FROM THE EDITOR 



Summertime Safety 



Be 



e careful," our parents always admonished, 

 even when we knew we were just going to have some 

 fun. 



But the older we get, we find that our parents 

 were making sense after all. And thus, while we are 

 planning our summer beach visits, we should 

 remember to pack a good dose of common sense — 

 and the memory of our parents' simple wisdom. 



The draw of the ocean waters varies. There's the 

 excitement of body surfing. Or the slow process of the 

 tide washing away our sand castles, one wave at a time. 



But, as Kure Beach Police Chief Dennis Cooper 

 explains later in this issue, jumping in the ocean is not 

 the same as playing in a backyard swimming pool. The 

 ocean includes the power of nature, as seen in rip 

 currents. 



At the coast, you can watch for more than 500 signs that alert beach- 

 goers to the warning signs of rip currents. Again, a simple dose of caution 

 can alert you to the risk of rip currents. For more information on rip current 

 forecasting, check my story on page 6. Or go directly to page 1 1 for a list of 

 telltale signs. 



And because the ocean is an ecosystem, complete with wildlife, you 

 may feel the tickle of small baitfish swimming near shore. And, you should 

 be aware that sharks are found in coastal waters. 



To explain the role of sharks along the East Coast — including North 

 Carolina — the Sea Grant National Media Relations office and the NOAA/ 

 National Marine Fisheries Public Affairs office will host a media briefing at 

 the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on May 21. 



Watch for news reports that week in the general media — and check 

 back in the next issue of Coastwatch as well. In fact, educators, students, 



beach business owners and others may be interested in 

 following the entire news briefing — which will feature 

 two international shark researchers and an official from 

 NMFS — on the Web. Check y>'ww.seagrantnews.org 

 for details. ' ... . - ■ 



if: % And again, taking some proactive steps when it 

 comes to designing or renovating a home can save your 

 «hou9e -c ifjjot ypur life. On page 12, Spencer Rogers, 

 ' our coastal construction specialist offers tips to improve 

 hurricane resistance in new or existing homes. 



G)n andtfter^rjte; spring is a busy time for the 

 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. Sponsored by the 

 National Sea Grant Office to honor one of the founders of 

 the Sea Grant Program, the Knauss fellowship provides 

 graduate students an opportunity to participate in policy 

 development in congressional offices and at executive-level agencies. 



In April, applicants for the 2003 program were busy completing essays 

 and getting references, and in many cases, meeting with local Sea Grant 

 officials. But, this spring has also brought a touch of sadness for the Knauss 

 program. 



Steve WhiteseO, a 1994 Knauss fellow from North Carolina was killed 

 in a traffic accident in February. In addition to his year in the Knauss 

 program, Steve had spent a year working on a Sea Grant project on ocean 

 stewardship with Walter Clark, our marine policy specialist. More recently, 

 Steve was an attorney focusing on affordable housing and community 

 development. 



"Steve approached his work and his friendships with rare sensitivity — 

 with a sense of direction, calm and grace," Walter says. 

 Our thoughts are with Steve's family. 



Katie Mosher, Managing Editor 



IN THIS ISSUE 



Contributing Writers: 

 Ann Green D Katie Mosher D Pam Smith 



Contributing Photographers: 

 Michael Halminski D Herman Lankford D Doug Smith 

 Pam Smith D Scott D. Taylor D Roger W. Winstead 



North Carolina's diverse coast offers countless interesting subjects. 

 The large dots on the locator map indicate story settings in this issue — 

 from the Outer Banks in Dare County to Wilmington in New Hanover County. 



