A group of commercial fishermen have started work on a state-funded program to clean up debris left scattered across marshes and islands by Hurricane Florence.
marine debris
Derelict Boats Remain A Local Issue In NC
The N.C. General Assembly has granted certain local governments authority to manage and remove derelict or abandoned vessels in public waters, but there’s no law addressing the problem statewide.
State Law Dictates Displaced Boat Response
When the Coast Guard and other agencies and contractors responded after Hurricane Florence to the preponderance of storm-tossed and damaged boats, they were restricted by state law in what they could do.
Hundreds of Derelict Boats in Storm’s Wake
As communities continue to clean up from Hurricane Florence, officials are turning to the problem of derelict and abandoned vessels that sank or washed ashore during the storm.
Beaufort Applies For Marine Debris Grant
Beaufort commissioners recently approved applying for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marine debris removal grant to begin cleaning up Taylor’s Creek and adjacent waters.
Officials Look to Clean Up Taylor’s Creek
Stakeholders from various agencies, including the town of Beaufort, the Coast Guard and the Rachel Carson Reserve, met recently to outline a plan to address the longstanding problems of marine debris and illegal moorings in Taylor’s Creek.
Plastic Bags Only Part of the Problem
Efforts to repeal the Outer Banks’ longstanding ban on plastic bags may have temporarily stalled, but the plastic pollution problem is bigger than just bags.
NOAA Funds Aquaculture Debris Cleanup
A recently announced federal grant will be used to help pay for removal of debris from an abandoned aquaculture operation littering public trust waters in Carteret County.
Crabbers Join Effort to Clear Marine Debris
Crab fishermen, residents, state and federal agencies and the N.C. Coastal Federation have partnered to remove derelict crab pots and other debris from coastal waters.
New State Budget and the Environment
The state Senate gave final approval yesterday to a $21.7 billion state budget that includes dozens of provisions affecting coastal policy and spending, including a weakening of sandbag rules and raising the cap on terminal groins.
Crab Pot Project Is a Success
The N.C. Coastal Federation’s pilot program wrapped up, clearing hundreds of derelict crab pots from waterways between Ocracoke Island and the Virginia line
Crab Pot Project Gets a Thumbs Up
Watermen worked with conservationists and law enforcement to remove derelict fishing gear from the water during the first phase of a N.C. Coastal Federation project.
When Crab Pots Become Problems
Crab pots that have been lost or abandoned can clog waterways and kill fish. The N.C. Coastal Federation will work with watermen, volunteers and other partners to locate them and remove them from waters along the northeast coast.
