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Mapping the Impacts of North Carolina’s Poultry Industry 

Healthy Ecosystems

The coastal environment faces numerous threats from emerging contaminants, plastics and marine debris, other pollutants, climate change, and more.

image: Falls Lake under the stars.

Mar 31, 2025

Safeguarding Water

A new approach to watershed health protects the Falls Lake drinking water supply for 500,000 North Carolina residents.
image: shucking an oyster.

Mar 31, 2025

Climate Change in the Napa Valley of Oysters

Rising seas and warming temperatures pose challenges for a critical, eco-friendly industry.
image: discarded plastic.

Mar 26, 2025

PET Predators

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.
image: submerged U-boat diving site.

Mar 26, 2025

Off the NC Coast

Take a ride in an imaginary submersible, and explore unique creatures and geological features along the ocean floor.

Jan 21, 2025

Environmental Sentinels

“Our goal is to provide scientific data in context that can aid decision-making and dispel misinformation.” University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Stephen Skrabal and Brooks Avery are assessing metals and…

Jan 15, 2025

A Booming Industry — And a New Threat

A cutting-edge project is addressing “the biggest hindrance to sustainable oyster aquaculture development in the Southeast.” It’s no secret that seafood is a staple of North Carolina cuisine, and oysters…

Dec 16, 2024

The 2024 NC Coastal Conference in Review

The 2024 North Carolina Coastal Conference on November 13 and 14 in New Bern brought together over 330 coastal enthusiasts for insightful presentations and discussions about the future of North…

Oct 16, 2024

Hook, Line & Science

The latest science on shrinking fish, saving Manta Rays, and tracking species by measuring environmental DNA.

Oct 16, 2024

Coastwatch Classroom

Adaptability for different ages and classroom environments is an important feature of Stream Watch’s lesson plans, honed for students in kindergarten to grade 2, grades 3 to 5, and grades 6 to 8. 

Oct 16, 2024

Mapping the Impacts of North Carolina’s Poultry Industry 

How might poultry farms, raising anywhere from 20,000 to 1.5 million chickens at a time, affect nearby communities? How do concentrated animal feeding operations and their waste, an estimated 2.5 billion pounds annually for chickens alone, impact our state’s waterways? How has the rapid expansion of this industry over the last few decades compounded these problems?