Shoal grass in NC?

[Ron Thomas]

I will be in Wilmington, NC next week and I wonder if shoal grass occurs in shallow water there. I would like to find a few clumps for my nano lagoon.

 

[Samala]

Its range definitely extends up that far, though I am not familiar with how much coverage exists and where precisely you will find this species in the barrier island bays in NC. Right now is the start of the growing season for this species though, so you might get lucky in locating it. I would look in 1-5' of water in calm protected areas and hope to get lucky. Oh - check with NC state FWS/natural resources to check for collection permit requirements. Seagrass tends to fall in a strange, not well regulated, category while rooted in the bottom. Once it becomes floating fragments, or washes onshore as wrack, it is much more legal in most areas. Still, I'd check just to be sure. Searching their notes might give you a better idea of where the seagrass is growing as well.

>Sarah