Leading the Way in the Salt Marsh Program

This year the Federation has expanded our program goals to reflect our focus on protecting and restoring our state’s vulnerable salt marshes. These efforts will include unveiling the North Carolina Salt Marsh Plan, highlighting the role of coastal carbon, and continuing to advance the use of living shorelines for shoreline stabilization. 

Under this new program, the Federation is pleased to welcome Jacob Boyd as the Salt Marsh Program Director. Jacob brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position joining the Federation following 17 years with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries in multiple roles including as the Protected Species Biologist and most recently as the Chief of the Habitat and Enhancement Section since 2018. 

Jacob has served critical roles in several state initiatives including the updated N.C. Coastal Habitat Protection Plan, the 2020 North Carolina Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan, and the 2020 Natural and Working Lands Action Plan, as well as serving on the NC Department of Environmental Quality Interagency Resilience Team. Jacob holds a master’s degree in biology from East Carolina University and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Educating the Coast

A critical part of our work is reaching out into the community and educating people of all ages about how important our coastal resources are as well as sharing ways to protect and restore this beautiful coast. 

Recently our northeast Coastal Education Coordinator Sara Hallas hosted several members from the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. She was able to show the group around our office and took them out to see some of our projects including our demonstration oyster lease and living shoreline. 

Our educators also have many online resources that you can put to good use through our Distance Learning Lab.

Coastal Education Coordinator Sara Hallas poses with members of the Citizens Climate Lobby following a tour at the Federation.

A Successful Lost Fishing Gear Recovery

The end of January officially wrapped up the tenth year of the Federation’s Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Program. Like every year we couldn’t be successful in keeping coastal waters clean and safe without the hard work of the commercial fishing crews.

These men and women braved cold conditions out on the water to pull up thousands of lost crab pots. We are now working to salvage any pots in good condition to possibly return to their rightful owners, and the rest will be recycled to the best of our ability. 

“A valuable part of this project is having the opportunity to return some of the gear to the fishers. With the value of recycling the gear being only five cents per pound and the cost of a new crab pot rising to over $50, it just makes sense,” said Coastal Education Coordinator Sara Hallas.

We are proud of the work these crews do each year to clean up our coastal waterways, and you can find out more about the project and its success over the past ten years, here.

Hatteras Island Oyster Roast

Each year the Federation is lucky enough to host hundreds of supporters at Oden’s Dock for our annual Hatteras Island Oyster Roast, and this year we were once again blown away by the outpouring of support. 

Not only is this an amazing opportunity for us to meet and connect with folks from around the country, but it’s also a great chance for us to recycle more than 50 bushels of oyster shells! 

Those shells will now go to our stockpile site in Wanchese where they will cure for the next few months before going right back into the water for one of our restoration projects! Shells from the roast will provide a habitat for baby oysters to grow on and create an important habitat for fish, crabs, shrimp, and other seafood. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us and we can’t wait to see you next year! 

Join Us at A Roast for the Coast

If you weren’t able to join us at the Hatteras Island Oyster Roast we have another great opportunity for you to enjoy delicious oysters! The annual Roast for the Coast will place on March 23 at Waterman’s Brewing Company in Wilmington from 1:00- 4:00 pm. 

Aside from the incredible food, and live music, there will also be a raffle. Details on what you could win will be coming soon!

Don’t wait, grab your ticket for this sell-out event now. There are also incredible opportunities to join us as a sponsor! 

An image of staff from the Federation's Southeast Office standing in front of a table at the 2023 Roast for the Coast at Waterman's Brewing

Rowboat of Your Dreams

Calling all outdoor enthusiasts! If you love to be out on the water then we’ve got the perfect rowboat for you, the Federation is selling a two-seater 16’9’’ Gig Harbor Melonseed Rowboat.

This boat is in excellent condition and was generously donated to us. Not only will you get the boat, but also a trailer, two sets of cedar oars, and a cover!

The Melonseed skiff is a fiberglass rowboat popular with fishermen, bird watchers, and rowing enthusiasts. Capable of accepting a small motor, the Melonseed has a fine bow and stern, elevated ends to drive over chop, and a stunningly graceful sheerline. It has a flat bottom box keel which furnishes tremendous tracking ability and is seaworthy for long open water adventures.
Just head to our website to learn more about the rowboat and to see additional photos! Your purchase will not only get you out on the water this spring, but it will also support the Federation’s work!

Sharing the Love and Adopting Oysters

Thanks to your support, our Adopt an Oyster for Valentine’s Day campaign was a huge success!  

While we may have ended our special Valentine’s Day offer, you can adopt an oyster all year long. Your adoption comes with fun updates about how your oyster is growing and thriving, and at certain levels, there are even more benefits, head over to our website and adopt your oyster today!

Catching Up With Coastal Review

February is Black History Month and all month long CoastalReview.Org is sharing a number of inspiring stories including this article about drummer and musical prodigy, Max Roach.

The subject of a PBS documentary that premiered in October 2023, he was born in 1924 in Newland Township, about 12 or 13 miles north of Elizabeth City. Read more about Max Roach and his contribution to music, here. 

If you enjoyed reading this piece, be sure to subscribe to CoastalReview.Org and receive daily coastal news directly in your inbox!

Federation In the News

Here is a look at some of the latest news  featuring the Federation: