COASTAL 



TIDINGS 



Sea Grant Projects Honored 



North Carolina Sea Grant won two 2003 Apex Awards for Excellence — both for products 

 resulting from partnerships. 



The "Rip Currents: Don't Panic" public education campaign included the placement of 600 rip 

 current safety signs along our coast, and several media events to draw public attention to the danger 

 of rip currents. The effort was built on earlier posters, brochures and videos that were widely 

 distributed. 



Partners included the National Weather Service and North Carolina beach communities. 

 Spencer Rogers, Sea Grant coastal erosion specialist, and Lundie Spence, former Sea Grant marine 

 education specialist, provided technical assistance and interacted with the media 



In addition, our "Shark Sense: Atlantic and Gulf Coasts" brochure took honors. It was funded 

 by a Fisheries Extension Enhancement Program competitive grant from the National Sea Grant office. 



Sea Grant communicator Ann Green pulled together a diverse committee to agree on text for 

 the brochure. Local funding was provided by the N.C. Aquariums and Dare County Emergency 

 Management. 



The committee also included representatives from the NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory 

 Species Division; Florida and Rhode Island Sea Grant programs; the Sea Grant National Media 

 Relations Office; the International Shark Attack File; Mote Marine Laboratory; the U.S. Lifesaving 

 Association; and the National Parks Service. 



For information about ordering rip current or shark materials, go online to www.ncseagrant.org, 

 or call 919/515-9101. ^ -KM 



Fish Out of 

 Water? 



Wbo knew you could have the best 

 of both worlds — land and sea? 



The Downtown Morehead City 

 Revitalization Association (DMCRA) did 

 just that as they planned and installed 

 maritime art along downtown waterfront 

 streets. "FishWalk" includes an array of 

 wonderfully colored and textured 

 sculptures offish native to the area. 



People are "fascinated by the way the 

 fish look and are depicted," and even more 

 so by "the fact that they can touch them," 

 says Bruce Naegelen, executive director of 

 DMCRA. 



The mahi mahi, bottlenose dolphin 

 and sailfish sculptures already are on 

 display. And plans for the completed 

 FishWalk include 25 pieces. Local artists 

 Keith Lambert and Willie Baucom of 

 Beaufort had the "best concept for the 

 project," says Naegelen. 



But why a FishWalk? "Public art has 

 the power to define a public space, 

 enhance the visual appeal of a community, 

 foster pride and identity, creatively solve 

 problems, and encourage interaction and 

 promote tourism," says Jeffery York of the 

 N.C. Arts Council. - LL 



Restored Fort 

 Macon Opens 



^sitors returning to Fort Macon at 

 Adantic Beach will discover that the 

 historic citadel has been transformed into 

 a shining "jewel of the state park system." 



The four-year improvement project 

 includes the addition of six new exhibits 

 that chronicle the fort's 1 69-year history. 

 The fort was completed in 1 834 as part of 

 a national coastal defense system. 



At the beginning of the Civil War, 

 Fort Macon was alternately in the hands of 

 the Confederacy and Union forces. It was a 

 federal prison from 1 867 to 1 869, 

 garrisoned during the Spanish-American 

 War, and closed in 1 903. The state 

 purchased the site from Congress in 1923. 

 Later restored by the Civilian Conservation 

 Corps, it would guard the coast one more 

 time during Worid War II. 



The new exhibits are uniquely 

 displayed in six casemates, the fort's 

 armored rooms. The project was funded 

 by the state's Park and Recreation Trust 

 Fund and an allocation from the N.C. 

 General Assembly. 



Fort Macon State Park is open year- 

 round. 



For information, go to: www. 

 ils. unc. edu/parkprojed/ visit/ foma/home.html 

 or call 252/726-3775. -P.S. 



COASTWATCH 5 



