The NC Coastal Federation now has three COASTKEEPERS^® on the job patrolling our coastal waters. The COASTKEEPERS^® are full-time advocates who are dedicated solely to protecting our coast. Their primary mission is to continually survey the environmental health of our coastal resources, to alert the public to potential hazards, and to expose those who contribute in any way to the degradation of this ecosystem. They also work with citizens to identify and solve problems.
     The Federation was approved by the WATERKEEPER^® ALLIANCE in November 2000 to license three COASTKEEPERS^®. The Federation is the only organization to be licensed to cover a state's entire coast. The COASTKEEPERS^® serve as representatives of NCCF in specific geographic areas: Northeastern-Cape Hatteras, Central-Cape Lookout, and Southeastern-Cape Fear coastal areas. The Cape Fear COASTKEEPER^® program was launched in January 2001, and the Cape Lookout COASTKEEPER^® a year later. The Cape Hatteras COASTKEEPER^® was hired in late 2002 and began working out of the Manteo area in March 2003.
     NCCF Executive Director Todd Miller explains, "Part of our long range goal is to serve all of coastal North Carolina. In order to do this, we must have a strong and active presence in the three major coastal regions."

COASTKEEPER^® Goals

• To protect the water quality and habitat of the coast by serving as a strong presence on the coastal waters to prevent pollution and habitat degradation.
• To restore habitat and water quality through citizen and agency led restoration projects.
• To expand and diversify the constituency for a clean and healthy coast by raising public awareness and understanding of the threats to the coast among citizens, legislators, policy makers, the media and funders.
• To educate citizens about their potential, responsibility and tools to become active stewards for the coast of North Carolina.
• To increase the effectiveness and scope of enforcement of coastal rules and regulations by keeping a lookout for detrimental activities and ensuring that they are documented, investigated, and reported to the appropriate agency and/or media and ensuring that action is taken.
• To increase the effectiveness and scope of federal, state, and local agencies responsible for the coast by serving as an additional "watchdog" for the coast.
• To work with citizens and citizen groups to organize and strengthen the voice, number, and diversity of advocates for North Carolina's coast.

What You Can Do To Help

• The COASTKEEPER^® Corps
  The North Carolina coast is just too big a place for our three COASTKEEPERS^® to adequately patrol. They need your help. Whether you own a powerboat, sailboat, canoe or kayak or just like to walk the shore, you can sign up to be a member of our volunteer COASTKEEPER^® Corps. You will be assigned a body of water close to home and you will work with the COASTKEEPER^® in your area. He will train you how to conduct patrols, what to look for and who to call when you spot potential problems. It's an opportunity to help protect our coast and to give a little something back. Fill in the COASTKEEPER^® Corps Form and one of the COASTKEEPERS^® will contact you. We require that all Corps members also join the North Carolina Coastal Federation.
• Pollution Report 
  If you spot dead fish floating in the water, spy an oil slick or see or smell something on or near the water that doesn't seem right, you can contact the Coastkeeper^® in your area or you can fill out and send the Coastkeepers^® a Pollution Report.

Related Articles

"Keeping the Coast" by Pam Smith
from the Spring 2004 issue of COASTWATCH Magazine

"Landing the Big One" by Frank Tursi
reprinted from the Winter 2002 issue of the Coastal Review