FEATURES 



COASTAL TIDINGS 



CORALS AND SEA URCHINS: 

 TWO PARTS OFTHE SAME STORY 



Coral reefs are considered wonders of the ocean world. But many reef areas 

 have been damaged or degraded in recent years. Join Pam Smith as she 

 shares a novel, ecological approach to reef restoration by Alina Szmant of 

 the University of North Carolina at Wilmington 6 



NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES: 

 OUR DEEPESTTREASURES 



The site of the USS Monitor became the nation's first marine sanctuary in 

 1975. Now the program includes a dozen more sites — including the Florida 

 Keys National Marine Sanctuary, where UNC-W researchers are working 

 on coral reef restoration and other marine topics 11 



THE ENIGMATIC EEL A LONG WAY FROM HOME 

 The eel fishery in North Carolina may have peaked in the 1970s, but ET. 

 and Katie Sawyer still take orders for eel pots at their Belhaven business. 

 Follow the saga of the fishery — and learn more about the Ameican eel, which 

 is bom in the Sargasso Sea, but spends most of its life in freshwater. 12 



MUSEUM 'MORGUE' HELPS SCIENTISTS ASSESS HABITATS 

 Want to find the last known river frog in North Carolina? How about a 

 Neuse River water dog or a Carolina gopher frog — rare since development 

 degraded water supplies or altered wedands. Ann Green takes you to a 

 research facility that documents these and other specimens from our 

 changing state 16 



PEOPLE & PLACES: Taxidermy: Ancient Practice is Now Art Form 

 Displays at coastal state parks offer glimpes of wildlife we may rarely see in 

 person. The realistic presentations, complete with habitat, are the work of 

 unusual artists — taxidermists. Ann Green takes you to two studios where 

 the work is truly hands-on 20 



BOOK MARKET: Adventure Along the Coast is Just a Book Away 

 Summer is here — time to break out of your mold. Whether you are an avid 

 sailor or kayaker or an armchair enthusiast, you will enjoy the books 

 highlighted by Pam Smith. And she offers the lure of pirates to keep kids 

 busy when those afternoon storms roll in 23 



SEA SCIENCE: Counting Dolphins 



Watching dolphins dance in the waves is the highlight of many beach 

 vacations. But just how many dolphins are there in North Carolina's coastal 

 waters? Cynthia Henderson reports on a Fishery Resource Grant with results 

 that may surprise you 26 



COASTWATCH 



