Our HistoryNorth Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation
Recognizing a vital opportunity to strengthen North Carolina's coastal economies through sustainable fisheries, a coalition of business leaders, local fishers, and concerned citizens came together to establish an innovative, science- and education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Their shared vision: to support coastal communities by advancing responsible fisheries, fostering environmental stewardship, and promoting economic resilience.
On May 18, 2018, the North Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation was formally established and permitted to accept tax-deductible contributions from other nonprofits, charities, corporations, and individuals to support its mission of building world-class fisheries and thriving coastal economies.
The North Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation partnered with the North Carolina Collaboratory and leading coastal researchers to develop a nationwide assessment of marine fisheries and coastal resource management.
The Foundation and its research partners conducted in-depth interviews with high-ranking senior fisheries administrators from 20 out of 23 coastal states. This included seven chiefs or deputy chiefs, 12 directors, one assistant director, two commissioners, one assistant secretary, and six other distinguished senior administrators.
The North Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation accomplished several remarkable feats, such as launching its website, establishing digital communication outlets, and securing a federal trademark for its tagline, Think Coastal®.
The Foundation disseminated peer-reviewed research and data on the migration of Atlantic Tarpon in support of establishing a catch-and-release fishery for the species. On March 17, 2021, the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission amended rule 15A NCAC 03M .0509, prohibiting the possession of Tarpon and making it illegal to gaff, spear, or puncture Tarpon by any method other than hook and line.
On June 25, 2021, the Foundation reached a significant milestone by unveiling its Nationwide Assessment. This monumental step initiated comprehensive research into coastal resource management practices, covering key topics such as limited entry, gamefish designations, stocking programs, gear prohibitions, quota allocations, and dredging applications.
On July 22, 2021, the Foundation debuted its ArcGIS Marine Map™, offering detailed insights into North Carolina’s coastal watersheds.
On June 1, 2022, the Foundation partnered with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission on a multi-year project to enhance public fishing and coastal access by improving eight of the coast’s largest public boating facilities. Areas covered in the partnership include Manns Harbor, Swan Quarter, Beaufort, Snow’s Cut, Oak Island, Weldon, Straits Landing, and Wrightsville Beach.
The Foundation completed an internal research study on the administrative structure of fisheries management in North Carolina. The study sought to clarify confusion and examine decision-making processes involving a diverse range of entities at both the state and federal levels.
On February 8, 2022, the Foundation launched its proprietary stock status indicator, FINDEX®. This cutting-edge metric provides the public and policymakers with real-time data on North Carolina’s coastal fisheries, serving as an invaluable tool for achieving world-class fisheries.
In 2023, the Foundation joined forces with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and the NC Division of Marine Fisheries to support the stocking of over 2 million fish and initiate a 3-year collaborative effort to revive one of the state’s most depleted coastal fisheries: the Roanoke River-Albemarle Sound Striped Bass. In 2024, the partnership was expanded to include support of production efforts at the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Edenton National Fish Hatchery.
On September 22, 2023, the NC General Assembly passed groundbreaking harvest reporting legislation aimed at filling data gaps to better understand how fish are harvested from our coastal waters. The Foundation collaborated with key stakeholders throughout the process, with implementation of the data collection program set for December, 2025.
In the fall of 2024, the Foundation teamed up with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries to launch a multi-year red drum satellite tagging study. Adult red drum are equipped with SeaTag-GEO pop-up satellite tags that transmit daily positioning estimates. This critical research aims to develop a better understanding of stock structure, spawning migrations, movement patterns, and habitat preferences of our official state saltwater fish.
In an effort to display the data we continue to collect from the red drum satellite tagging study, the Foundation launched an interactive tracking platform on November 13, 2025. Users can explore dynamic maps that track the movements of each tagged fish. The platform was developed in partnership with Mapotic, a technology company specializing in interactive mapping.