Framing it as a saltwater flavor of technology hubs, officials broke ground this week on the planned Shellfish Mariculture Hub in Carteret County that will feature a 2,500-square-foot structure next to the boat ramp at Straits Landing, cold storage, equipment, an outdoor workspace and water access for growers.
North Carolina General Assembly
Watershed guide aims to help towns develop land use rules
Waterkeepers Carolina created the guide with support from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, to provide options to protect water quality and flood protection that local governments can consider when implementing in land use rules.
Measure would create special ‘Red Wolf’ vehicle tags
A bipartisan group of legislators has filed a bill to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to begin issuing special vehicle registration plates with proceeds benefiting the state’s eastern red wolf population.
Move to relax federal coal ash rules ‘potentially concerning’
The proposed loosening of federal coal ash disposal regulations is not expected to affect North Carolina’s robust management rules — at least for the time being.
Topsail Islanders amp up calls for hold on new shellfish leases
Densely allocated shellfish leases and the resulting conflicts and complaints have prompted a yearslong pause on new leases in New Hanover County and other nearby waters, and Topsail Island officials say a temporary moratorium on new leases is also needed in Stump Sound in Onslow and Pender counties.
Study of past erosion-control lessons key to ongoing review
Analyzing lessons learned over decades of fighting back the ocean is critical as the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission’s Science Panel wraps up its ongoing study of the effects of permanent beach erosion control structures such as seawalls and jetties.
New state Clean Water Act certification rules take effect
Applicants for permits for construction and other projects with impacts to waters or wetlands that meet thresholds and conditions under the state’s newly implemented general certification will be waived from the 30-day notice requirement.
Dare seeks input on resiliency plan for unincorporated areas
The plan for unincorporated areas of the county builds on the resilience strategy that was completed for Hatteras Island in 2022.
Millions marked for port, short-line freight rail upgrades
North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division officials have announced $16.3 million for freight rail infrastructure improvements that include coastal lines and state port facilities.
Recreational, commercial harvest reporting now in effect
The North Carolina General Assembly established the new rules through a 2023 law and charged the Division of Marine Fisheries with enforcing the requirements that went into effect Monday.
Justice, representative, senator Willis P. Whichard has died
Former state Supreme Court Justice Willis Whichard, one of four individuals widely credited for securing passage of the state’s Coastal Area Management Act, died Monday in Chapel Hill.
Steel manufacturer to announce big Hertford County project
Currituck County Republican Sen. Bobby Hanig says the forthcoming announcement of a new company’s nearly $1 billion investment in Hertford County will be “transformational” for the area.
Vast majority of litter removed from streams is plastic: Study
A three-year study recently published in the journal Community Science finds that about 96% of litter North Carolina waterkeeper organizations and their volunteers removed from trash traps were plastics.
Seafood coalition proposes moving Fisheries to Agriculture
The new North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition’s held its second meeting last week, during which it laid out priorities that include transferring the Division of Marine Fisheries from the Department of Environmental Quality to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Critics say law will derail health, environmental rulemaking
House Bill 402, which became law this past summer despite the governor’s veto, has drawn sharp criticism from environmental and health advocates who argue it will stifle an already daunting rulemaking process and create significant obstacles to addressing pollution.
Hanig announces bid for northeast NC congressional seat
Sen. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck, has announced his candidacy for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
