FROM THE EDITOR 



International Experiences 



^ince Fall 2002, North Carolina Sea Grant has had 

 the privilege of mentoring — and learning from — the 

 growing Sea Partnership Program (SPP) in Indonesia. I 

 personally had the privilege of visiting SPP this year not 

 only to see how the program has grown within Indonesia, 

 but also to witness discussions of a potential regional 

 program based on the Sea Grant/SPP model. 



The official request for my visit was to highlight Sea 

 Grant's strategic communications processes and products, 

 which could then be adapted to serve the specific needs 

 and audiences in Indonesia. But, as you would expect, 

 I learned more than I could share during those two 

 weeks. In particular, I gained perspective on regional issues in Thailand, 

 Malaysia and the Philippines. Indonesia and neighboring countries are 

 developing their program paradigms in terms of 21st-century coastal 

 communities. They face myriad challenges and opportunities. 



My experience was priceless. During my visits to islands off the 

 coast of South Sulawesi, I saw firsthand the SPP efforts to recognize 

 the value of "local wisdom" while also providing communities access 

 to current scientific results. Working with Nurliah Buhari, the first 

 SPP fisheries extension officer, communities on the three islands have 

 established local marine protected areas. This is quite a feat, as I have 

 observed and attempted to report on the protracted discussions regarding 

 MPAs in the South Atlantic region in the United States. 



I also got a chance to visit with Billy Wagey, the first extension 

 officer in North Sulawesi, who is working on varied efforts, including 

 coastal conservation and sustainable tourism opportunities. I am thrilled 



to know that other SPP regional centers anticipate 

 adding extension and communications specialists — 

 the outreach portion of the university-based program. 



Just a few weeks after my return, a SPP delegation 

 visited North Carolina prior to Sea Grant Week 2005. 1 

 again was challenged to explain not only what we do, but 

 also how and why we do it. We also provided university 

 and community members opportunities to learn about 

 tsunami recovery directly from Widi Pratikto, director 

 general of coasts and small islands in the Indonesian 

 Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. 



North Carolina Sea Grant takes particular pride 

 that our program funded Pratikto during his doctoral studies in coastal 

 engineering at North Carolina State University. During those studies, 

 he took the Sea Grant concept to heart and pledged that he could start a 

 similar program when he returned home to Indonesia. He has done just 

 that, with 19 regional centers that have been established since the SPP 

 was initiated in 2002. 



Watch for details on my Indonesian visit in a future issue of 

 Coastwatch. 



In the meantime, the National Sea Grant office, the Sea Grant 

 Network and the OAR International Affairs office all can take pride 

 in providing models for not only the Indonesia program, but also for 

 growing programs in Korea, the Caribbean and a potential program 

 in North Africa. I look forward to continued international exchange 

 opportunities not only for North Carolina Sea Grant, but also for our 

 colleagues across the Sea Grant network. 



Katie Mosher, Managing Editor 



THIS 



S S U E 



Contributing Writers: 

 Kathleen Angione ° Ann Green □ Lilly Loughner ° Pam Smith 



Contributing Photographers: 

 Kathleen Angione ° Karen Browning a Ken Blevins 

 Michael Halminski □ Becky Kirkland □ Daniel Kim 

 Ray Midgett □ Michael Prince ■ Robert Roush □ Bill Russ 

 Pam Smith q Scott Taylor □ Susan West ° Sherry White 



North Carolina's diverse coast offers countless interestingsubjects. 

 The large dots on the map indicate story settings in this issue — 

 including Perquimans and Brunswick counties, and Bath. 



I*""*"}* Moo,. J 



inson Richmond 



Scotland 



Wilmington^ // 

 II 



