TheBack Page 



"The Back Page" is an update on Sea 

 Grant activities— on research, marine edu- 

 cation and advisory services. It's also a 

 good place to find out about meetings, 

 workshops and new publications. For 

 more information on any of the projects 

 described, contact the Sea Grant offices in 

 Raleigh (919/737-2454). For copies of 

 publications, write UNC Sea Grant, Box 

 8605, NCSU, Raleigh, N.C. 27695-8605. 



After 10 years, Coastwatch has changed 

 its look. With this issue, we've updated the 

 masthead and "The Back Page." It will 

 take us and you a while to get used to the new 

 look, but we hope it is something you'll like. 



/ \ Thanks to the Coast- 

 I \ wa t°h subscribers who 



responded to our survey. 

 \xj^ff J More than 550 readers 

 \ yj were randomly selected to 



^ — S answer some questions we 

 had about our monthly publication. Of 

 those questioned, 224 responded. 



Our survey said that 74 percent of our 

 readers have subscribed to Coastwatch 

 three or more years; 20 percent, 1 to 3 

 years; and 6 percent, less than one year. 



Each copy of the newsletter is read by 

 2.8 people. This means that more than 

 60,000 people read Coastwatch monthly. 



Readers learned about our newsletter in 

 various ways: 30 percent at the N.C. 

 Aquariums, 26 percent from a friend, 15 

 percent from the newspaper, 5 percent at 

 the library, 9 percent from the Sea Grant 

 publications catalog and 24 percent from 

 other sources. 



On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being best, 

 readers gave Coastwatch the following 

 ratings: 1.58 attractiveness, 1.18 timeliness, 

 1.27 informativeness, 1.2 ease in reading, 

 and 1.14 helpfulness. 



When asked what readers liked most 

 about Coastwatch, people said they 

 thought it was informative, easy to read, 

 factual, balanced and diverse. 



When asked if readers had any sugges- 

 tions for improving our newsletter, people 

 said they would like to see it lengthened 



and published more frequently. 



Readers wrote that they were most con- 

 cerned about development, water quality, 

 pollution and erosion problems along the 

 North Carolina coast and would like to see 

 us focus on these topics in Coastwatch. 



The survey indicated that 62 percent of 

 our readers had ordered a publication 

 from "The Back Page." And, based on an- 

 nouncements in "The Back Page," 26 per- 

 cent of the respondents said they had 

 participated in a Sea Grant activity- 

 Beach Sweep, a workshop or a conference. 



More than 70 percent of the respon- 

 dents said they were not aware that Sea 

 Grant and Coastwatch had been threat- 

 ened because of federal budget cuts. And 

 of those readers who responded, 26 per- 

 cent said they had made a contribution to 

 Sea Grant to help support Coastwatch, 

 and 86 percent indicated they would pay 

 $5 a year to subscribe to Coastwatch. 



The survey clearly provided food for 

 thought. We'll certainly take on some of the 

 topics suggested, and we're very happy 

 that so many of you like our format, style 

 and approach. 



We, too, would like to expand and pub- 

 lish Coastwatch more frequently, but for 

 now, budget and staff constraints limit us 

 to eight pages an issue and 10 issues a 

 year. However, if donations increase or a 

 subscription fee is implemented, we will 

 reconsider these suggestions. 



The Coastwatch survey 

 indicated many readers 

 wanted to know more 

 about other UNC Sea 

 Grant newsletters. Five free 

 newsletters are available. 

 They're compiled by members of the 

 Marine Advisory Service staff. 



If you'd like to be on the mailing list, 

 write Sea Grant and tell us which of the 

 following newsletters you want to receive. 



Conchshell, published quarterly, pro- 

 vides new ideas about marine education 

 and an update of events. Editor: Lundie 

 Spence, marine education specialist. 



Legal Tides is for lawyers, planners and 

 government officials. It addresses timely 



legal issues related to coastal and environ- 

 mental law. Published quarterly. Editor: 

 Walter Clark, coastal law specialist. 



Marine Advisory News covers topics 

 relating to commercial fishing and seafood 

 in North Carolina. This bimonthly newslet- 

 ter provides information on research, gear, 

 fishing techniques and upcoming events. 

 Editor: Bob Hines, marine advisory agent. 



Seafood Current, published quarterly, 

 updates seafood processors, retailers and 

 restaurateurs about news from the seafood 

 industry. Editors: David Green, seafood 

 specialist; Skip Kemp, seafood marketing 

 specialist. 



Marina Messages is a quarterly newslet- 

 ter for marina operators, marine equip- 

 ment manufacturers and boaters that 

 provides information on marina regulations 

 and boating trends. Editor: Rich Novak, 

 marine recreation and business specialist. 



Ask any Beach Sweep volunteer from 

 last year's cleanup and chances are they'll 

 be back this Sept. 23 for Beach Sweep 

 '89. It's a good opportunity to join others 

 who care about the coast in cleaning up 

 the beach. And it's a fun and educational 

 event for groups of all kinds. 



Scout troups, garden clubs, environ- 

 mental organizations and science classes 

 were just a few of the groups that joined in 

 the cleanup last year. Sign up your club or 

 organization now for Beach Sweep '89. Or 

 volunteer for Inland Sweep, a cleanup on 

 the same day that will cover the inland 

 shorelines of lakes, rivers and streams. 



For more information on Beach Sweep, 

 call Sea Grant. Or call Jane Krupnick at 

 the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission in 

 Raleigh to sign up for Inland Sweep. Her 

 number is 919/733-7123. 



Kudos go to three Sea Grant staff 

 members. 



Jim Murray, Sea Grant's Marine Ad- 

 visory Service director, was elected chair- 

 man of the Southeast Sea Grant Marine 

 Advisory Service Network. He will coor- 

 dinate regional marine extension projects 

 and organize a regional meeting. 



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