The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is asking local anglers to donate their fish carcasses for science.
Since 2014, the Division has collected over 4,000 carcasses of native species like Spanish mackerel and southern kingfish. From the carcasses, researchers can determine the length, sex and age of the fish. This data fills in sampling gaps and allows the division to better manage the fisheries resources of the state. Fishers can donate their carcasses at a dozen drop-off sites along the coast in cities like Wrightsville Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Morehead City.