2004

Dec 15, 2004

At War in the Wetlands

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.

Dec 15, 2004

Celebrating A Century: The Life of Muzel Bryant

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.

Dec 15, 2004

Diving for Lionfish

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.

Broome's Boat, Plan B, is a 35-foot shrimp trawler

Dec 15, 2004

Shrimp: No Small Catch, Harvests Features Skimmer Otter Trawls

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.

Dec 1, 2004

Dunes: Frontline for Storm Protection

When Hurricane Bertha hit Jenny Godwin's Emerald Isle beach house in 1996, it destroyed half of a sand dune and several small cedar trees.

Dec 1, 2004

Isabel Makes History in North Carolina

"There's a price to pay for living in Paradise," Jimmy Morris says philosophically. Morris and his wife, Robin, paid dearly when Hurricane Isabel surged over the Core Banks barrier island, pushing Core Sound waters through their Sea Level home and clam hatchery business — its crop of 8 million seed clams just weeks away from harvesting.

Conch pot and wire crab pot side by side.

Oct 1, 2004

SEA SCIENCE: A Fishery for All Seasons

The two set out to explore the feasibility of a viable conch fishery in southeast North Carolina. Could conch become an alternative target fishery during the months other traditional fisheries are less active?

Oct 1, 2004

Clean Marinas Make Good Neighbors

At Mile Marker 182 on the Intracoastal Waterway, Oriental is one of those rare places on the North Carolina coast that seems unchanged by time. Through the years, it has remained true to its water-based genesis.

Oct 1, 2004

Stan Riggs: Geologist Paints Vivid Picture of North Carolina’s Dynamic Shorelines

The brownish-green water from Roanoke Sound in Nags Head hits the heavily rip-rapped shoreline as North Carolina Sea Grant researcher Stan Riggs stands on a large concrete slab.

Oct 1, 2004

From Students to Sturgeon: Wilson Bay Revived

A wavering line of children — mucking through a path in the marsh to collect critters for a lesson in marine biology — mirrors nearby reeds swaying in the wind. The 9-foot stalks of marsh grass are vibrant with rustled chatter. They form a coastal jungle around the young group.