Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: North Carolina
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

North Carolina Technical Assistance Activities


Edye Kornegay holding a Sharp-shinned Hawk while mist-netting in Four Oaks, NC.

As part of our mission, NC Unit scientists routinely provide technical assistance to cooperators, colleagues, and the public, ranging from data analysis support, GIS mapping, workshops, and consultations on a variety of natural resource issues. For example, North Carolina Unit scientists provide assistance with stock assessments for the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, strategic habitat planning for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and serve on the non-game advisory committee for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. They conduct workshops and training for natural resource professionals and serve as expert panelists and witnesses on a variety of topics.

Description and Agency Provider(s) Date
Wrote age-at-harvest model and trained biologists (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife) on R and implementing the modeling methods.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Hostetter October 2022
Workshop: Tagging Models: Estimating Population Size and Mortality. W. Pine, K. Pollock, and J. E. Hightower. 2003 Spring Meeting, Southern Division, American Fisheries Society, Wilmington, NC.
Hightower February 2003
Workshop, invited talk. Hightower, J. E., and J. R. Bence. 2005. Strategies for estimating natural mortality of fishes. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Natural Mortality Workshop, Baltimore, MD. March 31-April 1, 2005.
Hightower March 2005
Workshop, invited plenary talk. Hightower, J. E., and J. R. Bence. 2004. Strategies for estimating natural mortality of fishes. Lake Whitefish Natural Mortality Workshop, Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, Ann Arbor, MI, September 21-22, 2004.
Hightower September 2004
Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for Amazona vittata.
Collazo May 2005
Technical expert during Independent Scientific Advisory Board briefing on ESA-listed salmonid survival and avian predation impacts.
Columbia River Indian Tribes
Hostetter February 2021
Technical Assistance (science support) to Roanoke-Tar-Neuse-Cape-Fear Ecosystem and associated Refuges--Southeastern Virginia/Eastern North Carolina.
Roanoke-Tar-Neuse-Cape-Fear Ecosystem
Collazo, Drew May 2007
Served on Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan Development Team
Hightower June 2003
Serve on Diadromous Fish Technicial Advisory Committee, Roanoke River (ongoing)
Hightower August 2004
SEDAR (Southeast Data Assessment and Review) 15, stock assessment review panelist. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
Hightower January 2008
Presented talk entitled "Striped bass and American shad spawning habitat in the Neuse River" at meeting of state and federal agencies with U. S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding flow management in Neuse River.
Hightower May 2004
Presentation to NC Wildlife Resources Commission, Boydton, Virginia, April 9, 2002, entitled "Restoration strategies for anadromous fishes in the Roanoke River".
Hightower April 2002
Presentation to Central-Southern Advisory Committee, Striped Bass Plan Development Team, New Bern, North Carolina, entitled "History of striped bass fishery in central-southern North Carolina".
Hightower February 2002
Presentation to Albemarle-Roanoke Advisory Committee, Striped Bass Plan Development Team, Edenton, North Carolina, entitled "History of striped bass fishery in the Albemarle Sound area".
Hightower February 2002
Panelist for American Eel Stock Assessment Peer Review. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, November-December 2005
Hightower December 2005
Kwak, T. J., and J. E. Hightower. 2005. Fish Surgical Techniques Workshop. Technical training for agency and utility company biologists to surgically implant radio or ultrasonic transmitters into fish. April 18, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Hightower, Kwak April 2005
Krachey, M., K. H. Pollock, and J. A. Collazo. 2011. Design and Analysis of Manatee Aerial Surveys in Puerto Rico. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Field Office, Boqueron, Puerto Rico. 18 pp.
Caribbean Field Office
Krachey, Pollock January 2010
Invited panelist, Gulf sturgeon stock status workshop, November 16-20, 2009, Cedar Key, FL.
Southeast Regional Office, NMFS
Hightower, Flowers November 2009
Invited panelist at DSRRN (Diadromous Species Restoration Research Network) Science Meeting, ?Restoration of diadromous fishes and their ecosystems: confluence of science and restoration?, University of Maine, Orono, ME, July 22-24, 2009
University of Maine
Hightower July 2009
Instructor for Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Advanced Stock Assessment Training Workshop, Fisheries Tagging Studies: Theory, Methods, and Applications. August 1-3, 2006. Raleigh, NC.
Pollock, Hightower August 2006
Green Sturgeon Biological Review Team, 2004 (National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center)
Hightower August 2004
Green Sturgeon Biological Review Team, 2002 (National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center)
Hightower June 2002
Expert Panelist for American eel Great Lakes/Canada Threats and Population Dynamics Workshop. USFWS and NMFS, January 31-February 2, 2006
Hightower February 2006
Drew, C. A., L. B. Alexander, J. A. Collazo. 2011. Science Summary and Recommendations in Support of Manatee Protected Area Design in Puerto Rico. Draft Final Report, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Field Office, Puerto Rico.
Caribbean Field Office
Drew September 2010
Developed, analyzed, and summarized updated Canada Lynx occupancy analyses in Minnesota for the USFWS Canada lynx Species Status Assessment revision process.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hostetter March 2023
Completed occupancy analysis for Superior National Forest Lynx Monitoring plan.
Superior National Forest
Hostetter May 2021
Collazo, J. A., L. B. Alexander, and C. A. Drew. 2011. Recovery Plan for The Puerto Rico Population of The West Indian (Antillean) Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus ). 50 pp.
Caribbean Field Office
Drew January 2011
Chair, Peer Review of the Stock Assessment Data Collection Program, NOAA/NMFS/Northeast Fisheries Science Center; Woods Hole, Massachusetts, August 5-9, 2013.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Hightower July 2013
Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan, Scientific Advisory Panel, NC Marine Fisheries Commission, April 2002-January 2004.
Hightower January 2004
Analyzed removal data for an invasive chameleon population
USGS - Invasive Species Program
Hostetter June 2022
Analyzed Lynx occupancy data for Superior National Forest Lynx Monitoring plan.
Superior National Forest
Hostetter May 2022
Anadromous Fish Habitat Restoration Workgroup. Ongoing from April 2005.
Hightower April 2005
American Eel Peer Review Panel, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, November 2005- .
Hightower December 2005
Role - Description Provider         Start Date        End Date       
Member, Fisheries and Wildlife Executive Committee Kwak January 2000 Present
Faculty Search Committee, Fisheries and Wildlife Program Simons January 2010 May 2010
Faculty Advisor, Student Fisheries Society, a Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society Kwak January 2018 Present
Departmental Liason, North Carolina State University Libraries Hightower January 2002 Present
Department Head Search Committee Kwak May 2017 November 2017
Chair, Applied Ecology Faculty Post-Tenure Review Committee Kwak January 2018 Present
Admissions Committee Member, NCSU, Dept. Biology - Review applications for graduate admission at the Department of Biology, NCSU, Raleigh. Collazo January 2000 Present
Role and Organization Individual         Start Date        End Date       
Symposium Organizer, Moderator, and Panel Discussion Leader; World Fisheries Congress 2021, 16 presentations from 12 countries. Kwak January 2020 January 2022
Member, USGS, North Carolina District Strategic Science Plan Review Committee, Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey Kwak April 2002 May 2002
Member, Scientific and Statistical Committee, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Hightower May 2001 May 2003
Member, Robust Redhorse Technical Advisory Committee Kwak January 2001 Present
Member, Roanoke River Fisheries Technical Group Hightower January 1999 Present
Member, River herring Technical Expert Working Group Hightower March 2014 Present
Member, Research Grade Evaluation Panel, U.S. Geological Survey Hightower June 2001 June 2001
Member, North Carolina Non-game Advisory Commission Simons June 1998 June 2016
Member, NC Scientific Council on Fishes Kwak June 2002 Present
Member, Green Sturgeon Biological Review Team Hightower April 2002 September 2002
Member, Friends of the Kankakaee River Technical Advisory Committee Kwak January 2002 Present
Member, Development Team, North Carolina Striped Bass Plan Hightower July 2001 January 2000
Member, Conservation Science Panel - Sustainable Ecosystems Institute Simons March 2001 January 2000
Member, Blue Crab Scientific Advisory Panel, NC Marine Fisheries Commission Hightower March 2002 March 2004
Member, Atlantic Sturgeon Status Review Team, National Marine Fisheries Service. Hightower January 2006 December 2007
Member, Anadromous Fish Work Group, Kerr Reservoir 216 Study Hightower May 2003 Present
Cooperative Research Units Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Collazo October 2020 September 2021
Outreach Activity Provider(s)        Date       
Wake Audubon, program on marine bird conservation. Simons June 2003
Raabe, J. K., T. A. Ellis, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Preliminary evaluaton of a rock-ramp fishway in the Cape Fear River. World Fish Migration Day, Cape Fear River Watch Education Center at Lock & Dam #1, Riegelwood, NC, May 24, 2014. Hightower, Raabe, Ellis May 2014
Raabe, J. K., T. A. Ellis, and J. E. Hightower. 2014. Preliminary evaluaton of a rock-ramp fishway in the Cape Fear River. Cape Fear River Assembly, Annual Meeting, Wilmington NC, May 15, 2014. Hightower, Raabe, Ellis May 2014
Laney, R.W., J. E. Hightower, M. Mangold, W. W. Cole, Jr., and S. E. Winslow. 2003. Distribution and habitat use of Atlantic sturgeon captured during the southeast area monitoring and assessment (SEAMAP) cooperative winter tagging cruises, 1988-2003. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Habitat and Environmental Protection Advisory Panel, Charleston, SC, August 21, 2003. Hightower August 2003
Laney, R.W., J. E. Hightower, M. Mangold, W. W. Cole, Jr., and S. E. Winslow. 2003. Distribution and habitat use of Atlantic sturgeon captured during the southeast area monitoring and assessment (SEAMAP) cooperative winter tagging cruises, 1988-2003. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Habitat Committee, Arlington, VA, August 25, 2003. Hightower August 2003
Invited presentation: "Restoration of spawning habitat for striped bass and American shad through removal of the Quaker Neck Dam", 22nd Annual North Carolina Commercial Fishing Show, New Bern, North Carolina. Hightower February 2002
Hightower, J. E.. 2007. Effects of dams on migration and spawning of anadromous fishes. U. S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Raleigh, North Carolina. October 17, 2007. Hightower October 2007
Hightower, J. E. Restoration of diadromous fish habitat on the Neuse River, NC. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Roanoke-Tar-Neuse-Cape Fear Ecosystem Team Meeting, Atlantic Beach, NC. Nov 17-18, 2004. Hightower November 2004
Hightower, J. E. 2004. The effect of dam removal on fish resouces. Invited lecture in workshop entitled: Succeeding with a dam removal project. University of Wisconsin, Madison, College of Engineering, Department of Engineering Professional Development. Raleigh, NC. Hightower December 2004
Hightower, J. E. 2004. Research focus: anadromous fishes and coastal rivers. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Regional Director's Retreat. February 2, 2004. Hightower February 2004
Feature story in the Wall Street Journal on amphibian monitoring research. Simons September 2010
Ellis, T. A., J. A. Buckel, J. E. Hightower, and K. H. Pollock. 2012. Estimating fishing and natural mortality of spotted seatrout in North Carolina using conventional and telemetry tagging. CRFL (Coastal Recreational Fishing License) Symposium, New Bern, North Carolina, May 31, 2012. Hightower, Pollock May 2012
Eggleston, D. B., E. G. Johnson, J. Hightower. 2001. Population dynamics of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, in North Carolina. North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting. Greenville, North Carolina. January, 2001. Hightower January 2001
Eggleston, D. B., E. G. Johnson and J. Hightower. 2004. Population dynamics and stock assessment of the blue crab in North Carolina. NC Marine Fisheries Commission meeting, New Bern, NC, May 2004. Hightower May 2004
Eggleston, D. B., E. G. Johnson and J. Hightower. 2004. Population dynamics and stock assessment of the blue crab in North Carolina. NC Commercial Fishing Show, New Bern, NC, February 2004. Hightower February 2004
Eggleston, D. B., E. G. Johnson and J. Hightower. 2002. Population dynamics of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, in North Carolina. NC Marine Fisheries Commission, Crustacean Advisory Committee, Washington, NC. February, 2002. Hightower February 2002
Eggleston, D. B., E. G. Johnson and J. Hightower. 2002. Population dynamics and stock assessment of the blue crab in North Carolina. NC Commercial Fishing Show. New Bern, NC, March, 2002. Hightower March 2002
Eggleston, D. B., E. G. Johnson and J. Hightower. 2001. Stock assessment of the blue crab in North Carolina. NC Commercial Fishing Show. New Bern, North Carolina. February, 2001. Hightower February 2001
Eggleston, D. B., E. G. Johnson and J. Hightower. 2001. Stock assessment of the blue crab in North Carolina. Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, November, 2001. Hightower November 2001
Eggleston, D. B., E. G. Johnson and J. Hightower. 2000. Stock assessment of the blue crab in North Carolina. NC Commercial Fishing Show. New Bern, NC. February, 2000. Hightower February 2000
Bacheler, N.M., L.M. Paramore, J.A. Buckel, J.E. Hightower, and K.H. Pollock. 2014. Estimation of mortality and selectivity of red drum with high rates of catch and release. Presentation to North Carolina Sea Grant Research Symposium: Investments and Opportunities. Raleigh, NC, April 16, 2014, 100 attendees. Hightower, Bacheler, Pollock April 2014
Article for Tradewinds magazine on fish responses to removal of low-head dam Hightower November 2001