COASTAL 



TIDINGS 



Improved Tsunami Detection 



Tine National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration (NOM) is 

 expanding tsunami detection 

 and warning capabilities 

 across the United States, 

 including the North Carolina 

 coast. 



The system is part of the 

 Global Earth Observation Sys- 

 tem of Systems (GEOSS), the 

 international effort to develop 

 a comprehensive, sustained and integrated Earth 

 observation system. The U.S. plan will require a 

 total of $37.5 million over the next two years. 



With this new investment, NOAA will 

 deploy 32 new advanced technology Deep-ocean 

 Assessment and Reporting ofTsunami (DART) 

 buoys for a fully operational tsunami warning 

 system by mid-2007. 



Proposed DART Buoy System 



f 



In addition, the 

 U.S. Geologic Survey 

 will enhance its seismic 

 monitonng and 

 information delivery 

 from the Global Seismic 

 Network, a partnership 

 with the National Science 

 Foundation. 



The new system will 

 provide the United States 

 with nearly 1 00 percent 

 detection capability for a U.S. coastal tsunami, 

 allowing response within minutes. 



To find out more about tsunamis, visit 

 the Web: www.noaa.gov/tsunamis.html. For 

 information about the Pacific Tsunami Warning 

 Center, go to: www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/bulletins. 

 htm. For DART background, go to: www.ndbc. 

 noaa.gov/Dart/dart.shtml. — A.G. 



CD Focuses on Oyster Culture 



Want to get started in oyster farming? 

 Culturing Oysters in North Carolina, a new 

 interactive CD from North Carolina Sea Grant, 

 offers an important first step. 



Jim Swartzenberg of J&B AquaFood and 

 Skip Kemp of Carteret County Community 

 College developed the "show-and-tell" manual 

 especially for individuals who are serious about 

 oyster farming. It was produced with support 

 from North Carolina Sea Grant and the N.C. 

 Fishery Resource Grant Program. 



The how-to guide is the result of several 

 years of research and consulting with folks who 

 have years of hands-on experience. Coauthor 

 Kemp is a former North Carolina Sea Grant 

 shellfish specialist. 



The authors address 

 what to do and how to do it; 

 where to go for help; and 

 the rewards and pitfalls of 

 oyster farming. 



The CD includes links 

 to video images and graphics 

 to enhance the understanding 

 of equipment, methods, 

 economics and state regulations. 

 The manual also may be printed and 

 kept on hand as a quick reference. 



To order the Culturing Oysters in North 

 Carolina CD (UNC-SG-04-12), send $5 to 

 North Carolina Sea Grant, NC State University, 

 Box 8605, Raleigh, NC 27695-8605. - P.S. 



Harmful Algal 

 Blooms Testing 

 Expands 



Since 1998, the N.C. Division 

 of Public Health has been monitoring 

 human health effects from harmful algal 

 blooms (HABs) in North Carolina and 

 other coastal states. Last fall, the state 

 HAB program expanded testing to include 

 water samples from public water supply 

 reservoirs and treatment plants. The State 

 Laboratory of Public Health will be testing 

 for microcystin, a toxin produced by some 

 species of blue-green algae commonly 

 found in North Carolina reservoirs. 



At high doses, microcystin can cause 

 liver damage and even death. Although 

 no human illness due to microcystin has 

 been documented in North Carolina, 

 other countries have reported cases, 

 according to Ann N. Chelminksi, medical 

 epidemiologist with North 

 Carolina's HAB 

 program. 



But, 

 i Chelminski 

 cautions 

 people 

 to avoid 

 swimming 

 and eating 

 shellfish or 

 seafood collected 

 from waters with an 

 algal bloom. 

 In the near future, the program 

 hopes to implement testing at the State 

 Lab for other algal toxins such as saxitoxin 

 that causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. 



If you are concerned about an algal 

 bloom and are interested in toxin testing, 

 call a regional Division of Water Quality 

 Office or the HAB Hotline, 888/823-6915. 

 For more information on HABs, visit the 

 Web: www.epi.state.ncMs/epi.hab. 



-A.G. 



In the Next Issue of Coastwatch 



The number of full-time commercial fishers in the state continues to decline. 

 Pam Smith examines the winds of change in commercial fishing. Ann Green takes readers 

 on a tour of historic Bath as the town celebrates its 300th anniversary. And she also visits 



a well-known Perquimans County cabinetmaker who continues local tradition. 



COASTWATCH 3 



