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North Carolina Sea Grant
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Research

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: Recreational boater family cruises the ICW behind Figure Eight Island.

Aug 29, 2025

Can boating cause carbon monoxide poisoning?

Danger is in the air — and you can’t see or smell it.
image: Boaters and their dog speed south down the Intracoastal Waterway near Figure Eight Island.

Jul 3, 2025

Boating under the influence can be lethal.

Any level of alcohol intake increases the risk of death on the water.
image: ghost gear.

Jun 9, 2025

What happens to abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear?

A new study suggests how much ghost gear might be out there.
dolphinfish, caught off Hatteras.

Jun 2, 2025

Are big dolphinfish getting harder to catch?

Two decades of fishing data raise concerns about this offshore favorite. 
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.
image: bass fishing.

Apr 7, 2025

Can we predict who wins a bass tournament?

Home field advantage may help determine the outcome...