April 8-9, 2025
Over 200 state legislators, agency staff, boat captains, researchers, restoration professionals, oyster growers, historians, and other partners gathered for a dynamic two-day Coastal Summit. Presenters and participants offered valuable insights into the impactful work of our many partners. The importance of collaboration, leveraging investments, relationships and resources, all while ensuring improvements to coastal habitats as well as benefits to coastal people, were themes highlighted throughout the summit.
Erin Fleckenstein, the Federation’s Oyster Program Director and Coastal Summit Coordinator, was thrilled by the incredible level of participation at this year’s Coastal Summit. “The Summit highlighted the benefits that come from the collaboration and work of all our partnerships. The stories shared and successes in coastal habitat restoration were truly moving. The keynote from historian David Cecelski was especially poignant and a good reminder that much progress has been made in protecting and restoring the coast of North Carolina over the last 100 years. His speech served as inspiration to continue this important work over the next century for future generations.”
The event was emceed by Federation board member, Allison Besch and Executive Director, Braxton Davis, who provided the welcome and agenda overview to kick off the two-day event. Department of Environmental Quality Reid Wilson spoke about the value of partnerships and actions that can be undertaken jointly to yield benefits for the coast, build resiliency and serve as a model for collaborative efforts. Representative Deb Butler joined the morning panel to discuss the state’s investment in coastal protection and restoration. She brought insights into how to best make the case for coastal projects to her colleagues in the General Assembly.
During the networking poster session, North Carolina college and university students presented their emerging research and findings to date. Two students, Rebecca Ruiz and Lydia Sellers, both from North Carolina State University, were awarded recognition for their posters based on audience feedback on the poster’s overall presentation, information shared and visual interest.
Day one wrapped up with an evening reception, which featured oysters from eight local oyster growers. The highlight of the reception was the oyster shucking showdown, where several state legislators put their shucking skills to the test against oyster professionals.
On Day two, participants gathered to hear from a panel of state legislators- Senator Norm Sanderson, Senator Bobby Hanig and Representative Eddie Goodwin- on the future of restoration programming and funding. Despite an anticipated tight budget this year, legislators expressed support for coastal initiatives and the investments that have been made to support coastal resiliency efforts to date.
To wrap up the summit, participants engaged in a Collaborative Solutions Workshop. Federation Program Directors Bree Charon (water quality), Jacob Boyd (salt marsh) and Erin Fleckenstein (oysters), provided high-level overviews of the goals and action plans for their respective program areas. Whitney Jenkins with the Division of Coastal Management facilitated an ideas-to-action activity. Workshop participants worked in small groups to address cross-cutting strategies and actions that would help to advance all three program areas.
Summit participants reported that they came to learn, network and talk about oysters. And they left feeling connected, reinvigorated and inspired.
Summit Objectives
- Showcase the value, importance, and threats to coastal habitats: salt marsh, oysters, and water quality.
- Highlight ongoing efforts and progress made to protect and restore water quality, salt marsh, and oysters along the coast. Featuring:
- Accelerated actions and results achieved from leveraged and partner projects.
- Real-life benefits of habitat protection and coastal resilience projects.
- How forward-thinking strategic plans and policies can be put into action.
- Identify synergistic priorities for salt marsh, oyster, and water quality work in the coming years.
- Reinvigorate and encourage meaningful actions from coastal partners to support and expand efforts.
Agenda
Tuesday, April 8th
Welcome- Braxton Davis, Executive Director, North Carolina Coastal Federation
Onward and Forward- Secretary Reid Wilson, Department of Environmental Quality
Keynote: “Our Coastal Heritage: Past, Present, and Future”– David Cecelski, Celebrated Historian and Writer Read David’s Full Comments Here
Investing in the Coast is an Investment in the State – Moderated by Bree Charron, North Carolina Coastal Federation
Panelist/Speakers Included:
Alyson Flynn, North Carolina Coastal Federation
Representative Deb Butler
Tancred Miller, North Carolina Division of Coastal Management
Jason Peters, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Larry Warner, North Carolina Aquariums
Chris Ballie, Eastern North Carolina Sentinel Landscape
Real Progress for Real People: Perspectives from the Coast– Moderated by Victoria Blakey, North Carolina Coastal Federation
Panelist/Speakers Included:
Sarah Gardner, North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission
Miriam Sutton, Science by the Sea
Brian Rubino, WithersRavenel
Katherine McGlade, Slash Creek Oyster Co.
Hans Tyler Hofe, Kinnakeet Oyster Co.
Emerging Science and the Next Generation of Coastal Resilience Leadership
A networking poster session held during the Coastal Summit featuring six North Carolina university students: Bekah Davis, NCSU; Jenna Kraemer, NCSU; Tamarr Moore, NCCU; Shilpa Rao, UNCW; Rebecca Ruiz, NCSU; Lydia Sellers, NCSU.
Aligning Policy with Program Goals: Putting Plans into Action– Moderated by Jacob Boyd, North Carolina Coastal Federation
Panelist/Speakers Included:
Kerri Allen, North Carolina Coastal Federation
Adam Gold, Environmental Defense Fund
Lora Clarke, The Pew Charitable Trusts, SASMI
Charlie Deaton, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Jonathan Howell, North Carolina Division of Coastal Management
Key Messages and Takeaways, Rob Lammé, Rob Lammé & Associates
Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Overview, Jacob Boyd, North Carolina Coastal Federation
Oyster Reception with Legislative Shucking Competition
Wednesday, April 9th
Day 2: Welcome- Victoria Blakey, NC Coastal Federation
Building on the Past for a Sustainable Future, Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt
Coastal Legislative Leaders: Defining the Next Steps
Panelist/Speakers Included:
Senator Norman Sanderson
Senator Bobby Hanig
Representative Edward Goodwin
Setting the Ground Work for Action– Overview by North Carolina Coastal Federation
Collaborative Solutions Workshop Facilitated by Whitney Jenkins, North Carolina Division of Coastal Management
Wrap-Up
View Photos from the Coastal Summit here.
Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support of the 2025 Coastal Summit!
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