The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM) oversees development in the state's 20 coastal counties. DCM defines development as coastal land use activities that involve:

• dredging or filling coastal wetlands or waters,
• construction of marinas, piers, docks, bulkheads, oceanfront structures and roads.

Such activities taking place in or affecting areas designated as Areas of Environmental Concern by the state in any coastal county requires a special permit. An AEC is:

an area of natural importance. It may be easily destroyed by erosion or flooding; or it may have environmental, social, economic or aesthetic values that make it valuable to our state.

This designation is intended to protect these areas from uncontrolled development that may cause irreversible damage to property, public health or the environment. AECs cover almost all coastal waters and about 3 percent of the land in the 20 coastal counties.

Development on the NC coast usually includes the following types of activites:

• Beach bulldozing
  
• Beach nourishment
  
• Building
  • beach walkways
    
  • boat ramps
  • docks and piers
  • moorings and arinas
    
• Bulkheads and estuarine shoreline stabilization
  
• Dredging & excavating channels, canals & boat basins
  
• Dune creation and stabilization
  
• Groins
  
• House & oceanfront other construction
  
• Oceanfront erosion response
  
• Sandbags for temporary erosion control

These activities impact the ecosystem by

1. stirring up sediment,
2. increasing run off of pollutants,
3. reducing space available to aquatic organisms,
4. reduction or elimination of seagrass habitats,
5. altering current flow in the estuary, and
6. increasing human population along the coast and thus increase human activities and waste production.

The coast is a popular place to live. Coastal counties represent only 13 percent of the country's land, but they are home to more than 50 percent of the nation's population.

In North Carolina, approximately 10% of the state's 8.3 million people live in its 20 coastal counties. This percentage has remained steady over the past 10 years.

• Miles of ocean beaches in North Carolina: 320
  
• Miles of estuarine shoreline in the state: nearly 4,000
  
• Acres of sounds, creeks and marshes: 2 million-plus
  
• Acres preserved through the N.C. Coastal Reserve Program: 32,000+
  
• Economic impact of tourism in the 20 coastal counties in 2001: $1.76 billion

1. How does development of the coastal environment impact the estuarine ecosystem?
2. Should coastal development be eliminated or reduced?
3. What affect does coastal development have on North Carolina's marine fisheries, particularly blue crabs?

a process whereby water bodies, such as lakes, estuaries, or slow-moving streams receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth (algae, periphyton attached algae, and nuisance plants weeds).

The enhanced plant growth, a.k.a. algal bloom, reduces dissolved oxygen in the water when the dead plant material decompose. The diminished oxygen supply in the water can cause other aquatic organisms to die.

Sources of nutrients from human activities include run off of fertilizers applied to agricultural fields, golf courses, and suburban lawns; erosion of soil containing nutrients; and sewage treatment plant discharges.

1. How does a decline in water quality affect blue crabs?
2. What affect do hurricanes have on eutrophication of an estuarine ecosystem?
3. How do you think the 1996 and 1999 hurricanes impacted the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Ecosystem?

Fishing has had a long history in North Carolina's economy and coastal heritage. North Carolina's rich estuarine habitat has established it as one the top ten states in the nation in both recreational and commercial annual marine fish landings. North Carolina's marine fishery contributes approximately one billion dollars annually to the state's economy.

Refer to the Human Activities Data for more information ecological effects of fishing in North Carolina.

1. North Carolina's fishing tradition has grown tremendously over the years. Increased fishers and improved fishing capabilities continue to take from its estuarine and coastal ecosystems. How can this pose a challenge to the fish and shellfish population?