BELHAVEN The North Carolina Coastal Federation is hoping that improving the environment becomes synonymous with improving the economy as a result of a sprawling oyster habitat-restoration project in the Pamlico Sound.
The federation has partnered with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, scientists from North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, North Carolina Sea Grant and local contractors to build and monitor about 47 acres of oyster reefs in the Pamlico Sound, according to a news release from the federation.
Funding for the massive project, which began in late July, is coming from a $5 million federal economic-stimulus grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency. The project has created about 140 jobs for truckers, quarry workers, welders, barge operators, tugboat captains and heavy-machine operators, said Lexia Weaver, co-manager of the restoration project.
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