North Carolina Sea Grant provides research, education and outreach opportunities relating to current issues affecting the North Carolina coast and its communities.

Meet the Team

North Carolina Sea Grant’s administrative headquarters are located at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, with coastal extension offices based at CMAST in Morehead City, UNCW Center for Marine Sciences in Wilmington, and the Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese.

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Eric Herbst

Coastal Aquaculture Specialist

252-222-6314 [email protected]

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Sarah Spiegler

Coastal Resilience Specialist

252-222-6307 [email protected]

The NCSG coastal resilience specialist works closely with a broad network of partners throughout coastal NC to implement programs and research that supports building more resilient coastal communities, habitats and economies in NC.  Through community engagement, scientific research, and communicating science to decision makers, the coastal resilience specialist supports NC coastal communities in preparing for and adapting to changing conditions and coastal hazards.  

Eric Herbst, North Carolina Sea Grant’s coastal aquaculture specialist, works with a diverse group of stakeholders and partners to assess industry needs, identify challenges and develop science-based solutions to advance opportunities in the state’s growing shellfish and finfish aquaculture sectors. He also supports workforce development and education programs and coordinates and conducts applied research with academic and industry partners. 

Collaborative Projects

Through close regional partnerships, NC Sea Grant’s satellite office drives collaborative research and local resilience solutions, including the featured projects below.

• The NC Resilience Coastal Communities Program, administered by the NC Division of Coastal Management, is an important partner and program that NCSG works closely with.  To date, over 60 communities located throughout the 20 CAMA counties have participated in the program.
• The NC Salt Marsh Initiative
• The 2020 NC Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan

Supporting Research

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Funding

NC Sea Grant offers fellowships for graduate students as well as grants for scientists, specialists, policymakers, and community experts that support coastal research for faculty, staff and the coast. Our researchers at CMAST are often recipients of this funding.

North Carolina Sea Grant funds research that addresses our state’s needs and challenges associated with four focus areas. Any UNC University System researcher is eligible to apply, and CMAST faculty are often successful in obtaining funding through NC Sea Grant.  NC Sea Grant also offers fellowships for graduate students. 

Buckel Lab received funding from NCSG

Snappers and groupers are susceptible to pressure trauma known as barotrauma when brought to the surface, but there is a need to better understand if venting – puncturing the swim bladder to relieve pressure caused by trapped body gases – is an effective strategy for minimizing post-release mortality.

Buckel’s research will involve catching and tagging red snapper off Cape Lookout, NC to track movement data of fish released without any treatment compared to those recompressed, vented properly, and vented improperly. Results of this study will be of substantial interest to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to promote post-release survival of reef fishes.

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