2002 | Coastwatch

Oct 1, 2002

Waccamaw River: Abundant Resources Provide Enchanting Experiences

It's a clear, sunny day as Doug Smith pushes an aluminum canoe into the slow-moving water of the Waccamaw River. As Smith paddles through a thick, forested area in Columbus County, he notices a ripple in the water and maneuvers around some tree branches.

Bull shark with open mouth in blue water below the surface.

Oct 1, 2002

Sea Science: Risk of Shark Attack is Minimal

While surfing the rough waters on the Outer Banks during the past 13 years, Mike Remige has seen fewer than a half dozen sharks. More importantly, Remige never has experienced a shark attack.

Sep 1, 2002

Sea Science: Quality Key to International Seafood Standards

Seafood safety — including intensive programs such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points training — has been a focus of the U.S. seafood industry in recent years. But the industry also must match international standards for quality of fresh fish, adds David Green, seafood lab director.

Sep 1, 2002

North Carolina Seafood Processors Go Global

"The seafood industry has to diversify beyond commodities to compete in the global seafood market," Harris says, noting that many of the state's crab processing plants have gone out of business in recent years due, in part, to competition from imported crabmeat.

Sep 1, 2002

Restoring Inland Streams, Renewing Coastal Waters

The stream and its banks were teeming with life — fish and wildlife, flowers and trees. It was a delight to local inhabitants, who dubbed it Rocky Branch. Time passed. Deforestation and agriculture began to carve changes into the landscape. A city and a major university slowly crowded out the rural setting. After more than a century, the once pristine waters of Rocky Branch were forced through channels and squeezed into culverts and between buildings. In some places, the stream disappeared beneath roads and parking lots.

May 1, 2002

RIP CURRENTS: Don’t Panic

A new link in the chain is the posting of more than 500 rip current signs at beach parking lots, crossovers, lifeguard stands and other sites. North Carolina Sea Grant is spearheading the project, in conjunction with local officials and the National Weather Service (NWS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

May 1, 2002

Hurricane Resistance: Retrofitting, Storm Shutters Increase Safety

"Plywood storm shutters that protect windows during hurricanes have been in use for many years and are one of the most cost-effective ways to build shutters," says Rogers, North Carolina Sea Grant's coastal construction and erosion specialist.

Mar 1, 2002

Sea Science: New Research Projects Reflect Sea Grant Spectrum

This spring, North Carolina Sea Grant researchers will begin a new round of projects, each aimed at a particular aspect of our coast and its vast resources.

Mar 1, 2002

Shellfish Closures: Signs of Troubled Waters

Raymond Graham's history in shellfishing runs as deep as the currents of the Newport River that flows past his home in Mill Creek. As a shellfish dealer, Graham carries on a family tradition that goes back at least to his grandfather. But in his lifetime, much has changed.