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North Carolina Sea Grant
NC Sea Grant Logo Hook, Line and Science

Ecosystems

image: mako shark underwater.

Mar 23, 2026

Are anglers a rising threat to sharks?

Recreational catches of shortfin mako reveal the impacts of modern fishing on open-ocean sharks.
image: a surveyor collecting recreational fishing data.

Feb 9, 2026

What can 40 years of angler interviews tell us about where fish are moving?

Half of the fish species in a new study are now inhabiting different areas of the East Coast.
image: white grunt.

Dec 8, 2025

Where, when, and why do white grunts live off the Carolinas?

Scientists document long-term patterns of a fish most popular with children and beginners.
image: blue crabs.

Nov 10, 2025

Why is North Carolina’s blue crab population declining?

Scientists look at clues from times before and after the decrease began. 
image: Ship passing through Panama Canal.

Jul 14, 2025

What happens when oceans connect?

Expansion of the Panama Canal reshapes local ecosystems.
logo: SA Release Rodeo.

Jun 30, 2025

What kind of gear can you win from the South Atlantic Release Rodeo?

Circle hooks and lead weights, a kite rod and reel combo, and a Turtlebox speaker.
image: blue crab.

May 19, 2025

Are predators following blue crabs?

Studying blue crabs and their surrounding aquatic environments can tell us about species higher in the food chain.
image: Black sea bass.

May 12, 2025

Where are the black sea bass? 

New research shows they could be migrating.

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.