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

What is the WQ4F program?

The Water Quality for Fisheries Program has been developed through collaboration with the coastal commercial and recreational fishing community, water quality researchers, and coastal water quality advocacy organizations.

The program focuses on enhancing the sustainability of North Carolina’s coastal fishing communities by addressing water quality issues that affect fisheries. Its primary objective is to establish an inclusive Industry Working Group with representatives from both commercial and recreational fisheries. This group aims to assess water quality concerns and recommend actions. Additionally, the program seeks to develop outreach initiatives to educate coastal citizens about the impacts of water quality on fisheries and promote practices to improve it. The program also emphasizes the importance of research and science-based information to support the sustainable use of coastal resources.

Click here for the Water Quality for Fisheries Program Overview

Program Process

Five Water Quality Priorities

Water Quality Priorities Identified by Coastal North Carolina Fisheries Representatives:

Agriculture and Factory Farm Runoff
Stormwater Runoff from Roads, Highways, and Parking Lots
Industrial Pollutants
Plastic Pollution
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants and Septic Tanks

These top 5 water quality concerns were identified by Industry Working Group members and local NC fisheries representatives through the following survey.

Survey Results Identifying Water Quality Concerns Prioritized by Coastal Fishing Representatives: Carolina_Riverwatch_Summary_Report#1

CCRW works to consistently stimulate research, discussion, and outreach around these concerns. We release reports and assessments regarding CCRW project updates that aim to address these priorities.

Assessment

The Water Quality for Fisheries Assessment (Assessment) is a living document that serves to address impacts on water quality that are identified by the coastal fishing community. The Assessment has been written by the research and assessment team at CCRW, and includes staff, interns, board members, the IWG (made up of commercial and recreational fishing representatives), and advisors that work specifically on prioritized water quality concerns in North Carolina. The Assessment has been reviewed by the IWG during meetings that have taken place in 2021. The Assessment is categorized by the following methodologies for addressing each water quality concern: Infrastructure, Policy and Enforcement, Research, and Outreach.

Press Release Announcing Assessment: Press Release WQ4F Assessment

Research and Assessment on Water Quality Concerns Prioritized by Coastal Fishing Representatives: WQ4F Assessment 2021-22 Final

Assessments by Water Quality Concern:

Industry Working Group (IWG)

What is the IWG?

The IWG is made up of Commercial and Recreational Fishing Representatives. The Industry Working Group’s goals are to address water quality impacts on fisheries and recommend action items.

Goals of the IWG:

Enhanced the voices of North Carolina‘s coastal fisheries community.
Collaborated and communicated with fisheries representatives to address concerns about how water quality impacts fisheries.
Collectively learned what is currently being done in NC to address water quality issues impacting fisheries.
Collaboratively made recommendations on what more needs to be done to improve water quality for fisheries.
Proposed next steps that address gaps in addressing what is not currently being done to address water quality issues.

What will take place during the Meetings:

There will be a CCRW project update at each meeting to share what is currently being done and assess steps going forward.
Representatives from agencies and organizations working to address water quality issue will be invited to attend and present information.
During each meeting there will be time for the IWG to ask questions and evaluate how CCRW’s work is filling gaps in service.

Joining the IWG

Industry Working Group Stakeholders Should:

Represent a Coastal Community.
Participate in Commercial or Recreational Fishing at the Coast.
Represent a type of fisheries.

Why are we only including Coastal Representatives in the IWG?

We will be assessing water quality issues that come from all areas of the State, however, we want to hear the voices of the coastal fisheries community. Other stakeholders that will be invited to attend meetings, but that will not be a member of the IWG, will include representatives from State and Federal agencies, community organizations, and those directly involved in addressing water quality issues.

CCRW is hosting more virtual Industry Working Group (IWG) meetings in 2024 and we are looking for fisheries representatives and stakeholders to participate. Do you, or someone you know, fish in North Carolina‘s Coastal Waters (Commercial or Recreational)?

Click here to join CCRW’s Industry Working Group

Previous IWG Information and Membership Logs

WQ4F Projects

Current Projects and Campaigns

Click here for more information on WQ4F program projects, including:

PFAS and Heavy Metal Contamination in North Carolina Farm-Raised and Wild-Caught Oyster Populations
Pure Farms, Pure Waters
Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium
Plastic Chemical Research with RTI International
…. and more!

If you would like to hear about these projects’ latest updates, future events, and CCRW ongoings, subscribe to our newsletter!

Previous Projects and Campaigns

Tidal Alert

As part of the 2021-22 WQ4F program, a Documentary Film “Tidal Alert: The State of Water Quality and its Impacts on Coastal Fisheries” has been created. See the top of this page for full access.

“Tidal Alert: The State of Water Quality and its Impacts on Coastal Fisheries”

Social Media Campaign Materials in 2021

Campaign Performance Measures in 2021

Pre-Campaign Survey: Carolina_Riverwatch_Summary_Report#2
Post-Campaign Survey: Carolina_Riverwatch_Summary_Report#3

WQ4F Upcoming Events

CCRW is hosting more virtual Industry Working Group (IWG) meetings in 2025 and we are looking for fisheries representatives and stakeholders to participate. Do you, or someone you know, fish in North Carolina‘s Coastal Waters (Commercial or Recreational)?

Click here to join CCRW’s Industry Working Group

WQ4F Partnerships and Additional Resources

The Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Funding Committee and the Funding Committee for the North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resource Fund have generously provided funding for this project.

2024 Partners

2023 Partners

Additional Resources

Demand for N.C. Seafood and the Commercial Industry’s Economic Impact on the State_

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