Research

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve host protected sites and scientific resources that support research on coastal and estuarine ecosystems. 

Researchers can:
•    apply for research permits to conduct field studies at Reserve sites, 
•    access long-term environmental monitoring data, 
•    review publications from past projects, 
•    check out the latest research priorities across our Reserve sites, and
•    learn about funding opportunities such as graduate fellowships.


Our sites also serve as reference sites for comparative studies on coastal topics such as ecosystem dynamics, human influences on estuarine systems, habitat conservation and restoration, species management, and social science. Together, these resources support collaborative science that advances coastal management, informs policy, and helps protect North Carolina’s estuarine and coastal ecosystems for future generations.