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North Carolina Sea Grant
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Ecosystems

image: black sea bass on a reef.

Apr 28, 2025

What’s the best way to count reef fish?

Scientists compared two methods — high definition video and wire traps — to see which better sampled an array of fish off the Southeast coast.

Mar 31, 2025

What causes bonnethead sharks to migrate?

Bonnetheads have strong preferences regarding temperature.
image: sea turtle.

Mar 17, 2025

Can we predict where to find cold-stunned sea turtles?

New research could improve sea turtle search and rescue.
image: fishing on the water.

Mar 10, 2025

Has cannibalism hindered the recovery of weakfish?

A research team studied data on weakfish stomach samples from the past 20 years.
image: blue crab.

Feb 17, 2025

Will North Carolina’s blue crabs go extinct?

Environmental stressors may push blue crab populations to their breaking point.
image: Johnna Brooks holding a pair of spotted seatrout.

Feb 10, 2025

How does winter weather affect spotted seatrout?

Water temperatures below 45°F can cause severe “cold stun events.”
image: waxing moon.

Jan 27, 2025

How does the moon phase affect fish?

A new study suggests when anglers might have the most lunar luck.
image: banana parrotfish.

Dec 16, 2024

What do we know about the sleeping habits of fish?

When and where species sleep can determine how vulnerable they are to overfishing.
image: moray eel.

Dec 9, 2024

Can moray eels collect data? 

It turns out these sedentary creatures can answer some mysteries of the deep. 
image: Living Shoreline.

Nov 25, 2024

Do fish love living shorelines?

New research shows how eco-friendly structures compare with natural marshes.