The People Who Feel It First
For commercial fishing families, the changes are personal. Oyster populations have collapsed to a fraction of their historical numbers. Shrimpers are struggling. And when Hurricane Florence dropped over 30 inches of rain on eastern NC in 2018, it sent floodwaters through hog lagoons and across entire towns — some of which are still recovering.
How Much Do You Know About NC's Waterways
How many gallons of water can one oyster filter per day?
✅ Correct! A single oyster filters up to 50 gallons a day.
❌ Not quite — the answer is 50 gallons per day.
Which hurricane dropped over 30 inches of rain on eastern NC?
✅ Correct! Florence in 2018 was catastrophic for eastern NC.
❌ Not quite — it was Hurricane Florence in 2018.
What percentage of NC's commercial seafood depends on the estuary?
✅ Correct! Over 90% of NC's commercial seafood relies on the estuary.
❌ Not quite — it's over 90% of commercially harvested seafood.