Directors of two of North Carolina’s three aquariums have announced their upcoming retirements (here and here) in recent weeks.
Jay Barnes, Director of the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores announced in July just as another aquarium controversy began to heat up. While Joe Malat, Director of the N.C. Aquarium at Roanoke Island (home of the new pier in Nags Head) announced just earlier this month.
Despite the lack of funds, the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores continues to pursue an aquarium pier in Emerald Isle, a project in which Barnes continues to be heavily involved. A nation-wide search is underway to fill the position, however one can could understand the apprehension in diving into rough waters.
No word on the whether the third aquarium’s director, Donna Moffitt of the Aquarium at Fort Fisher is contemplating retirement as well.
[…] Today is the last day that Carolina Beach residents can submit public comment on pending construction of a public fishing pier. The pier is slated to copy the blueprint of Jennette’s Pier, which is currently under construction in Nags Head. Within the same time frame that public comments are due, the director of N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher who is overseeing the grant applications for Carolina Beach Pier has submitted her resignation. Director Donna Moffitt’s reason, “she plans to travel with her husband and continue serving as an appointee to the New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors after she leaves the aquarium Dec. 31.” She told the Wilmington Star News, “I think I’m leaving at a really great point.” Moffitt is not the first director to jump ship on pier projects. […]