Local, state and federal officials, as well as residents and business owners, make choices that reflect increasing demands on limited coastal resources. North Carolina Sea Grant helps people understand coastal science so they can make sound policy decisions.

One of Sea Grant's standout examples in the area of law and policy is the creation of the North Carolina Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Center. Established in 2004, the Center is an inter-institutional effort among Sea Grant, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law and the UNC-Chapel Hill City and Regional Planning Department to provide timely legal and planning information to coastal managers, communities, businesses and citizens.

Lead by Lisa Schiavinato, Sea Grant's law, policy and community development specialist, and Joseph Kalo, a professor at the UNC School of Law, the, Center examines hot button coastal use and development trends and issues from a fair and balanced perspective. Recent topics explored by the Center and its primary publication, Legal Tides, include:

• Property rights and beach nourishment projects
• The use of temporary sandbags
  
• Offshore wind energy development in North Carolina

Ocean Policy Project
The Ocean Policy Project was designed to update North Carolina's ocean policy to focus on emerging issues. Together with the Ocean Policy Steering Committee, the Center conducted research on emerging ocean resource challenges facing the state and worked with the committee to develop policy recommendations to help manage these issues. The project was a partnership between the N.C. Division of Coastal Management and North Carolina Sea Grant. View the 2009 Ocean Policy Report.

Shape of the Coast
Held each fall, this continuing legal education program brings together attorneys, academics, government officials and citizens to share their expertise and experience. In 2009, the conference will focus on a variety of topics, including water resources, coastal insurance and wind energy.

Coastal and Offshore Wind Energy
Recent Center efforts in this area include:

* Kalo, Joseph J. and Lisa C. Schiavinato (2009), Wind Over North Carolina Waters: The State's Preparedness to Address Offshore and Coastal Water-Based Wind Energy Projects, North Carolina Law Review, Vol. 87, 1819-1868.

*Project Team appointed by the NC General Assembly (2009). Coastal Wind: Energy for North Carolina's Future, UNC Energy Services.

Center Research Fellowships
Finally, the Center is proud to offer a research fellowship program for promising graduate and professional school students interested in pursuing careers related to environmental law, planning and policy.