Cape Hatteras National Seashore issued an advisory late afternoon Tuesday that the potential strong wind and waves forecast for the next few days could cause the partial or full collapse of one or more threatened oceanfront structures in Buxton and Rodanthe.
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Scientists record female sperm whales assisting in calf’s birth
A research team was working the summer of 2023 off the coast of Dominica when they made the “impossibly rare” observation of a mother sperm whale giving birth and the newborn assisted by the other whales in taking its first breath, all while recording their underwater vocalizations.
Session set to educate, listen to public on shellfish lease issues
Area residents will be able to share their experiences and opinions and learn more about the issues surrounding shellfish aquaculture in Stump Sound and Topsail Sound during an informational presentation and listening session April 14 in Hampstead.
‘Black Church Crawl’ to be immersive, historic experience
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridors’ North Carolina Summit is offering an immersive tour highlighting the history of Black churches in Brunswick and New Hanover counties.
Coastal Federation announces 800-acre Carteret acquisition
The close to 800 acres is expected to further the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s mission to protect water quality, while supporting military readiness, as well as to provide a new official portion of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the environmental group said Monday.
Commission to consider updating inlet hazard areas
The Coastal Resources Commission is to consider next week approving amending updated inlet hazard boundaries, ocean erodible areas and inlet hazard areas erosion rate setbacks.
Halifax to mark colonies’ first big step toward independence
Historic Halifax State Historic Site is commemorating Friday through Sunday the 250-year anniversary of North Carolina taking the first official action of any colony to call for independence of British rule.
‘Barn Owlet Watch 2026’ Wildlife Commission cam goes live
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Barn Owlet Watch 2026 is now live, giving viewers 24-hour real time video and audio to all the happenings in a barn owl nest box in the western part of the state.
Earth & Arts OBX to celebrate Earth Day, new boardwalk
In celebration of Earth Day and to mark the official opening of Nags Head’s new soundside boardwalk, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is hosting Earth & Arts OBX on April 22.
Mapping upgrades go live in online flood blueprint tool
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s online tool designed to help local governments, agencies and nongovernmental partners plan and prioritize flood resilience actions now includes new maps for five river basins in Eastern North Carolina.
Corps says initiative will streamline infrastructure permitting
An Army Corps of Engineers initiative announced earlier this year is geared to speed up and improve the permitting process for civil works projects, eliminating “bureaucratic delays” with new technology and tools, but when it comes to dredging and beach nourishment, nothing is as simple as that may sound.
Commercial, for-hire fishing license, permit presale is April 15
Commercial and for-hire fishers may take advantage of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ presales for fishing licenses and permits beginning April 15.
NC Lighthouse Challenge part of the US’ 250th celebration
For the NC Lighthouse Challenge, participants must visit 10 historic lighthouse sites and submit their photos with the lighthouse visible by the Dec. 31 deadline.
Nice alligator; see you later
An American alligator sunning at North River Wetlands Preserve in Carteret County slides in for a dip recently as March temperatures rose. The 6,000-acre preserve is the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s project to return farmland back to its original state and to use the wetlands to naturally treat polluted runoff. The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review. Photo: Doug Waters
Our Coast: At the Whales, Whaling Symposium in Beaufort
Historian and author David Cecelski writes about the talk he gave earlier this month on bottlenose dolphin fishery at Hatteras Island during the annual Whale and Whaling Symposium in Beaufort.
Four ferry routes expand schedules for spring season
NCDOT increased Tuesday departures for the ferries traveling between Hatteras-Ocracoke, Swan Quarter-Ocracoke, Cedar Island-Ocracoke and Southport-Fort Fisher.

















