Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium

The Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium

is an annual event that provides a collaborative forum for the exchange of information on recent research, infrastructure best management practices, policy development, restoration and resilience projects, and advocacy that protects the quality of water and quality of life for all in coastal NC.

The 1st Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium will be held

October 9, 10, 11 2024.

Building stakeholder and public support for improved water quality in North Carolina.

TOPICS IN 2024:

1. Agriculture and Factory Farm Runoff
2. Stormwater Runoff from Roads, Highways, and Parking Lots
3. Industrial Pollutants
4. Plastic Pollution
5. Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants and Septic Tanks

SPONSOR THE 2024 WATER QUALITY FOR FISHERIES SYMPOSIUM

Thank you to our wonderful hotel partners for providing discounted rooms for the event! Please book by September 8, 2024.

Palm Suites of Atlantic Beach Booking Instructions:

CLICK for website www.palmsuites.com

To Book Online:
Select- MAKE A RESERVATION

Towards the bottom, click on- +Do you have a group code?

Enter your code- WQFS100824 into the pop-up box

Click- SEARCH AVAILABILITY

Enter check-in date. The check-in date must be at least October 8 (date in code) to be able to book on-line in the group.

Enter # of nights Click-SEARCH AVAILABILITY again

The available room-types will come up, and you can proceed with your booking.

CALL HOTEL DIRECTLY at 252-247-6400 and press option 1 to speak with reservations

When calling they can use the group name Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium 2024 or the personal group code- WQFS100824 along with the arrival and departure dates of their stay.

Bask Hotel Booking Instructions:

CLICK for website www.baskhotel.com

To Book Online:
Select- 2024 Reservations box located on the upper right hand corner

Towards the bottom, click on- +Do you have a group code?

Enter your code- WQF10082024 into the pop-up box

Click- SEARCH AVAILABILITY

Enter check-in date. The check-in date must be at least October 8 (date in code) to be able to book on-line in the group.

Enter # of nights or enter the check out date

Click-SEARCH AVAILABILITY again

The available room-types will come up, and you can proceed with your booking.

CALL HOTEL DIRECTLY at 252-499-9200 to speak with reservations

When calling they can use the group name Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium 2024 or the personal group code- WQF10082024 along with the arrival and departure dates of their stay.

Water Quality For Fisheries Symposium

Agenda

Duke Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516

Wednesday, October 9th

9 – 10 am

Networking Cafe (Be Waste-Free: Please Bring your Own Coffee Cup and Water Bottle)

10:00 am – 11 am

Keynote Address:

Presentation: Increasing access of communities impacted by chemical contaminants in wild-caught fish to information and policy making processes in North Carolina: Chiara Klein, Duke University, and Veronica Carter, Councilperson for the town of Leland

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Veronica Carter Biography: Veronica Carter is a former Civil Servant (International and US) and retired Army officer with over 43 years’ experience in managing complex logistics operations, often under austere conditions. She has served on the Board of Directors for Cape Fear and Brunswick County’s Habitat for Humanity affiliates. She also served on the Town of Leland’s Parks and Recreation Board.

Veronica has devoted much of her time ensuring Environmental Justice by empowering, advocating, and educating EJ communities in southeastern NC. She was appointed to serve on the inaugural North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Board. She currently serves on the North Carolina Coastal Federation Board of Directors. In November 2019, Veronica was elected to and is currently serving as a Council-member for the Town of Leland, North Carolina. Leland is one of the fastest growing municipalities in North Carolina.

Chiara Klein Biography: Chiara has served as the Program Coordinator for the Community Engagement Core of the Duke University Superfund Research Center since 2021. In her role, she engages deeply with communities to form relationships and coalitions with the goal of enabling said communities to make informed decisions regarding their health and the health of their environments. The Community Engagement Core works with diverse populations and modalities, seeking to always be informed by and responsive to community need. Chiara graduated from Duke University in 2021 with her Masters of Environmental Management degree, with a focus on Ecosystem Science and Conservation, and a certificate in Community-Based Environmental Management. Prior to her time at Duke, Chiara worked in environmental education, climate activism, and faith-based environmental advocacy. She is originally from New York and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts in English & Textual Studies.

Keynote Panel Discussion

Participation from attendees is encouraged, but not required.

Lunch is provided at the Duke Marine Lab Cafeteria (Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free Options Available - Please specify food needs during registration).

Wednesday, October 9th

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Fisheries Research and Restoration Sessions

Food Web Transfer of Cyanobacterial Toxins in North Carolina Coastal Waters: Astrid Schnetzer (20 minutes)

PFAS and Heavy Metals in Wild and Farm-Raised Oysters

Caroline Zuber, Duke University and Riley Lewis, Waterkeeper, Coastal Carolina Riverwatch (20 minutes)

BREAK

Wednesday, October 9th

2:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Fisheries Research and Restoration Sessions Continued

North Carolina Recreational Water Quality – Monitoring Coastal Waters for 26 Years: Erin Bryan-Millush, NCDEQ-Division of Marine Fisheries (20 minutes)

New River Oyster Highway: Pat Donovan-Brandenburg, City of Jacksonville Stormwater Manager (20 minutes)

Thursday, October 10th

10 am -Noon

Fisheries Research and Restoration Panel

Stormwater Pollution Education and Advocacy:

Liz DeMattia, PhD, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke Engage Program, Adopt a Drain Program (30 min)

Stormwater Pollution Research and Restoration in Coastal Waters:

Rachel Noble, PhD, UNC-Institute of Marine Sciences (30 min)

BREAK

Pure Farms, Pure Waters: Riley Lewis, Waterkeeper, Coastal Carolina Riverwatch and Rachel Noble, PhD, UNC-Institute of Marine Sciences (20 min)

Hematodinium Infection Prevalence in Juvenile Blue Crabs:Stacy Zhang, PhD., NCSU, Tal Ben-Horin, NCSU CMAST, and Riley Lewis, Waterkeeper, Coastal Carolina Riverwatch (20 minutes)

Lunch is provided at the Duke Marine Lab Cafeteria (Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free Options Available - Please specify food needs during registration).

Thursday, October 10th

1:30-2:30 pm

Plastic Pollution Advocacy Workshop:

Hear about Plastics (Priority #4 in the Water Quality for Fisheries Assessment) and how local, State, and federal policies can provide solutions to protecting coastal waters and fisheries from plastic pollution. Develop your advocacy skills by using your local voice and sharing your local impacts with decision makers.

Grady O’Brien, North Carolina Conservation Network, NC Plastic Coalition Group

BREAK

2:45 - 3:45 pm

State of the Coastal Waters - Water Quality Panel:

Hear from all of the coastal North Carolina Water and Riverkeepers about

their watersheds, community priorities, and current events in addressing water quality for fisheries throughout the coast.

Riley Lewis, Coastal Carolina Riverwatch, Samantha Krop and Katey Zimmerman, Sound Rivers, and Kemp Burdette, Cape Fear Riverwatch

BREAK

4:00 - 5:00 pm

Fisheries Advocacy Panel:

Hear from North Carolina fisheries representatives about impacts to their industry, how water quality can impact their industry, and next steps towards protecting water quality for fisheries.

Symposium Raffle

2024 Water Quality For Fisheries Symposium Raffle

This year at the WQ4F Symposium, CCRW will be raffling off items to support our fisheries work. If you have items you would like to donate, please email Waterkeeper@coastalcarolinariverwatch.org with a picture and description.

2024 Items:

• CCRW labeled Canoe and wooden paddles
• A FREE 2 night stay at Palm Suites of Atlantic Beach

Thank you to our sponsors at Palm Suites for their generous donation.

Friday, October 11th

10:30 am -1:00 pm

Enhancing resources to grow fisheries and aquaculture industries in Eastern North Carolina

This session will examine large scale resource restoration and enhancement opportunities and the needs of businesses reliant on fisheries resources (commercial and recreational fisheries and aquaculture) in NC including technology, management, and collaborations.

David Cerino, Aquaculture Department Chair with Carteret Community College, NC EcoTech

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

Check out a list of Ocean Friendly Establishments here.

Friday, October 11, 2024

2:00 -3:00 pm

North Carolina Marine Debris Symposium

This session includes annual updates on marine debris projects and a facilitated discussion with attendees. Each session will include a 5 minute presentation from the organization leading the effort, an overview of the project, and updates over the last year. After all sessions, there will be a 30 minute facilitated discussion from the participants.

Plan ahead for the 2025 NCMDS and submit your presentation today.

2024 NCMDS Updates

NC Marine Debris Action Plan

NC Coastal Federation Marine Debris

Adopt a Drain Program: East Carteret High School

Plastic Free by the Sea

Water Quality for Fisheries: Plastic Pollution Update

Stay tuned for more information and additional events to be announced. Plan ahead and submit your presentation concept for 2025.