The Coastal Habitat Protection Plan’s 2021 amendment to the 2016 plan has been unanimously approved by the Coastal Resources, Environmental Management and Marine Fisheries commissions.
Habitat Restoration
Town creates fund for UNCW’s study of living shoreline
St. James recently took the unusual step of creating an endowment for University of North Carolina Wilmington research and work related to the Brunswick County town’s living shorelines, but townsfolk here have long recognized the power of the mighty oyster.
UNCW alumnus among global environmental prize winners
UNCW alumnus Joe Oliver and his colleagues at Bahamas-based Coral Vita have been globally recognized with an environmental award for their work restoring coral reefs.
Carp removal next step to healthier Lake Mattamuskeet
Plans are in the works to remove 1 million invasive carp from Lake Mattamuskeet, a move stakeholders hope will help with water quality and clarity.
Updated plan details human, climate damage to wetlands
The newly updated NC Wetland Program Plan details how climate change and nonpermitted human activities are causing wetland loss.
Efforts On to Rebuild NC’s Oyster Population
Numerous factors contributed to the decline of North Carolina’s oyster population over the past 100 years, but building new oyster reefs is part of the ongoing restoration.
New Shellfish Permit Geared for Restoration
The Division of Marine Fisheries has created a new type of shellfish permit that allows oysters grown on leases to be used in habitat restoration.
Audubon Completes Phase 1 of Reef Project
Audubon North Carolina has completed its first phase of oyster reef restoration the lower Cape Fear River to help restore bird and fish habitat and improve water quality.
Kerr-McGee Restoration Projects Selected
More than $12 million worth of habitat restoration projects have been identified in the first phase of a plan to offset environmental damage at the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. site in Navassa.
9 NC Resiliency Projects Receive Millions
Nine coastal resiliency projects in North Carolina have been awarded funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund launched in August 2019.
Beaufort Backs Marine Debris Effort
Beaufort recently announced its support of a new, detailed plan for removing and preventing debris such as dock materials and derelict boats in town waters.
Group Rolls Out Marine Debris Action Plan
The first of its kind for the state, the North Carolina Marine Debris Action Plan released earlier this month is a coordinated effort to prevent and remove marine debris along the state’s coast.
Oyster Nursery Aims to Improve Lives, Water
Susan Hill, co-owner of Down East Mariculture in Carteret County, explains how her oyster nursery helps marine life, honors local history and supports the community.
Give Natural Christmas Trees a Second Life
State parks, community organizations and local governments are collecting natural Christmas trees free of decorations to help with dune stabilization.
Living Shoreline Cost Depends on Site, Size
“How much does a living shoreline cost?” isn’t just the first question, it’s the question that dominates the living shoreline conversation, and the answer isn’t all that straightforward.
Future Seasons’ Oysters Need Recycled Shells
Recycled oyster shells can be used to help buffer shorelines from erosion, promote habitat restoration and provide a foundation for rebuilding oyster populations in N.C. waters.
