COASTAL 



TIDINGS 



1998 — The Year of the Ocean 



Fishery declines, marine debris, 

 coastal habitat destruction, oil spills, 

 toxic algal blooms, marine mammal 

 entanglement — the planet's 

 oceans face these threats 

 and many others. In 

 recognition of the 

 importance of 

 marine resources, 

 the United Nations 

 has declared 1998 

 the International 

 Year of the Ocean 

 with the goal of 

 increasing public 

 awareness about the 

 importance of the ocean in 

 our lives. For example, 



• more than 70 percent of the 

 Earth's surface is covered by water; 



• the total volume of Earth's 

 oceans is 300 million cubic miles; 



• the United States has more than 

 95,000 miles of coastline; 



• more than one-half of the U.S. 

 population now lives and works within 

 50 miles of the coastline; 



• in the United States, 

 40 percent of new 

 commercial develop- 

 ment has occurred 

 near the coastlines. 



Watch for 

 news about Year 

 of the Ocean 

 activities as the 

 National Oceanic 

 and Atmospheric 

 Administration 

 (NOAA) works with 

 other federal and state 

 agencies, industries, universi- 

 ties and environmental groups to promote 

 relevant issues. NOAA has created a 

 Year of the Ocean web site with pages 

 devoted to education, community 

 awareness and more. Check it out at 

 http://www.yoto98.noaa.gov/. — D.D. □ 



Center for Turtles in Trouble 



You're taking an afternoon stroll on 

 the beach when you notice a wounded 

 sea turtle stranded on the sand. What do 

 you do? 



The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle and 

 Rescue Center, a nonprofit organization 

 that treats and releases injured and 

 marooned turtles, can help. Located at 

 Topsail Beach, the rescue center is 

 managed by Topsail Turtle Project 

 volunteers and funded solely by dona- 

 tions. 



Jean Beasley, director of the project, 

 says that a sea turtle in distress may 

 exhibit any one of the following signs: It 

 is beached or stationary, its movements 

 seem lethargic, it is bleeding, or it is 

 missing limbs or body parts. 



If you come across a sea turtle in 

 trouble, try to avoid frightening it. 

 Approach the turtle from the rear and 

 soften your light source if it is evening, 



Beasley says. During daylight, immedi- 

 ately shade the turtle from the sun's rays 

 (a beach umbrella is ideal) and continu- 

 ally douse it with fresh ocean water. 

 Then call the rescue center through the 

 wildlife hotline at 1-800/662-7137. Sea 

 turtles nest at night, so avoid approach- 

 ing one at dark unless it is obviously 

 injured. 



The center currently houses three 

 sea turtles, each named to identify the 

 area where it was found and to which it 

 will be returned: Corey, found at Core 

 Sound; Kitty, found at Kitty Hawk; and 

 Cee Cee, found in Carteret County. 



For more information about the 

 center, call 910/328-1000 or e-mail 

 loggrhead@aol.com. Send donations by 

 check or money order to Grace Murray, 

 Treasurer, P.O. Box 3536, Topsail 

 Beach, NC 28445. Make checks payable 

 to "Sea Turtle Hospital." — A.O. □ 



These Dunes 

 Aren't Made 

 for Walking 



The season for sun and 

 surf is approaching — finally. 

 But in your rush to the beach, 

 don't walk on the dunes or 

 trample the dune plants. 



American beach grass, 

 wormwood and eastern 

 cottonwood are just some of 

 the plants that anchor and 

 stabilize our waterfront dunes. 

 These dunes offer the first line 

 of defense against wave action. 

 If dunes are destroyed or 

 breached, then what lies behind 

 them, be it a wetland or a 

 home, is vulnerable to the 

 water's energy. 



Although dune plants 

 tolerate harsh conditions — 

 wind, salt spray, overwash of 

 waves, scarce nutrients, limited 

 fresh water, intense sunlight 

 and extremes of hot and cold — 

 they can't withstand the 

 pounding of feet and vehicles. 



So remember, use 

 crosswalks and designated 

 beach access areas to cross the 

 dunes. — K.H. □ 



COASTWATCH 3 



