North Carolina Sea Grant

08/25/2026

Reminder: this Thursday! Plus, approved CEs for NC Landscape Contractor License Landscape/Technical Credit.

Landscapes That Last: Let's Talk About Lawns and Lawn Alternatives
Register Here: https://go.ncsu.edu/landscapes-that-last

Traditional turfgrass lawns are a prevalent feature of our modern landscaping practices, but keeping them "perfect" requires a lot of routine maintenance and requires the use of water, fertilizers and pesticides that can pollute our air and water. Lawns often cover much more space than we actually use and offer little habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

In this talk, Emilee Morrison, Extension Agent in Consumer Horticulture with N.C. Cooperative Extension - Onslow County Center, will explore alternative lawns and landscaping choices that are beautiful, practical, and support local ecosystems while also meeting our everyday needs.
https://onslow.ces.ncsu.edu/

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)

08/24/2026

We are now accepting proposals for the Community Collaborative Research Grant (CCRG) program! Supported by North Carolina Sea Grant and WRRI - Water Resources Research Institute of the UNC System, in partnership with the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science, the CCRG program requires a two-person team with a local knowledge expert and a scientific expert.

Projects can address a range of water resource and coastal challenges, but are encouraged to address at least one of the focus areas listed in the RFP. Funding is available for one-year projects starting in May 2027, and awards will range between $5,000-$25,000.

Learn more about eligibility, focus areas, and more in the full Request for Proposals: https://wrri.ncsu.edu/funding/community-collaborative-research-grants-ccrg/

Apply by 5:00pm on October 26.

08/19/2026

Input Needed from Oyster Growers in Pender and Onslow Counties!

North Carolina Sea Grant and the North Carolina Coastal Federation are inviting oyster growers in Pender and Onslow counties to share their experiences and perspectives on the use of public trust waters. The information gathered through a survey and focus groups will support policy recommendations ensuring future siting decisions are informed by both stakeholder input and real-world experience on the water.

Take the Survey: https://go.ncsu.edu/penderonslowsurvey

For additional information, please visit https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/input-needed-from-oyster-growers-in-pender-and-onslow-counties/

08/17/2026

Our friends at North Carolina Sea Grant, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and United States Lifesaving Association share with us on RIP CURRENT Safety - Know your options.

Rip currents are powerful and can sweep the strongest swimmer away from shore. Swim near a lifeguard and know your flag colors!
💚 = Minimal hazard, care and caution
💛 = Medium hazard, enhanced care and caution
❤️ = High hazard, swimmers are discouraged from entering the water
❤️❤️ = Water is closed to the public
💜= Marine life present, such as jellyfish, stingrays which may cause injury
❤️🤍Quartered = Emergency evacuation

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

Over the past five years, Sea Grant seafood specialists from 14 programs, including North Carolina Sea Grant, have collaborated to support the $70 billion U.S. seafood industry by certifying 7,785 seafood professionals in FDA‑required training for seafood processors.

Working across state lines, these specialists have shared expertise to fill gaps in training capacity—supporting programs without certified trainers and even states without a Sea Grant program—ensuring the seafood industry nationwide has access to critical food safety education.

For more, see https://www.seagrant.org/news/sea-grant-network-strengthens-us-seafood-safety-nationwide

Interested in learning more about the importance of seafood here in North Carolina? Check out the link below for info on:
> Workforce Development and Training Efforts
> A Seafood Economic Impact Study
> Coastal and Marine Aquaculture
> Consumer Resources
> The NC Oyster Trail
> Mariner's Menu: Recipes, Handling Tips, and Preparation Guides for North Carolina Seafood
> and more: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/fisheries-and-aquaculture/

08/10/2026

We are now accepting applications for the North Carolina Team Competition for Resilience Research!

This opportunity provides awards to teams of North Carolina-based graduate and undergraduate students led by a PhD student and faculty mentor. Winning teams will receive up to $20,000 to conduct hypothesis-based research projects that contribute to more resilient habitats and communities across North Carolina.

Visit the link below to learn more and see the full Request for Proposals (RFP). Applications are due by September 28: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/team-competition-for-resilience-research/

08/07/2026

North Carolina Sea Grant is pleased to announce that four new projects have received funding from the Community Collaborative Research Grant Program (CCRG). NC Sea Grant and WRRI - Water Resources Research Institute of the UNC System administer the CCRG Program in partnership with the William R. Kenan Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science (KIETS).

These projects, which couple scientific expertise with local knowledge, foster collaboration between researchers and community members. This year’s CCRG recipients are tackling pressing water-related issues including private drinking water sources, PFAS, harmful algal blooms, and American Oystercatcher habitats.

Swipe through to see each of the projects, and check out the for the full feature for more details: go.ncsu.edu/2026-ccrg

08/07/2026

National Lighthouse Day honors the signing of the 1789 Lighthouse Act, the history of maritime navigation, and the keepers who tended the lights. In North Carolina, there is the only one lighthouse with an acting keeper and family: the Currituck Beach Lighthouse.

Read the full Coastwatch article by Kim Weaver Spurr, which tells the story of the woman behind the light, from living around the world to opening a local school in Corolla: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastwatch/fall-2025-keeper-of-the-light/

Photos by Jess Abel
Currituck Beach Lighthouse

08/05/2026

What affects the survival of reef fish after release more: depth or temperature? Check out our most recent article to find out: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/hooklinescience/does-depth-or-temperature-affect-the-survival-of-reef-fish-after-release/

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