management plans to protect 

 species and habitats; 



• Declining water quality 

 in tributaries and estuarine 

 waters can negatively affect the 

 very same natural resources 

 that underpin coastal econo- 

 mies; and 



• The public demand for 

 information on coastal and 

 marine issues is increasing. 



North Carolina Sea Grant 

 is ready and willing to meet 

 those challenges — but we 

 must count on your support. 



Ours is a true partnership 

 of federal and state funding. 

 Throughout the program, we 

 have had funding from the 

 National Oceanic and 

 Atmospheric Administration — 

 part of the U.S. Department of 

 Commerce — as well as strong 

 support from the North 

 Carolina General Assembly, 

 which appropriates funding 

 through the University of 

 North Carolina System. 



As we move into the new 

 century, I want to point out a 

 pair of common threads 

 running throughout our entire 

 program. One is strong science 

 — our proposals go through a 

 peer-review process. 



Second, our projects are 

 relevant to the needs of the 

 North Carolina coast. We are 

 looking for cutting-edge research 

 results that will be useful. 



We want new technology 

 or academic recommendations 

 that can be transferred through 

 Sea Grant's long-term 

 partnerships with government, 

 industry, interest groups, 

 business and the general 

 public. 



New Bern-Jerry Schill thanks Amy Willis and Karen Pike of the N.C Fisheries Association. Frank Thomas, Sea Gran 

 Advisory Board chair, and his wife, Rachel, reminisce. Dave Beresoffand Robert Southerland relax at the reception. 



