North Carolina Sea Grant

06/10/2026

The public is invited to come out for “Help Ahead of a Storm: Resilience Strategies for Today and Tomorrow” on Wednesday, June 24th. The purpose of this event is to provide information to the community on recent resilience projects and to provide resources for residents and property owners on storm preparedness and property protection.

Wednesday June 24
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Washington Civic Center, 110 Gladden St., Washington, NC 27889

A baked spaghetti dinner will be provided, catered by Carryout by Chrislyn!

Residents will be able to learn about:
> The NC Resilient Coastal Communities Program and projects funded by the program across Beaufort County
> Results from the SECOORA water level sensor that was installed at Chocowinity Bay in the Whichards Beach area, and what the county has learned from these results
> How you and your family can be better prepared for a storm, including a Q&A with the National Weather Service
> How you can protect your home or business. Resources such as information on home elevation programs will be available

More information on the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program is available at https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/division-coastal-management/coastal-resiliency/rccp-

For questions about the event, contact Jamie Heath, Mid-East Commission at (252)296-1656 or [email protected].

06/08/2026

Reimagine, the theme of UN World Oceans Day 2026, encourages us to change the way we think about our oceans. You don't have to live on the coast to benefit from or depend on them.

Swipe through to learn how oceans shapes our weather, food systems, and communities.

06/06/2026

The 2026 South Atlantic Release Rodeo has been off to a hot start these past few weeks! We wanted to share a helpful reminder that SAFMC Release submissions that contain photos eligible for length-validation will receive DOUBLE the entries into Sea Grant gear giveaways. This allows participants to gain up to eight giveaway entries per month for items like rod and reel combos, lures, jigs, weights, and more! Visit the link in our bio to read more and create a SAFMC Release account to get started.

SeaQualizer Haddrell's Point Tackle Z-Man Fishing Products

06/04/2026

June 5 is World Environment Day, so let's talk about a hot topic: data centers.

These facilities are highly debated because of their energy consumption, associated grid strain, water scarcity, emissions, quality of life for nearby communities, and more. But what about coastal waters and marine fisheries?

Read our most recent to learn more about how energy and water demands from AI infrastructure affect waterways and habitats: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/hooklinescience/are-data-centers-a-threat-to-freshwater-fisheries/

🖊 by Kate Fuller

📑 Jager, H., Yoon, H.S., Data centers: an emerging threat to freshwater biodiversity in the United States. Water Biology and Security, 100585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watbs.2026.100585

06/04/2026

🎉CONGRATS to UNCW alumna Maylyn Hinson, who has recently begun a new role as Policy Analyst supporting the NOAA Fisheries Service Office of Aquaculture. 🎉

Hinson earned her M.S. in Coastal and Ocean Policy (MCOP) here at UNCW, where her research focused on identifying governance mechanisms to enable sustainable finfish aquaculture development in North Carolina.

As a member of the Center for Marine Science research team at our pilot commercial-scale aquaculture facility in Wrightsville Beach, she primarily worked with Black Sea Bass and Gag Grouper.

In addition, Hinson served as the North Carolina Sea Grant 2025 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow for the Office of Aquaculture working with the Regulatory and Policy Team.

06/01/2026

Good news for researchers in North Carolina! The NC Coastal Conference abstract deadline has been extended to June 15 at 5:00 PM.

We are hoping to increase our range of students, schools, and community members across North Carolina, whether you’re investigating inland water quality, economic impacts, or seagrass habitats.

If you’re considering your first conference presentation, this is a great opportunity to present your work, connect with others in the field, and gain valuable experience in a supportive environment.

If you are new to NC Sea Grant, we welcome questions. Contact Aman Kohli at [email protected]

Learn more and submit your abstract by June 15: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastal-conference/call-for-presentations/

06/01/2026

A city in eastern North Carolina's Inner Banks region will lose a majority of its protected wetlands to open water by 2100, according to a recent study from NC Sea Grant’s first Coastal Resilience Team Competition winners. These vital ecosystems could have provided several million dollars of environmental benefits in the coming decades, researchers expect wetlands loss will significantly decrease these benefits.

Swipe through for a brief overview of the study's findings and proposed solution, and head to the link below for the full story from our winter issue of Coastwatch: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastwatch/winter-2026-new-bern-wetland-loss/

05/29/2026

Meet Matt Bues, the new joint Coastal Research Fellow with NC Sea Grant and the North Carolina Coastal Reserve & Estuarine Research Reserve System!

Bues is currently pursuing his Master of Science in marine biology at UNCW Center for Marine Science. His research will examine how estuarine research reserves shape ichthyoplankton (fish larvae and eggs) communities by providing safe, nutrient-rich nurseries. Bues plans to build management-ready databases based on species abundance and diversity that will be important to fisheries management and ecosystem stewardship.

(Photos on second slide courtesy of Jeff Janowski/UNCW)

05/28/2026

During storms, salt marshes absorb flood waters and wave energy, decreasing property damage in adjacent communities by up to 20%. That’s why a new state roadmap aims to protect them.

The newly released plans for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida are designed to guide restoration and conservation efforts over the next five years. Visit the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative website below for more info!
https://www.nccoast.org/resource/north-carolina-salt-marsh-action-plan-and-roadmap-to-implementation/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
North Carolina Coastal Federation

Like most coastal ecosystems, our marshes are threatened. To ensure a healthy future for these critical marsh systems, the Coastal Federation is leading a

05/26/2026

Landscapes That Last: Native Perennials for the Shady Side
Register Here: https://go.ncsu.edu/landscapes-that-last

Shaded areas are often treated with heavy mulch or planted with problematic spreaders such as liriope and English ivy. Fortunately, many native herbaceous perennials are well-adapted to lower light conditions and can provide both visual interest and ecological value. In this session, Shannon Currey of Izel Native Plants will explore how shade conditions influence plant growth and highlight regionally native species suited to a variety of coastal shady settings. Participants will gain practical insights into selecting and using shade-tolerant native plants that support healthier, more functional plantings.

Professional Development Credits:
- NC Environmental Education Certification Program Criteria III or Continuing Education (Approved)
- NC Master Gardener (check with local Cooperative Extension County Offices)
- NC Landscape Contractor License Landscape/Technical Credit (pending, check webinar registration page for updates)

You can find information about the rest of the series here: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/landscapes-that-last/
And more on Izel Native Plants here: https://www.izelplants.com/