Skip to main content
NC State Home
North Carolina Sea Grant
NC Sea Grant Logo Hook, Line and Science

Ecosystems

image: tilefish (Caulolatilus microps).

Apr 27, 2026

When do blueline tilefish spawn?

Research involving charter boat captains provides critical data on the reproductive biology of blueline tilefish in the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic regions.
image: woman holds an adult sheepshead on a boat.

Apr 13, 2026

Where do sheepshead spawn along the North Carolina coast?

New research identifies when and where sheepshead gather to reproduce.
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.