Shrimp boats bring in the state's most valuable see 



Kane and Jeffreys are hoping to find ways to reduce 

 the bacterial content of the Rangia and improve its 

 taste, shelf life and overall marketability. 



Scientists already know that estuaries are impor- 

 tant as nursery grounds. It's there that many larval 

 and juvenile forms of fish grow and develop into 

 adults before returning to the sea. But how do 

 seasonal and environmental variations affect the role 

 of the estuary as a nursery? Biologist John Miller of 

 NCSU hopes to begin answering at least part of that 

 question. This year Miller is looking at the seasonal 

 abundance of croaker, spot and related fish in the 

 Pamlico River estuary and how their distribution 

 relates to such environmental factors as depth and 

 vegetation. 



In some cases weather can be the critical factor in 

 fish survival. Last year a deadly combination of a 

 cold winter and wet spring nearly decimated North 

 Carolina's shrimp fishery. Total catches were down 

 by nearly two-thirds from previous years. 



Despite the disastrous season, shrimp continues to 

 be the state's most valuable seafood crop. And as the 

 stakes get higher, so do the fishing pressures. But 

 deciding how to manage this valuable resource isn't 

 easy. For example, premature opening of the fishing 

 seasons can spell disaster. Biostatistician George 

 Fishman of UNC-CH believes that it is possible to 

 predict both the biologic and economic effects of 

 various shrimp management policies. Fishman is 

 developing a prediction model that will help resource 

 agencies in North Carolina and elsewhere make bet- 

 ter management decisions. The model will take into 

 account the biology and behavior of shrimp as well as 

 the geographic, social and economic character of the 

 North Carolina fishery. 



There are 23 species of colonial waterbirds that 

 nest in North Carolina. For most people these birds 

 are simply fun to watch and photograph. But for 



I crop 



biologists they have a very special meaning. Their 

 population reflects the overall health of the environ- 

 ment because they frequently are at the top of food 

 chains. For several years Jim Parnell of UNC-W and 

 Bob Soots of Campbell College have been studying 

 North Carolina's waterbirds. 



They've found that under the proper conditions, 

 man-made dredge spoil islands can provide ideal 

 nesting habitat for birds. And as more and more 

 natural areas are destroyed, these man-made sites 

 become more important. This year Parnell and Soots 

 are evaluating various techniques for creating and 

 improving nesting habitat. Eventually they hope to 

 develop a model for the management of colonial 

 waterbirds in North Carolina estuaries. 



Pamlico Sound is virtually synonymous with North 

 Carolina's estuaries. But despite it's importance, 

 relatively little is known about the sound, its circula- 

 tion patterns or its responses to atmospheric condi- 

 tions. This year oceanographers Bob Weisberg, Len 

 Pietrafesa and Jerry Janowitz of NCSU are continu- 

 ing physical studies of Pamlico Sound started last 

 year. Information collected in their study will be used 

 for predicting storm surge, flooding and erosion pat- 

 terns along the sound as well as the movement of 

 sediments and contaminants. 



Recreational fishing is one of the most popular 

 pastimes along North Carolina's coast. Ironically lit- 

 tle is known about the fishery, who is involved in it, 

 how it affects local economies or even its impact on 

 commercially important fish species. This year 

 sociologist Peter Fricke of ECU is examining some of 

 these questions. Through a series of surveys and in- 

 terviews he hopes to find out such things as the social 

 characteristics of the recreational fisherman and how 

 much money is spent on an average fishing trip. 

 What he finds out will be valuable to coastal resource 

 management agencies. 



