Plastic debris in the ocean is often mistaken for food by marine animals, but researchers at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort recently discovered that coral found off the N.C. coast prefer it to food.
Archives
Navassa: Contamination at ‘Various Levels’
Health and environmental concerns are top priority for Navassa residents affected by the 251-acre Superfund site in Brunswick County that has varying levels of creosote contamination in the soil and groundwater.
Our Coast’s People: Steve Murphey
Steve Murphey, new director of the state Division of Marine Fisheries, has devoted decades to fisheries biology work and hopes to help better educate the public on the division’s efforts in his new role.
Ferry Study Eyes Raising Fares, Cutting Runs
The state Ferry Division could save $1.5 million by reducing off-season crossings and raise $1.7 million though fare increases without harming residents and businesses, according to a new legislative study.
Cooper Promises Lawsuit Over Exemption
Gov. Roy Cooper in Wrightsville Beach Monday reiterated his opposition to the Trump administration’s plan for drilling for oil and gas off the coast and vowed a lawsuit if the state isn’t granted an exemption as Florida recently received.
Duke Energy Proposes Solar Rebate Program
A typical rooftop solar array would be eligible for a $4,800 rebate under a program Duke Energy has proposed to help its North Carolina customers offset the cost of installing solar panels on their property.
Coastal Owls: Mysterious, Misunderstood
Outer Banks birder Jeff Lewis shares his enthusiasm for the owls of eastern North Carolina, creatures he says are fascinating but misunderstood.
Historic Wrightsville Beach Cottage Relocated
The 1924 Ewing-Bordeaux Cottage in Wrightsville Beach now has a new location and purpose as an added feature of the town’s history museum, with space for exhibits and events.
Our Coast’s People: Della Gaskill of Ocracoke
Eighty-year-old Ocracoke native Della Gaskill has seen great changes on the island, and the recently honored preservationist shares her memories of the way things used to be.
How Winter Temps Can Affect Spring Fishing
North Carolina State University researchers published new findings in 2017 on the significant effect of cold stuns on spotted seatrout populations.
Brunswick Rescinds Offshore Drilling Support
Brunswick County rescinded Tuesday its resolution to support offshore drilling and seismic testing, leaving Carteret County to be the only coastal government body to be in favor of offshore exploration.
App Offers Guidance On Living Shorelines
The Nature Conservancy’s Coastal Resilience program has partnered with scientists at the NOAA Beaufort Lab to create an online tool for assessing the suitability of living shorelines along the central North Carolina coast.
Group Seeks More Time for Public Comment
The Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast, a group representing East Coast businesses and commercial fishing families, is urging the feds to offer more chances for the public to weigh in on the plan to expand offshore drilling.
Watermen To Hunt for Lost Crab Pots
The North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project will begin this week, when 76 commercial watermen will venture into the state’s sounds to collect lost crab pots.
Offshore Drilling: Cooper Calls For Exemption
Gov. Roy Cooper has urged U.S Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to grant North Carolina a similar exemption from offshore oil and gas drilling to the one given Florida.
Stalemate On GenX: Senate Says No Urgency
Despite the House’s unanimous support of a bill with money to address GenX in drinking water supplies in the southeastern part of the state, Senate leaders say they need more time to consider options.
