{"id":19717,"date":"2024-01-17T12:42:57","date_gmt":"2024-01-17T17:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=19039"},"modified":"2024-07-08T15:13:22","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T19:13:22","slug":"degrees-of-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/degrees-of-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Degrees of Change: Why Water Temperatures Matter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Estuaries are transition zones where land meets water, ocean meets rivers, and saltwater meets fresh. They are also \u201cthe nurseries of the sea,\u201d supporting juvenile fishes, crabs, and shrimps as they transition into adulthood by providing marshes, seagrasses, and oyster reefs \u2014 habitats that allow these species to find food and remain safe from predators when young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, these habitats shelter many species vital to local ecosystems, recreational enjoyment, and commerce. According to information from the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP)<\/a><\/span>, estuarine waters are a habitat for 75% of America\u2019s commercial fish catch and 80 to 90% of its recreational catch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n