President Joe Biden on Monday used his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw from new oil development the entire East Coast, eastern Gulf of Mexico, West Coast, and remainder of Alaska’s northern Bering Sea.
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Incoming environmental chief Reid Wilson revisits his roots
Former Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson sees important opportunities and challenges in terms of public health and environmental protection in his new role as Department of Environmental Quality secretary in the Stein administration.
Morehead City naturalist John Fussell leaves birding legacy
The conservationist who was steeped in bird and botany knowledge, credited for his focus on often-overlooked environmental issues affecting the North Carolina coast, and author of the region’s definitive bird guide, died last week at 75.
Snappers, groupers, sea bass — oh my! Tips for success
Accomplished anglers Joel Elliot of the Hillsborough Sportfishing Club and Paul Gilbert of Wilmington share their advice to get you started with deep-water fishing for grouper and snapper.
Controlled burns boost marsh island root systems: study
UNC undergraduate students found that areas that frequently undergo controlled burning have stronger root systems than those that are never or are occasionally burned.
Permaculture mimics nature to offer growth for humans
While hedgerows are multilayered, permanent habitats for wildlife, permaculture works as a similar closed-loop system that can, once established, provide the most benefit with the least amount of labor.
Future U.S. 64 wildlife crossings aim to spare red wolves
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has awarded NCDOT $25 million to construct wildlife crossings that can provide safe passage for the critically endangered species.
Roanoke aquarium cares for 576 cold-stunned sea turtles
Of the nearly 600 cold-stunned sea turtles brought to the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island earlier this month, as of Friday, 399 have been warmed up and released.
Reflections on a new chapter: Moving forward with purpose
From the founder: The organization that publishes Coastal Review remains focused on ensuring that North Carolina’s coastal ecosystems remain healthy and productive for generations to come.
Chemist develops purification system that removes PFAS
UNC Charlotte professor Dr. Jordan Poler received a grant aimed at helping make his lab’s water-purification method, which cleans drinking water of toxins including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, available to consumers.
Commission OKs sandbag variance for NC 12 on Pea Island
Transportation officials plan to begin building in January a temporary sandbag structure that wouldn’t otherwise meet coastal development rules along Highway 12 by the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge visitor center in Rodanthe.
Coastal geologist Orrin Pilkey, 1934-2024: An appreciation
“With Orrin, the stories never stopped,” writes author and Coastal Review contributor Gilbert M. Gaul of the acclaimed Duke University scientist who died Sunday. “Some of them were even true.”
Coastal commission lawyer: CAMA a 50-year ‘balancing act’
Coastal Resources Commission legal counsel Mary Lucasse, speaking during a recent legal symposium in New Bern, said the Coastal Area Management Act balances development and private property rights with protecting natural resources.
Researchers aim to offer Nags Head wave energy options
Could the ocean’s power be tapped as a renewable, acceptable, backup energy source for Outer Banks residents? That’s what National Science Foundation-funded research at the Coastal Studies Institute seeks to find out.
Oyster farmers argue penalty too harsh for minor violations
Shellfish farmers are petitioning the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission to change the punishment for what farmers call clerical errors and minor permit violations.
Descender devices: Safely resend released fish to their depth
Bringing up a fish too quickly is rough on the fish, and if not a keeper, releasing it improperly results in barotrauma, meaning the poor thing is shark bait — that’s where descenders come in.
