Juggling Hybrids and Homes: Balancing Fish Farming and Local Development

The first season Lee Brothers raised hybrid striped bass fingerlings on his farm, he slept in his truck every night. "I was scared to death," he admits, adding that he would get up several times during the night to check oxygen levels in the tanks holding the young fish. "No one knew anything about fingerlings back then."

Dec 1, 2006

Crowding Out Shellfish

When Jim and Bonnie Swartzenberg began farming shellfish near Holly Ridge in 1980, the Onslow County couple could look out across the sound and not see a single rooftop.

Dec 1, 2006

Going With the Flow: Aquaculture’s Water Quality Woes

Clean water. Fish need it, shellfish need it, and people want to live near it. But the livelihood of fish and shellfish farmers depends on it. As development in North Carolina's coastal regions continues to increase, waste and water quality issues are being forced to the forefront of North Carolina's aquaculture industries.

Oct 1, 2006

Hatteras’ Changing Waterfront: Fishing Traditions, Boat Slips Dwindling

Today, he doesn't know of anyone on Hatteras Island who uses a haul seine because it is so time-consuming to pull in a long net with a boat and also results in a high mortality rate for fish. Now, commercial fishers use gill nets to fish for gray trout.

Oct 1, 2006

Carotank…Currituck: Land of the Wild Goose

Algonquian Indians called this area "Carotank" meaning "land of the wild goose." Today, it is known as Currituck. The area remains synonymous with waterfowling in more than name alone. Situated on the Atlantic Flyway, Currituck Sound is an ideal stopover for migrating ducks, geese and swans.

Aug 1, 2006

Public Access Parking Pinch?

This summer, families from all over the United States will pack themselves into their cars and begin the trek to North Carolina's beautiful shorelines. Whether they drive for two hours or 20, many travelers will endure the exasperating hallmarks of a family road trip: muscle-curdling leg cramps, crumb-covered seats, and crabby cries of "Are we there yet?"