Debbie Swick, in partnership with the Outer Banks Anglers Club, has launched a monofilament recovery and recycling program using collection vessels at sites across the Outer Banks.
marine life
Fort Fisher Aquarium set to close for renovation, expansion
The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the state’s southernmost aquarium, is closing May 26 for a major renovation and expansion project, construction of which is expected to take about 30 months.
Scientists record female sperm whales assisting in calf’s birth
A research team was working the summer of 2023 off the coast of Dominica when they made the “impossibly rare” observation of a mother sperm whale giving birth and the newborn assisted by the other whales in taking its first breath, all while recording their underwater vocalizations.
Oceana to host ‘whales and ales’ conservation discussion
Connect with the experts leading the charge for North Atlantic right whale conservation at the event set for March 25 in Wilmington.
Holden Beach Turtle Patrol unveils 2026 T-shirt design
“Every Turtle Counts … Every Action
Matters,” is the message selected to reflect the organization’s “shared commitment to sea turtle conservation, education and environmental stewardship.”
Researcher Annie Harshbarger reveals pilot whale behavior
The doctoral candidate at Duke University is employing new whale-tagging technology to reveal highly detailed information about pilot whale hunting habits, answering old questions about the specifics of the species’ behavior.
‘Cautiously optimistic’: Right whale population rises 2.1%
The North Atlantic right whale population rose slightly in 2024, but while marine scientists are encouraged, they say strong protective measures are still needed.
Coastal Habitat Protection Plan revisions to be discussed
The N.C. Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee’s Sept. 25 agenda includes discussing the proposed framework and timeline for the 2026 Coastal Habitat Protection Plan amendment.
Holden Beach Turtle Patrol to open T-shirt design contest
If you love sea turtles and have a talent for graphic design, consider donating your design for the Holden Beach Turtle Watch Program’s 2026 T-shirt design contest open Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
Whale researcher, aquarium CEO, educator James Powell dies
The noted wildlife biologist and zoologist was involved in researching North Atlantic right whales and credited for his work to conserve manatees, sea turtles and other endangered species.
Carteret brewery to host aquaculture program fundraiser
Come raise a glass to growing seafood and meet area aquaculture specialists at Nacho Brewery in Morehead City to learn more about what organizers call “a growing opportunity.”
Humpback eyes see silhouettes at distance, little detail: Study
By measuring a humpback whale eye specimen, University of North Carolina Wilmington and Duke University researchers found that the species has limited vision but that it suits their natural environment.
Fishermen, scientists differ on whale mortality, wind energy
Opinions up and down the North Carolina coast differ on the reasons behind rising numbers of Atlantic whale deaths, but marine researchers say the science is clear.
Volunteers sought to count for coastal ‘Terrapin Tally’
The 11th annual volunteer headcount of diamondback terrapins in coastal waters from Carteret County to Brunswick County kicks off next month.
Link between greentails, green energy topic of next CSI talk
Dr. Lela Schlenker, fisheries liaison from Kitty Hawk Wind, will present, “What do greentails have to do with green energy? An update on the Kitty Hawk offshore wind project served with a side of shrimp” March 20 at the Coastal Studies Institute on the ECU Outer Banks Campus.
Loggerhead Boogie: Captive sea turtles will ‘dance’ for food
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill researchers have found that captive loggerheads could be conditioned to “dance” by associating certain magnetic fields with being fed food.
