State actions that encourage 

 wise development in marshlands 



As the value of natural resources go, marsh would have to rate 

 among North Carolina's most important. Marsh grasses are at the 

 bottom of a chain that produces food for a protein-hungry world and 

 dollars for the coastal community. 



In the 60s, it became apparent that the state's marshlands were 

 being gobbled up by development. It's estimated that about 10 per- 

 cent of the marsh we once had has been lost and that 30 percent has 

 been altered but is still functioning. 



In 1969, the N. C. General Assembly passed a law designed to 

 safeguard the future of marshes and the state's fishery resource. 

 Called a dredge and fill law, the legislation requires that anyone 

 planning to build in or change the marsh in any way first get a 

 permit by having his plans approved by the state. A federal permit 

 is also required before making changes in marsh. 



The state's Coastal Area Management Act should also afford 

 protection for marshes, according to Jim Brown of the N.C. Division 

 of Marine Fisheries. "There are many legitmate uses of the coastal 

 area," he said. "But even though they're legitimate, they're not 

 always compatible. The Coastal Area Management Act should 

 provide the organization and direction for using lands that are best 

 suited to certain uses," he said. 



According to Brown, the man in charge of putting the state's 

 dredge and fill legislation into effect, North Carolina's dredge and 

 fill law and the cooperation established between state and federal 

 agencies in dredge and fill activities is a model other states are 

 following. Implementation of the law is recognized as among the 

 nation's best, he added. 



A major reason, Brown says, is that the law was written in a way 

 that makes implementation possible. But while North Carolina 

 leads in implementing dredge and fill, Brown's division doesn't 

 always find the going smooth. 



Failure to obtain convictions and stiff penalties for violations of 

 the law is a major frustration for Brown. Last year 29 dredge and 

 fill cases went to court. In many, photographs and survey reports 

 were presented as evidence of violation. 



But of those 29 less than 70 percent were found guilty. The average 

 fine per conviction was less than $24, Brown's records show. 



Research to learn more about the dynamics of marsh and fish 

 production promises to help attach a value to the natural systems, 

 Brown said. "In most court cases, we need to convince the court that 

 these (marshes) are valuable areas," he noted. In addition, research 

 findings, which have been helpful in setting up present management 

 controls, will be important in directing goals for the future and 

 evaluating the success of past work, Brown said. 



Sea Grant annual report available 



Sea Grant in North Carolina, Grant, 1235 Burlington Labora- 



a magazine reviewing 1974 Pro- tories, North Carolina State Uni- 



gram activities, is now available, versity, Raleigh, N.C. 27607. 

 To order copies, write: UNC Sea 



The University of North Carolina Sea Grant Program Newsletter is 

 published monthly by the University of North Carolina Sea Grant 

 Program, 1235 Burlington Laboratories, Yarborough Drive, North 

 Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. 27607. Vol. 2, No. 7. July, 1975. 

 Dr. B. J. Copeland, director. Dixie Berg, editor. Second-class postage paid at 

 Raleigh, N.C. 27611. 



Seafood industry 

 conference set 



Recent research developments 

 that could be of use to seafood 

 harvesters, handlers and proces- 

 sors will be discussed and demon- 

 strated in a conference on July 

 29 at Carteret Technical Insti- 

 tute, Morehead City. 



The day-long meeting, expect- 

 ed to get underway around 9 

 a.m., will cover developments 

 that have grown out of a seafood 

 handling and processing pilot 

 study by NCSU seafood scientists 

 Neil B. Webb, Frank B. Thomas 

 and T. M. Miller. Sponsors of 

 the meeting are UNC Sea Grant, 

 Coastal Plains Center for Marine 

 Development, National Fisheries 

 Institute Inc. and the NCSU 

 School of Agriculture and Life 

 Sciences. 



The NCSU Seafood Labora- 

 tory, located next door to Carte- 

 ret Tech on the second floor of 

 the Department of Natural and 

 Economic Resources building, 

 will hold open house the follow- 

 ing day. Laboratory staff will be 

 on hand for discussions and 

 demonstrations of mechanical 

 deboning. 



Banking seminar held 



A late-April conference de- 

 signed to acquaint the banking 

 community with problems in 

 financing the commercial fishing 

 industry attracted some 30 bank- 

 ers from eastern North Carolina. 

 The day-long seminar, held in 

 Greenville, was sponsored by the 

 N.C. Bankers Association in co- 

 operation with N.C. State and 

 East Carolina Universities. 



During the seminar bankers 

 heard from various aspects of 

 the fishing industry including 

 the fisherman and seafood dealers 

 and processors. They were re- 

 viewed on steps involved in vessel 

 financing. An afternoon session 

 focused on several loan guarantee 

 programs, such as the Small 

 Business Administration and 

 Farmers Home Administration, 

 which are designed to reduce the 

 risk of making loans. 



