Coastkeepers®
The N.C. Coastal Federation has three Coastkeepers® patrolling our coastal waters. They are full-time advocates whose primary mission is:
- To continually survey the environmental health of our coastal resources
- To alert the public to potential hazards
- To expose polluters and other those who contribute to the environmental degradation
- To work with citizens to identify and solve problems.
The WATERKEEPER® ALLIANCE in November 2000 gave the federation licenses for three Coastkeepers®. The federation is the only organization to be licensed to cover a state's entire coast.
Our Coastkeepers® serve in each of the federation’s regions:
- The Cape Fear COASTKEEPER® program was launched in January 2001. Coastkeeper Mike Giles works in our Southeast Regional Office in Wilmington.
- The Cape Lookout COASTKEEPER® program began in 2002. Coastkeeper Frank Tursi works out of our Central Regional Office in Ocean.
- The Cape Hatteras COASTKEEPER® program began in 2003. Coastkeeper Jan DeBlieu works out of our Northeast Regional Office in Manteo.
  
(L-R) Cape Hatteras COASTKEEPER® Jan DeBlieu, discusses the fate of our coast during one of her Beach Walk tours; Cape Lookout COASTKEEPER® Frank Tursi, taking a break from patrolling our coastal waters; Cape Fear COASTKEEPER® Mike Giles tests the water at on the Cape Fear River.
Coastkeeper Goals
- To protect the water quality and habitat of the coast by serving as a strong presence on e coastal waters to prevent pollution and habitat degradation.
- To restore habitat and water quality through citizen- and agency-led restoration projects.
- To expand and diversify the constituency for a clean and healthy coast by raising public awareness and understanding of the threats to the coast among citizens, legislators, policy makers, the media and funders.
- To educate citizens about their potential and responsibility to become active stewards for the coast of North Carolina.
- To increase the effectiveness and scope of enforcement of coastal rules and regulations by investigating detrimental activities and ensuring that they are investigated and reported to the appropriate agency and/or media and ensuring that action is taken.
- To increase the effectiveness and scope of federal, state and local agencies responsible for the coast by serving as an additional "watchdog" for the coast.
- To work with citizens and citizen groups to organize and strengthen the voice, number and diversity of advocates for North Carolina's coast.
What You Can Do To Help
Become an Advocate
Attend a meeting. Write your legislator. Be Heard. Our three Coastkeepers® frequently need the public’s support to protect our coastal resources. They may call on you to attend a public meeting and drop an email to you state legislator or congressman. Heed the call. You can read about the latest issues on the individual Coastkeeper® pages or on our Advocacy Page. Also consider joining the North Carolina Coastal Federation to help support the Coastkeepers’® work.
Report Pollution
If you spot dead fish floating in the water, spy an oil slick or see or smell something on or near the water that doesn't seem right, you can call the Coastkeeper® in your area or you can fill out and send them a Pollution Report.
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