Mid Atlantic Beaches and Coastal Travel Destinations

The Mid Atlantic coast has a wide range of beaches, resort towns, and waterfront experiences, with most destinations offering year round activities.

Recreation along the Mid Atlantic coast includes swimming, surfing, walking, running, hiking, sea shell collecting, sports, flying kites, fishing, birdwatching, photography, painting, and other pastimes.

New Jersey

Waterfront experiences can be found all along the New Jersey coast. Public access to beaches is good in the state.

A few of the most popular beachfront destinations include Sandy Hook (Gateway National Recreation Area), Asbury Park Beach, Ocean Grove, Belmar, Manasaquan, Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park, Atlantic City, Ocean City, 

On the southern tip of New Jersey, Cape May is a popular travel destination. The area is popular with birdwatchers, especially Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, and Cape May Point State Park.

Delaware

Delaware's Atlantic Coast extends from Lewes down to the Maryland state line. The area includes a mix of beaches and coastal communities.

Maryland

Ocean City, Maryland is primarily a tourist resort, with a population that swells from less than 10,000 winter residents to over 2 million in the summer months.

The Ocean City Inlet did not exist until 1933, when the Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane tore thru the narrow island, separating Ocean City from Assateague Island.

The inlet was eventually stabilized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, enabling the town to become a popular fishing port.

The access to productive fishing grounds brought not only commercial fishing but recreational fishing, mostly boats that fish offshore for tuna, sharks, billfish, and bottom fish.

Assateague Island is a pristine coastal island located south of Ocean City, Maryland. At Assateague National Sea Shore, visitors will find drive on access for oversand vehicles, beautiful sand, and shallow water suitable for swimming, surfing, skin boarding, and wading. Right behind the beach is a sheltered bay where visitors can explore, wade, fish, enjoy watersports, or go birdwatching.

Virginia

The coast of Virginia includes all the state's barrier islands as well as the shoreline from Virginia Beach to the North Carolina border. Assateague Island is known for its lighthouse, wild ponies, waterfowl, deer, sandy beaches, fishing, and hiking trails.

The Virginia portion of Assateague Island is occupied by Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague National Seashore. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge covers over 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and forest habitat. Explorers can tour the visitors center, then make the short drive to the seashore and hike the many trails.

The refuge and beaches of Assateague Island are very important the economy of Chincoteague Island and Virginia overall. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most popular national wildlife refuges, according to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Farther south, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, are the seven cities of Hampton Roads Virginia. Beach access is plentiful along Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

North Carolina

From the Outer Banks to the Crystal Coast, North Carolina has some of the nations most popular beaches.

Along the coast are some of the Mid Atlantic's most important estuaries, including Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound, fed by the Roanoke, Neuse, and Cape Fear rivers.

2018 North Carolina Severe Weather Preparedness Week

North Carolina Severe Weather Preparedness Week
March 4-10, 2018
Statewide Tornado Drill scheduled for Wednesday, March 7 at 9:30 AM

March 4-10, 2018 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina. During the event, the National Weather Service and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety will implement a severe weather safety campaign to all of North Carolina’s residents.

This year's North Carolina Severe Weather Preparedness Week will combine multiple awareness weeks while focusing on tornadoes, large hail, lightning, flash flooding, and damaging straight-line winds.

Schools and government buildings statewide will hold tornado drills Wednesday, March 7, at 9:30 a.m. to practice their emergency plans. Test messages will be broadcast on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radios and the Emergency Alert System. All North Carolinians are encouraged to participate in the drill.

For more information, visit https://www.weather.gov/rah/2018ncswpw

North Carolina Weather Resources (courtesy readync.org) :
North Carolina Department of Public Safety severe weather preparedness page:  https://readync.org/EN/Index.html

Be Informed:  https://readync.org/EN/Informed.html

Make a Plan:  https://readync.org/EN/Plan_MakeAPlan.html

Build a Kit:  https://readync.org/EN/Plan_GetAKit.html

Get Involved:  https://readync.org/EN/Involved.html

ReadyNC mobile app:  https://readync.org/EN/DOWNLOADAPP.html

Additional Weather Resources:

NOAA Weather Radio: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/

Wireless Emergency Alerts: https://www.weather.gov/wrn/wea

Nationwide Awareness Weeks: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/severeweather/severewxcal.shtml

Spanish-language: https://www.listo.gov

Cargo Containers Lost off North Carolina

On Mar. 4, 2018, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a warning to mariners of navigation hazards after about 70 cargo containers fell off of a cargo ship about 17 miles off Oregon Inlet, North Carolina.

On Saturday night March 3rd, 2018, the cargo ship Maersk Shanghai contacted watchstanders at Sector North Carolina’s command center via VHF-FM marine radio channel 16, notifying them that they lost approximately 70 to 73 cargo containers due to high winds and heavy seas.

The Coast Guard urges all mariners to transit this area with caution.

source: U.S. Coast Guard 5th District

North Carolina Turkey Hunting Seminars

In March, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, along with the National Wild Turkey Federation, will host free turkey hunting seminars throughout North Carolina.

The seminars, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., are open on a first-come, first-serve basis to all ages and skill levels, although participants 16 years and younger will need parental permission to register. Pre-registration is required and participants must register online.

Among the topics that will be covered during the seminars are biology, hunting methods, calls and decoys, firearms and ammo tips, camouflage clothing, and turkey processing and cooking techniques.

A question-and-answer session, along with a brief overview of hunter recruitment, retention and re-activation (R3) initiatives, will conclude each seminar.

Seminar dates and locations:

March 1
Pitt County Extension Center
403 Government Circle, Suite 2, Greenville, NC 27834

March 2
N.C. State University Engineering Building II (EBII)
Classroom 1025
3114 Engineering Building II
890 Oval Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606

March 7
Pasquotank County Extension Center
1209 McPherson Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909

March 8
Onslow County Extension Center
4024 Richlands Hwy., Jacksonville, NC 28540

March 9
Craven County Extension Center
300 Industrial Drive, New Bern, NC 28562

March 14
Mountain Horticulture Crops Research and Extension Center
455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759

March 15
Cumberland County Extension Center, Cumberland County
301 East Mountain Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306

March 16
Bass Pro Shops
8181 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord, NC 28027

March 21
Brunswick County Extension Center, BLDG. N
25 Referendum Drive, Bolivia, NC 28422
March 22

Haywood Community College
185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, NC 28721

March 23
Caldwell County Extension Center
120 Hospital Avenue NE/Suite 1, Lenoir NC 28645

March 28
Catawba County Extension Center
1175 South Brady Avenue, Newton NC 28658

March 29
Forsyth County Extension Center
1450 Fairchild Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27105

March 30
Guilford County Extension Center
3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro, NC 27405

For more information, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

North Carolina Shape of the Coast 2017

North Carolina coastal stakeholders are encouraged to sign up for the Shape of the Coast series of sessions that will focus on coastal law and policy in North Carolina.

The talks are scheduled for 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill. The event is part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Law Festival of Legal Learning.

The coastal session is co-sponsored by North Carolina Sea Grant; the N.C. Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Center, or NCCRLPPC; and the UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Law.

Lisa Schiavinato, California Sea Grant extension director; Palmer Hilton, UNC School of Law student; and Jane Harrison, North Carolina Sea Grant coastal economics specialist, will lead the final session on public beach access and oyster aquaculture.

In the first part, Schiavinato, former North Carolina Sea Grant coastal law specialist, will focus on the conflicts between oceanfront property owners and beachgoers in coastal states, including North Carolina and California.

Harrison and Hilton, a former NCCRLPPC fellow, will offer an overview on the current state of the oyster aquaculture industry in North Carolina, including an update on regulatory efforts that could facilitate oyster farming in state waters.

Other topics include:

 “Insurance Update”​ by Donald T. Hornstein, Aubrey L. Brooks Professor of Law, UNC School of Law;

“What’s Ahead for NC Coastal Policy?” from the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission; and

“Federal and State Coastal Case Law Update” by Meredith Jo Alcoke, Ward and Smith, P.A., and Todd S. Roessler, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.

For more information, visit www.law.unc.edu/cle/festival.

source: North Carolina Sea Grant

Outer Banks NC Outdoors Day

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is hosting a free “Outdoors Day” on March 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla.

At Outdoors Day, visitors can experience the outdoors and gain practical knowledge through hands-on activities and demonstrations, such as fishing, kayaking, shooting a bow and arrow and an air rifle.

Visitors also can check out other activity stations, such as Game Species, Talking Turkey, Backyard Bass, Birding Basics and Sea Turtles.

Staff from Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges will be on hand to describe their seasonal tours, canoe outings, and ranger-led programs on local wildlife during the day.

The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education features exhibits and programs that interpret coastal North Carolina’s wildlife and habitats, natural history and cultural heritage. Things to do include daily showings of an award-winning documentary, and a calendar of events, and educational courses.

Admission to the center is free, as are the educational programs offered. The Center is Located in Currituck Heritage Park on Highway 12, next to Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the Whalehead Club.

For more information, visit ncwildlife.org/obx.

source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

2015 International Folk Festival - Fayetteville, NC

37th Fayetteville - Cumberland County International Folk Festival (North Carolina)
September 25-27, 2015
Downtown Fayetteville
335 Ray Avenue
Fayetteville, NC 28301


Celebrate cultural diversity at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County’s 37th International Folk Festival September 25-27 in downtown Fayetteville.

The Folk Festival includes a Parade of Nations, live performances, authentic cuisine, arts and crafts vendors, children’s area, Native American Cultural Showcase. 

For more information, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

Popular Car and Truck Stickers - Mid Atlantic Region

In recent years, the popularity of vehicle stickers has skyrocketed throughout the USA. A closer look at this trend reveals some interesting clues as to the renewed popularity of vinyl auto stickers.

No doubt, vinyl auto stickers have been popular for decades. Some of the earlier bumper stickers featured a plain white background and simple text art. In many cases, these stickers were sold as souvenirs at local resorts.

This old school bumper sticker features a classic style of text.

Ocean City Maryland Arched Text Logo Car Bumper Sticker by north_america

In the Mid Atlantic region, Euro style oval vehicle stickers have become common. These designs are smaller, which allow vehicle owners to display them on windows, bumpers, or other parts of vehicles.

The popularity of Euro style oval stickers in the Mid Atlantic region began with stickers that displayed the acronym "OBX" to designate North Carolina's Outer Banks. As more and more travelers began adding OBX stickers to their autos, the trend spread along the Atlantic Coast.

OBX - Outer Banks NC Euro Style Oval Logo Oval Sticker

As the popularity of Euro style stickers increased, so did the variety of choices. Another popular three-letter oval sticker is "OKI", which designates Ocracoke Island, North Carolina.

OKI - Ocracoke Island Oval Logo Oval Sticker

Two letter versions are also popular, such as this "HI" Hatteras Island sticker.

HI - Hatteras Island Oval Logo Oval Sticker

Eventually, the popularity of Euro style oval stickers spread throughout the Mid Atlantic. This "CM" acronym logo is available for fans of Cape May New Jersey.

CM - Cape May New Jersey Oval Logo Oval Sticker

Some auto owners find the Euro style two, three, and four letter acronym stickers to be too cryptic. An alternative to the oval sticker is the rectangular vinyl sticker, which is well suited for SUVs, crossovers, and other small vehicles.

Outer Banks North Carolina Arch Text Logo Rectangular Sticker

Mid Atlantic Superstar Beaches

Nineteen Mid Atlantic beaches have been named as superstar beaches by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

In June, 2014, NRDC announced the designation of 35 popular beaches across 14 states as superstars for consistently meeting water quality safety thresholds. Superstar beaches met national water quality benchmarks 98% of the time over the past five years.

Mid Atlantic Superstar Beaches:

New York

Long Beach City (Nassau County)

New Jersey

Washington (Margate-Atlantic County)
40th St. (Avalon-Cape May County)
40th St. (Sea Isle City-Cape May County)
Stone Harbor at 96th St. (Cape May County)
Upper Township at Webster Rd. (Cape May County)
Wildwood Crest at Orchid (Cape May County)
Broadway (Pt. Pleasant Beach-Ocean County)

Delaware

Dewey Beach-Swedes (Sussex County)
  
Maryland

Point Lookout State Park (St Mary's County)
Assateague State Park (Worcester County)

Virginia

Virginia Beach at 28th St.
Virginia Beach at 45th St.
Back Bay Beach (Virginia Beach)
Little Island Beach North (Virginia Beach)


North Carolina

Ocean Pier at Main St. and Sunset Blvd. (Brunswick County)
Beach at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (Dare County)
Ocean Pier at Salisbury Street in Wrightsville Beach (New Hanover County) 
Ocean Pier at Ocean Blvd. and Crews Ave. in Topsail Beach (Pender County)          


Mid Atlantic State Beach Water Quality Rankings (out of 30 states)

Delaware 1st

New Jersey 3rd

Maryland 4th

North Carolina 5th

Virginia 6th

New York 24th


Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches collects and analyzes the latest water testing results from the EPA and state beach coordinators at nearly 3,500 beach testing locations nationwide.

The 24th annual report card examines the various causes of water pollution that plague America’s beaches and presents crucial, timely opportunities to keep pollution out of America’s beaches, lakes, and rivers.

source: Natural Resources Defense Council

Mid Atlantic Recreational Saltwater Fish Landings 2012

Saltwater fishing is one of the most popular pastimes in the Mid Atlantic region. According to Fisheries of the United States 2012 (NOAA Fisheries), Mid Atlantic anglers caught and released considerable amounts of saltwater fish during the 2012 fishing season.

North Carolina was the top Mid Atlantic top state in terms of fish harvested while New Jersey anglers caught and released the most fish.

State        Harvested (thousands)        Released (thousands)
New York     3593                15138
New Jersey     6033                23749
Delaware     495                2059
Maryland     4052                11904
Virginia     7851                13695
North Carolina     8473                18536

source: NOAA Fisheries

North Carolina Oyster Reef Project

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) recently announced that the agency will fund an oyster restoration project in North Carolina.

North Carolina Coastal Federation, Inc. will receive $35,000 in funding. During the project, the Federation will work with local fishermen  in North Carolina to create new oyster reefs from recycled derelict crab pots.

source: NOAA Fisheries

Additional Grant Money Available for Recreational Boating Facilities in North Carolina

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries will be accepting proposals for the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program until April 24. This is a second funding opportunity for this program for federal fiscal year 2013.

The Boating Infrastructure Grant is a program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that reimburses up to 75 percent of costs for projects that construct, renovate or maintain tie-up facilities and related amenities for recreational transient vessels that are at least 26 feet long. The grant program was authorized by Congress in 1998 and is funded by excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel.

The state Division of Marine Fisheries serves as the liaison between projects in North Carolina and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for this program. Proposals must be submitted to the division to be considered for this funding opportunity.

Some examples of potentially eligible activities include transient slips, mooring buoys, day-docks, floating and fixed piers and breakwaters, dinghy docks, restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, retaining walls, bulkheads, dockside utilities (water, electric, telephone, Internet), sewage pump-out stations, recycling and trash receptacles, navigational aids and marine fueling stations. Applicants must have or intend to construct dedicated dockage for transient vessels to receive funding for these eligible activities.

For information about grant availability, project eligibility, and proposal development, please visit the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf or contact Kelly Price, federal aid coordinator for the division, at P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557-0769. You may also contact Price at 252-808-8168 or 800-682-2632 (in North Carolina only) or by e-mail at Kelly.Price@ncdenr.gov.

Applications should be sent to the state Division of Marine Fisheries and must be received by April 24. Electronic submission is preferred.

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

2013 North Carolina Recreational Bay Scallop Season

In North Carolina, recreational harvesting of bay scallops will be allowed in 2013. The approved harvesting area includes Bogue Sound and internal coastal waters south of Bogue Sound to the South Carolina state line.

The Bogue Sound bay scallop season will open at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 28 and close at 4 p.m. April 1.

Recreational harvest will be allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each week. Recreational fishermen may harvest a limit of one bushel per person per day, not to exceed one bushel if two or more fishermen are working from one vessel.

During this time, commercial harvest will be allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday of each week. Commercial fishermen may harvest 10 bushels per person per day, not to exceed 20 bushels per vessel, regardless of the number of licensed fishermen working together on a vessel.

Recreational harvest limits cannot be combined with commercial harvest limits.

For specific regulations, see Proclamation SC-1-2013 at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamations

For more information, contact Tina Moore, with the Division of Marine Fisheries, at 252-808-8082 or Tina.Moore@ncdenr.gov.

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

Cape Fear River Basin Action Plan for Migratory Fish

The Cape Fear River Partnership recently announced a request for public comment on its “Cape Fear River Basin Action Plan for Migratory Fish.”

The plan identifies threats to migratory fish populations, outlines actions to improve water quality, habitat conditions and fish passage, and will determine the community and economic benefits of improved migratory fish populations.

The Cape Fear River basin stretches from North Carolina’s Triad area near Greensboro to the mouth of the Cape Fear River near Wilmington. At more than 9,000 square miles, the river basin is North Carolina's largest watershed.

Poor habitat quality in the watershed's rivers and streams threaten American shad, striped bass, river herring, American eel, endangered Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, and other fish species. Dams and other structures limit the passage of migratory fish.

The Cape Fear River Partnership is a coalition of state and federal natural resources agencies, academic entities and private and non-governmental organizations, will accept public comments through Dec. 19.

For more information, visit www.ncwildlife.org

source: Cape Fear River Partnership

HMS Bounty Disaster

On Monday, October 29, 2012 Coast Guard Sector North Carolina received a call from the owner of the 180-foot, three mast tall ship, HMS Bounty, saying she had lost communication with the vessel's crew late Sunday evening.

Eventually, the Coast Guard 5th District command center in Portsmouth received a signal from the emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) registered to the Bounty, confirming the distress and position.

When Coast Guard crewmen aboard an HC-130 Hercules aircraft, arrived on scene, They found the Bounty taking on water and without propulsion in 40 mph winds and 18-foot seas.

The 17 person crew donned cold water survival suits and lifejackets before launching in two 25-man lifeboats with canopies.

According to the ship's Facebook page, the HMS Bounty appeared in the 1962 film "Mutiny on the Bounty" and the more recent "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

North Carolina To Consider Reorganization of its Fisheries Agencies

North Carolina officials are looking for ideas from the public on how three different agencies can cooperatively provide more efficient, productive and enjoyable uses of the state's fisheries resources.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will accept comments on this subject at its August meeting in Raleigh on behalf of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Legislation passed and signed into law this summer directs these agencies to study the current organization of the state’s fisheries management agencies and whether these agencies should be reorganized.

Currently, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries manages coastal fish species while the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission manages inland fish species.

The commission will take public comment at 6 p.m. Aug. 22 and 9 a.m. Aug. 23 at the Brownstone Hilton DoubleTree Hotel, 1707 Hillsborough St., Raleigh.

The chairman will allow each commenter to speak for five minutes during the Aug. 22 session and three minutes during the Aug. 23 session. Due to time constraints, those making comments will be asked to speak only once, either at the Aug. 22 or Aug. 23 sessions. Individuals will not be allowed to speak during both public comment periods.

The Wildlife Resources Commission will also receive public comment on these issues during its Aug. 29 committee meetings at the Wildlife Resources Commission Headquarters Conference Room, 1751 Varsity Drive, N.C. State University Centennial Campus, Raleigh.

Additionally, the agencies will hold two joint meetings in coastal areas for the sole purpose of taking comments on this issue.

The meetings are scheduled for:

6 p.m., Sept. 5
Craven County Cooperative Extension Office
300 Industrial Drive, New Bern

6 p.m., Sept 6
Dare County Administration Building
Commissioners Meeting Room
954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo

The public may comment in writing online at http://www.ncsenatebill821.org/default.htm or by mail to S821 Comments, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1701. Deadline for receipt of written comments is Sept. 7.

All comments offered on this issue will be presented for joint consideration by all three agencies.

source: N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission

2013 Boating Infrastructure Grants

North Carolina's Division of Marine Fisheries recently announced that the agency is accepting proposals for the Boating Infrastructure Grant, or BIG, Program for federal fiscal 2013.

BIG, a program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, reimburses up to 75 percent of costs for projects that construct, renovate or maintain tie-up facilities and related amenities for recreational transient vessels that are at least 26 feet long. The grant program was authorized by Congress in 1998 and is funded by excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries serves as the liaison between projects in North Carolina and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the BIG Program. Proposals must be submitted to the division to be considered for this funding opportunity.

Some examples of potentially eligible activities include transient slips, mooring buoys, day-docks, floating and fixed piers and breakwaters, dinghy docks, restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, retaining walls, bulkheads, dockside utilities (water, electric, telephone, Internet), sewage pump-out stations, recycling and trash receptacles, navigational aids and marine fueling stations.

BIG funds are distributed each year. Grants are available on a two-tiered basis. For Tier 1 (Basic) grants, all states may receive up to $100,000 per grant cycle as long as proposals meet the program's guidelines. Tier 2 (Competitive) grants are reserved for large-scale, more expensive undertakings and are awarded on a nationwide competitive basis. For fiscal 2013, applicants may apply for up to $88,000 under Tier 1 and up to $1.5 million under Tier 2.

For information about grant availability, project eligibility and proposal development, please visit the division’s website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf, or contact Kelly Price, the division’s federal aid coordinator, at 252-808-8168 or 800-682-2632 (in North Carolina only) or Kelly.Price@ncdenr.gov. The deadline for applications to be received by the division is Aug. 16. Electronic submission is preferred.

source: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries

North Carolina Daytime Fox Sightings

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission recently issued a reminder to its residents concerning sightings of foxes during daylight hours, or in urban and suburban settings.

According to the Commission, there a number of steps that people can take to avoid conflict with foxes, including:

 - Do not approach foxes or fox dens.

 - Do not approach, touch or feed foxes or their pups.

 - In situations where foxes have become habituated to people, people should take steps, such as yelling, banging pots and pans and setting off legal fireworks, to chase foxes from yards and neighborhoods. Be aggressive and repeat these actions if the foxes do not leave.

For additional information, download “Coexisting with Foxes.”

http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Species/coexistfoxes.pdf

source: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

BOEM Offshore Renewable Energy Program Public Listening Session

On Tuesday, April 10, 2012, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) will host a Public Listening Session in which Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) representatives will take questions and input from fishermen and other stakeholders regarding offshore renewable energy projects (see below for registration).

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is engaged in siting offshore renewable energy facilities along the Atlantic seaboard.  As part of the planning and analysis for the offshore renewable energy process BOEM is reaching out to fishers to solicit their thoughts regarding offshore renewable energy as well as informing fishers about the offshore renewable energy leasing process.

BOEM will also provide an update on offshore renewable energy activities in the Mid-Atlantic (New York to North Carolina). Updates on the status of other BOEM-funded studies will also be presented during the meeting.

BOEM staff, MAFMC leaders, National Marine Fisheries Service personnel will be present to answer questions. The public can attend in person or via the internet.

For online webinar access register at:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/357029721. This is the same link for listening-in to the MAFMC meeting Agenda.

For questions regarding the Listening Session process, contact Jason Didden at jdidden@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5254.

Information regarding BOEM’s renewable energy program can be found at:  http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/index.aspx

Meeting Time and Location:

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) Meeting
Tuesday, April 10, 2012 - 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Sanderling Inn, 1461 Duck Road, Duck, NC

And Via the Internet at http://www.mafmc.org/

source: MAFMC

Sustainability Art Exhibit - Auction in Durham NC

Sustainability Art Exhibit - Auction at Watts Grocery

1116 Broad Street, Durham, NC, 27705

October 3, 2011, 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Hosted by: Walking Fish

Sponsors: Craven Allen Gallery, Eastern Carolina Organics, Elodie Farms, and Farmhand Foods

Walking Fish is hosting a Sustainability Art Exhibit and Auction at Watts Grocery Durham, NC on Monday, October 3rd. This one-night “pop-up” show features artwork by Douglas Gayeton paired with locally sourced hors d’oeuvres prepared by Amy Tornquist.

Twenty-four of Gayeton’s prints will be auctioned off to support other fishing communities design creative business plans that make local, healthy, high quality, low-impact seafood more accessible.

The Lexicon of Sustainability show is 1 of 100 shows taking place around the country. For the past two years Douglas Gayeton has been photographing some of the foremost practitioners of sustainability in food and farming. These insights have been translated into beautiful large format photo collages (24 x 38 inch).

To bring these important ideas to a national audience, the Lexicon Project is asking local groups from around the country to host temporary exhibits in their respective communities as a way to spur dialog about how people can have a positive impact on their local food systems.

Walking Fish invites friends to see Gayeton’s work, sample local hors d’peuvres, and participate in the silent auction.

Space is limited. RSVP required.  There will be a cash bar and locally sourced hors d'oeuvres prepared by Amy Tornquist, chef and owner of Watts Grocery.

RSVP to attend - Please send a note to info at walking-fish dot org with your name(s) and email address(es). A confirmation email will be sent.

Walking Fish is a community supported fishery (CSF) that links fishermen on the coast of North Carolina to consumers in the Triangle.