SEA 



SCIENCE 



LEFT: Erosion-control structures are common in the estuarine region, but what are their impacts on adjacent benthic communities? 

 MIDDLE: North Carolina Sea Grant research topics include a wide variety of water quality issues. 

 RIGHT: The economic impact of fisheries is the topic of a joint project with Wisconsin Sea Grant. 



E 



inding new antibiotics in oysters. 

 Evaluating impacts of erosion-control structures. 

 Studying fecal contamination in estuarine and 

 coastal waters. These are just a few of the 15 

 major research efforts to be funded by North 

 Carolina Sea Grant in 2004. 



"Each of our applied research projects 

 addresses issues important to our coastal region," 

 North Carolina Sea Grant Director Ronald G. 

 Hodson says. 



Selected after stringent scientific peer 

 review, the 15 projects will be funded with a total 

 of more than $1 million in federal and state fund- 

 ing. The federal funding is through the National 

 Sea Grant College Program, part of the National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the 

 U.S. Department of Commerce. Sea Grant also 

 receives state funding from the N.C. General As- 

 sembly through the University of North Carolina 

 system. 



"The combination of projects reflects 

 a spectrum of physical and social sciences," 

 Hodson says. 



One study will develop new models to de- 



termine the economic impact of fisheries — and 

 will be conducted in conjunction with a Sea Grant 

 study in Wisconsin. "The Sea Grant network sup- 

 ports projects that draw upon expertise around the 

 country to provide regional and national perspec- 

 tives on particular issues," Hodson explains. 



Another project will continue striped bass 

 genetics research now underway. North Carolina 

 Sea Grant conducted groundbreaking research on 

 hybrid striped bass aquaculture, and continues to 

 be a leader in the field. 



A seafood science project looks at alterna- 

 tive production techniques. North Carolina Sea 

 Grant has been a leader in surimi research and 

 other production technologies. 



Several topics involve important fisheries, 

 such as flounder aid red drum. Other projects 

 look at water quality factors such as chlorophyll 

 aid mercury, and estuarine habitats important to 

 coastal fisheries and economies. 



One study will look at the impacts of new 

 residents in coastal communities, while another 

 looks at environmental impacts of beach nourish- 

 ment. 



The projects represent 26 researchers at four 

 universities. More than a dozen graduate students 

 will receive Sea Grant research assistant stipends, 

 while many other undergraduate and graduate 

 students also will be involved in the projects. 



"Sea Grant not only funds some of the top 

 scientists in the country, but also provides practical 

 and theoretical training for the next generation of 

 coastal researchers," Hodson adds. 



Projects to be funded in 2004 



• Accelerated Genetic Improvement 

 of Striped Bass: Molecular Biomarkers of 

 Growth Performance; Russell Borski and Craig 

 V. Sullivan, North Carolina State University. 



• Improving Production Efficiency of 

 Southern Flounder Growout: Evaluation of 

 Monosex Populations; Harry V. Daniels, Russell 

 Borski and John Godwin, NC State. 



• Characterization of Novel Polypeptide 

 Antibiotics from American Oyster; Ed Noga 

 NC State. 



• Developing "Best Practices" for Coastal 

 Communities Experiencing High Levels of Im- 



24 WINTER 2004 



