Learn more and share photos<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Community Collaborative Research Grant Program is now open for proposals. This innovative program funds collaborative research that couples community knowledge and academic expertise in order to address priority coastal issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proposals also should align with North Carolina Sea Grant and the North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute\u2019s vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The deadline for proposals is February 4, 2022, at 5 p.m. Eastern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn More.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n North Carolina Sea Grant and the North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute support the Community Collaborative Research Grant Program in partnership with the William R. Kenan Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology, and Science. To read about a recent CCRG project, see this issue\u2019s \u201cPodcasting a Wide Net<\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n North Carolina Sea Grant continues to help the seafood industry recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through two new projects, one with a statewide focus and another with a national scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe will develop and enhance direct-to-consumer marketing strategies to offset ongoing losses in the food-service sector, where a majority of seafood in 2020 was consumed before the pandemic,\u201d says North Carolina Sea Grant coastal economics specialist Jane Harrison, who will head the statewide project. Sea Grant colleagues Barry Nash, Eric Herbst, and Scott Baker also will play keyroles, as will partners from state agencies and organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, our project will provide marketing assistance, training, and network building for North Carolina commercial fishers and marine aquaculture producers who are conducting direct marketing through tourism,\u201d Harrison explains. \u201cBuilding on the initial successes of the NC Oyster Trail and the Visit North Carolina Farms<\/em> app, our team also will demonstrate ways to leverage tourism to increase public awareness and demand for North Carolina seafood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Annie Baggett at the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will work with seafood producers to expand use of the Visit NC Farms<\/em> app, which helps consumers find retailers and seasonal events celebrating local food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, Ann Savage of NC State University Tourism Extension will help to further develop the NC Oyster Trail, a program that educates the public about the culinary options and ecosystem benefits of sustainable shellfish farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The North Carolina Coastal Federation will host a workshop to strengthen and build relationships between Oyster Trail members and tourism organizations. The workshop will coincide with the NC Oyster Summit in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n North Carolina Sea Grant is also partnering on a national project with Maryland Sea Grant, the National Sea Grant Office, NOAA\u2019s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), and others to support ecofriendly, successful, and equitable marine aquaculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n North Carolina Sea Grant\u2019s Eric Herbst will work with NCCOS aquaculture experts in Beaufort on marine spatial planning, regional workshops that focus on site selections for new aquaculture operations, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNorth Carolina Sea Grant already has strong working relationships with NCCOS partners working on aquaculture topics, such as through the recent update for the NC Oyster Blueprint and other committees,\u201d Herbst says. \u2014 Katie Mosher<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n North Carolina Sea Grant, the North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute, and North Carolina Space Grant welcomed Tim Thomason aboard this fall as their inaugural DEIJA Liaison. Thomason (above) will support the three teams\u2019 joint commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility by helping to diversify the applicant pools for the programs\u2019 state and national funding opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to be named as the first DEIJA liaison to both continue and amplify the joint diversity and inclusion commitments,\u201d says Thomason, who also works for VF Corporation as the director of global inclusion, diversity, equity, and action. \u201cThere\u2019s an incredible opportunity to further engage and connect diverse communities to funding opportunities, and I\u2019m honored to support these efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thomason, an MBA student at North Carolina A&T State University, also is executive director for Minority Game Changers, a nonprofit serving North Carolina by creating interactive and immersive STEM and professional development sessions for high school students from under-represented backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe recognize our programs\u2019 unique position and responsibility to strengthen the pipeline to college and to professional life for students of all backgrounds and abilities,\u201d says Christy Perrin, sustainable waters and communities coordinator for North Carolina Sea Grant and the Water Resources Research Institute, as well as a founding member of the programs\u2019 joint DEIJA Committee. \u201cTim\u2019s expertise will be critical in helping to fulfill this vision.\u201d \u2014 Dave Shaw<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n North Carolina Sea Grant\u2019s DEIJA Vision<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Port cities have always been a melting pot, but not all of the diverse voices within them have had a platform. For several months earlier this year, the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport showcased an exhibit that was designed to change that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow Does the Water Speak to You?\u201d included watercolor and acrylic paintings, as well as digital and found- object artworks. These pieces shared a common connection: art with a maritime connection that was created by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer\/questioning, intersex, asexual\/ aromantic\/ally communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Frank Harr Foundation, an LGBTQIA education and outreach organization based in Wilmington, helped identify artists in the community whose work had ties to the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Featured artists, their works, and media included: Alexander Brooks, Entangled<\/em>, watercolor; Robin Douglass, Sailboats & Buoys<\/em>, driftwood, cloth and cork<\/em>; Achilles Hack, Patroclus and Achilles<\/em>, digital; Campbell Idol, Hidden Identity<\/em>, acrylic; and Hannah Marley, Small Treasure<\/em>, glass and found objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 adapted by Lauren D. Pharr from a media release from NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this year, the Fort Fisher State Historic Site launched \u201cA Memory A People Could Not Forget: Lumbee Indians at Fort Fisher.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guest curated by the Museum of the Southeastern American Indian and the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, the Civil War exhibit was designed to portray the vital role played by Lumbee Indians \u2014 alongside free and enslaved African Americans \u2014 in building the fort\u2019s massive earthworks. Faced with the reality of conscription and brutal working conditions, the Lumbee endured seemingly endless demands on their labor in building what came to be known as \u201cThe Gibraltar of the South.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Fort Fisher fell to Federal troops after an attack on January 15, 1865, its loss contributed significantly to the Confederacy\u2019s defeat. Today, the Fort Fisher State Historic Site, located in Kure Beach, is part of the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 adapted by Lauren D. Pharr from a press release from N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fort Fisher State Historic Site<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n SAVE THE DATE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2022 North Carolina Aquaculture Conference Returns March 10th through the 12th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 34th annual NC Aquaculture Conference is planning to meet in person in New Bern in early March of 2022. Anyone with an interest in fish or shellfish farming is welcome to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conference brings together current and prospective fish farmers, scientists, the general public, and people in regulatory agencies to share information and ideas about aquaculture in our state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All attendees also can enjoy an ongoing trade show, as well as the conference\u2019s NC Cultured Seafood Festival, an \u201call you can eat\u201d celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visit their website<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> To stay up-to-date<\/p>\n\n\n\n Application periods for several national NOAA and Sea Grant fellowships are now open. Sea Grant and NOAA recruit, retain, and prepare a diverse workforce, and proactively engage and serve the diverse populations of coastal communities. The opportunities below include fellowships in management, policy, and research that affect coastal ecosystems and benefit people of all backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applications for the Coastal Management Fellowship and the Digital Coast Fellowship<\/strong><\/em> are due January 21, 2022<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These fellowships provide on-the-job opportunities in coastal resource management and policy, while also offering key expertise to state coastal zone management agencies and other key NOAA partners,\u201d says John Fear, North Carolina Sea Grant deputy director. Current and recent graduate students with degrees from colleges and universities in the state are eligible to apply. More information is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n North Carolina Sea Grant also is accepting applications from doctoral students in the state for the National Marine Fisheries \u2013 National Sea Grant Fellowship in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics<\/strong> and Marine Resource Economics.<\/strong><\/em> The deadline is January 27, 2022<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis joint fellowship not only provides hands-on research experience, but also it fosters a direct connection with NOAA,\u201d says Fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each fellow must work with a mentor from NOAA Fisheries. For more information, visit go.ncsu.edu\/fisheries-fellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last, the application period for the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships<\/em><\/strong> is open until February 18, 2022<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NOAA offers the prestigious fellowships through the National Sea Grant Office. The program places graduate students in Washington, D.C. to work on federal policies and processes that affect ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are honored to nominate strong North Carolina students for this opportunity every year,\u201d says Fear. \u201cCurrent and past fellows cite this vital professional experience in marine policy as a key influence on career paths in science, policy, communications, and other fields.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn more about Knauss Fellowships.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information about applying in North Carolina for any of the above fellowships, contact John Fear at jmfear@ncsu.edu<\/a><\/em>. \u2014 Katie Mosher & Dave Shaw<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n More funding opportunities<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A set of 10 design templates from the Coastal Landscapes Initiative has won an APEX Award for Excellence. These templates feature plants native to coastal North Carolina, explaining which species work well together and how to arrange them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe wanted to help people who are interested in sustainable coastal land-scaping but don\u2019t know where to begin,\u201d says project manager Gloria Putnam, North Carolina Sea Grant\u2019s coastal resources and communities specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each design provides ideal site conditions, a planting blueprint, seasonal bloom or berry color, an illustration of the plantings at maturity, and maintenance tips. Designs are adaptable for different lot configurations and also include alternative plant choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Native plant experts and design professionals helped create the templates, which the Coastal Landscapes Initiative published to encourage nature-enhancing landscaping. Key partners included the North Carolina Aquariums at Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island and Coastal Roots Garden Design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The full guide is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Printed packets are also available by emailing Gloria Putnam at gfpuntam@ncsu.edu<\/a><\/em>, by inquiring at your closest NC Cooperative Extension office, or contacting a North Carolina Sea Grant office in Wanchese, Wilmington, or Morehead City. \u2014 Julie Leibach<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nRequest for Proposals for the CCRG Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"image](\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/11\/A-Crab2_ray_midgett-scaled-e1639153762236.jpg\")
<\/a>New Projects Support Seafood and Aquaculture Industries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Tim-Thomason.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSea Grant and Sister Programs Launch New Diversity Liaison Position<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Interior](\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Southport-Maritime-Museum...-.png\")
<\/a>Southport Maritime Museum Offers LGBTQIA+ Art Exhibit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Fort](\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Fort-Fisher-site...-Kelly-Verdeck-Follow-20150818-IMG_4315-CC-BY-ND-2.0-20627157130_00f197bd86_o-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>Fort Fisher Site Debuts Lumbee Exhibit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Knauss](\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/National-Fellowship-Deadlines...-.jpeg\")
<\/a>National Fellowship Deadlines Approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Coastal Landscaping Design Templates Win Award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Coastal-Landscaping-Design-templates-232x300.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n