Since 1971, the red drum has been North Carolina’s official state saltwater fish, but the popular catch for recreational fishers goes by several names.
Commentary
Value Fisheries, Communities Who Provide
Guest columnist Timothy P. Clark writes that in order to promote sustainable seafood, coastal North Carolina needs to promote local purveyors and that the social consequences of fishery decline are drastic.
American Shad Restoration Efforts Continue
American shad, once an important fishery in North Carolina, declined sharply in the late 20th century, but state and federal agencies are cooperating to restore their numbers.
Striped Bass Complex, Misunderstood Fish
NC’s large population of striped bass are anadromous fish, but the behavior of their cousins in other waters varies in numerous ways, as columnist Robert Michelson explains.
Striped Bass Face Pollution, Overfishing
In the first of two parts, columnist Robert Michelson writes about the history of striped bass in the United States and the perils the fish has faced over time.
Second Wave of COVID-19 May Be Deadlier
Guest columnist Richard Hilderman, former chair of Clemson’s Genetics and Biochemistry Department and Genomic Institute director, warns of a second wave of COVID-19 infections from a rush to restart the economy.
Bottlenose Could Be NC’s Marine Mammal
While bottlenose dolphin stocks in N.C. appear stable and healthy, columnist David Laist notes the perils humans pose and a state bill to name them the state marine mammal that was introduced a year ago and appeared destined to pass.
A Taste of the Hatteras Oyster Roast
Lynne Foster shares her firsthand account of the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s annual Hatteras Island Oyster Roast that took place Saturday, along with recipes in celebration of the cherished bivalve.
Birds Tell Us That It’s Time to Act
Guest columnist Robbie Fearn, director of Audubon’s Donal C. O’Brien Jr. Sanctuary at Pine Island, writes that birds along the N.C. coast serve as harbingers of the effects of climate change.
A View of Climate Change From 14,000 Feet
Our Sam Bland, a coastal creature who has recently been exploring Colorado, compares the effects of global climate change as seen from both sea level and far above.
Lessons from Dorian: Oil, Water Still Don’t Mix
Guest columnist Jean-Luc Duvall of Environment North Carolina writes that the oil pollution resulting from Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas could also happen to the N.C. coast if offshore drilling is allowed here.
Strategies for Weathering the Next Storm
As many N.C. residents continue to deal with Hurricane Florence’s effects a year after the storm’s landfall here, Will McDow of the Environmental Defense Fund offers four steps toward a more resilient future.
Fish to Eat? License Fee May Be Waived
For those who fish for food and receive certain government assistance, a subsistence waiver can save the annual $15 recreational fishing license fee, but few who qualify may be aware.
Coastal Lands Melting Away Into the Sound
In today’s guest commentary, Matt Paulson, Dare County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor, writes that important steps can be taken to lessen the effects of climate change here where it matters most.
On Flood Control, The Dutch Are Masters
The storm surge barrier near Rotterdam, Netherlands, a feat of engineering, is but one example of what coastal North Carolina can learn from the Dutch about flood prevention.
The Quaker Map: From Harlowe to Mill Creek
North Carolina historian David Cecelski uses a map he found recently and other sources to explore the history of a largely forgotten group of Quaker settlements that flourished on the North Carolina coast more than 200 years ago.
