Commercial harvests of spot have been on the decline for more than 20 years and recreational numbers fluctuate, but a multistate management approach and independent research aim for sustainable stocks.
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Final review ahead for wetland rules to fill permitting gap
The state Rules Review Commission is set to consider proposed permanent rules created to correct a gap in North Carolina’s permitting authority over certain federally defined wetlands.
When bridge is complete, part of NC 12 may return to nature
Scientists expect to see dramatic changes after a vulnerable segment of the Outer Banks highway is bypassed later this year and vehicles are rerouted via the nearly completed Rodanthe bridge.
Red knots, northern gannets highlight Christmas bird count
The totals are now in from when dozens of birders flocked to Ocracoke in late December to join in the annual nationwide Christmas Bird Count.
‘Cool critters’: Spotlight on 12 species of freshwater turtles
North Carolina is home to 17 species of freshwater turtles, with about a dozen calling the coastal plain home.
Whales eat much more than previously thought: Study
A recent study found that baleen whales can consume 5 to 30% of its body mass on a daily basis, illustrating the large impact they have on the marine food web.
Currituck County: More than a vacation destination
The Outer Banks county has a rich history of agriculture, political leadership and intriguing people, writes historian Eric Medlin.
Coastal Federation at 40: Past successes, new opportunities
As the North Carolina Coastal Federation celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, Executive Director Todd Miller looks back on the four-decade journey.
The weary diamondback terrapin’s latest foe: phragmites
The diamond terrapin population, which has not fully recovered from the turtle soup trend of the late 19th century, faces a new challenge to its survival: phragmites.
Duck chosen for living shoreline, NC 12 resiliency project
The Outer Banks town was selected for federal funding for its proposed living shoreline and highway resiliency project.
Climate solutions may rely on farms, but technology lags
Farmers know the climate is changing but it could take years before research can confirm the effectiveness of agricultural efforts to conserve nitrogen and sequester carbon.
Lost photographs: Remembering NC’s fishing communities
Historian David Cecelski illustrates with a series of photographs life in the 1930s and 1940s fishing communities as well as the man who took the photos, Charles Farrell.
What’s on the line? It’s a bird, it’s a plane — it’s a sea robin
They have large fins that look like wings and there are 16 known species in North Carolina waters but whether they’re a nuisance, a delicacy or merely a fascinating addition to a saltwater aquarium depends on who you ask.
Climate in peril: A coastal NC farmer’s perspective
More frequent storms with record amounts of rainfall have pummeled farms in the region and rising saltwater has reached low-lying fields, but while some still question the science, farmers are working to adapt.
Oyster awareness: Shellfish benefit environment, economy
Guest commentary: North Carolina’s collaborative shellfish strategy includes public education efforts showcasing how oysters can be a catalyst for a resilient future, where people and ecosystems thrive.
Groups: New Hanover development request ‘sheer folly’
Approval of the requested development ordinance text amendment could clear the way for construction of high-rise condominiums on a flood-prone 8-acre parcel near the Battleship North Carolina that a coalition of six organizations says would destroy habitat and areas of historic and cultural significance.
