The Fountain, supporting graduate education at Carolina
A publication of The Graduate School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Archives Spring 2002

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Message From the Dean
Photo of Dean Linda Dykstra

This issue of The Fountain gives a glimpse of the lives and work of Carolina graduate students, faculty and alumni who study and work on behalf of one of our most important resources, the coast.

The North Carolina coast is crucial to the economy. About 30,000 people in the 20 coastal counties make their living in the tourism industry.

Some North Carolina natives work at commercial marine fisheries. In 2000, these commercial fisheries harvested over 154 million pounds of fish and shellfish, for a total value of $108 million.

The sunny North Carolina coast is important to those living beyond our borders as well. In 2000, tourists spent $1.75 billion in the coastal counties. Of the 11 million or so Americans who visit North Carolina every year, roughly a quarter visit the coast, and most spend at least a day on the beach. Recreational fishermen made about 6 million fishing trips in 2000 and harvested over 21 million pounds of fish.

In 2000, 3.2 million people visited the coast’s two national parks, Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores. They are home to several endangered species, such as the seabeach amaranth, four kinds of sea turtles and piping plovers.

As you can see, the coast is vital to the livelihood of many North Carolinians. And it’s a place for many others to relax, explore and learn. With so much at stake, the research of Carolina graduate students and faculty plays an essential role in helping us understand, preserve and protect this fragile area. We hope you enjoy reading about their experiences supporting “Carolina on the Coast.”

-Linda Dykstra

 

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