GOAL: Conserve and Protect Vital Fish and Wildlife Habitats and Maintain the Natural Heritage of the Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds Region.
Rare Plants, Animals and Natural Communities
There are many land and aquatic habitats in the A/P Sounds region that are vital to the survival of rare plant and animal species including 14 endangered species, five threatened species, two proposed endangered species, one proposed threatened species and 65 state-designated rare plant, animal and natural communities.
Wetlands
Wetland habitats in the Albemarle-Pamlico region include freshwater marshes, bottomland hardwood forests, salt marshes, pocosins, pine savannas, nonalluvial wetland forests, and wet pine flats.
Fisheries Nursery Areas
Primary nursery areas for fisheries cover almost 25,000 acres, or 1.5%, of the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system's total water area. Nursery areas are generally found in tributary creeks and embayments, where shallow, mid to high salinity waters lay over muddy or grassy bottoms. Primary, secondary and special secondary nursery areas are of critical importance to the propagation of over 75 species of fish and shellfish in North Carolina and along the east coast.
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) provides important habitat for many estuarine species because the vegetation helps to reduce current velocities, provides an attachment surface, reduces turbidity, and provides refuge and food.
Spawning Areas
The rivers of the A/P Sounds region provide spawning habitat for anadromous species such as striped bass, shad, and herring (anadromous fish live in the oceans but migrate up freshwater rivers to spawn).
Shellfish Beds
Clams, oysters, and bay scallops have supported important fisheries throughout the history of North Carolina commercial fishing.
