This year’s State of the Shore media event provided a valuable opportunity for community members and the press to connect with coastal expert Dr. Jon Miller, Laura Kerr, and NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. Attendees gained insights into how New Jersey’s shorelines held up over the winter and received a forecast on beach conditions and potential storms for the 2025 summer season. View the recording here.
Break out the flip-flops, dust off those beach chairs, and get ready to soak up some sun-summer has officially arrived in New Jersey! And this year, we’re kicking off the season with some especially sunny news: the state’s beaches are looking better than ever. Thanks to a mild winter with minimal storms, most of the coastline has held up beautifully, with wide beaches and healthy dunes welcoming locals and visitors alike. Communities like Seaside Heights, Ocean City, and Cape May have even received a fresh dose of sand courtesy of the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, setting the stage for a strong start to the season.
(From right to left) Dr. Peter Rowe, Executive Director, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, Shawn LaTourette, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Laura Kerr, Coastal Resilience Specialist, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium; Senior Research Engineer, Stevens Institute of Technology, Dr. Jon K. Miller, Coastal Processes Specialist, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium; Research Associate Professor, Director of Coastal Engineering Research Group, Stevens Institute of Technology; Author, 2025 State of the Shore Report
While other parts of the Atlantic coast faced more severe impacts this past winter, New Jersey got a much-needed break-coastal flooding and erosion were limited, and beach nourishment projects have helped reinforce vulnerable areas. Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing: the forecast for the 2025 hurricane season is calling for above-average activity, and experts are urging residents to stay prepared. But for now, there’s plenty to enjoy. The beaches are open, the boardwalks are buzzing, and the only thing rising faster than the temperature is the excitement. Just remember to swim safely-early season sandbars can create strong rip currents-and always follow lifeguard instructions. Welcome to summer at the Shore! Read the full report here.
Media interviews NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette
The Countdown Is On: Vote for New Jersey’s Favorite Beach!
The Jersey Shore is calling—and your vote makes the difference. It’s time to choose your favorite local beach from a lineup of coastal hotspots across New Jersey’s four shoreline counties: Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean.
Launched in 2008 as “New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches,” this beloved tradition began as a fun way to spark community pride along the coast. After Hurricane Sandy, the contest evolved into Favorite Beaches to highlight the beauty and diversity of every stretch of New Jersey’s shoreline—from hidden gems to iconic boardwalks.
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium will unveil the winning beaches right after the Fourth of July Holiday. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the celebration. Help spread the word—share the poll with friends, family, and fellow beach lovers.
For updates and results, follow the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Thank you for helping us celebrate the best of the Jersey Shore.
Stick to the contest theme: Natural Elements of New Jersey Beaches. We welcome both traditional and innovative approaches to this subject, but please no family portraits.
Photo files must be .JPG or .PNG format and a minimum of 300 DPI saved at a quality setting of “10” or higher and 8 ½” for the longest side.
Images must be horizontal (landscape).
Entries will be accepted until 5 pm (EST) on June 27th
Submit only your own original work.
Photos should be appropriate for a general audience. Explicit content is expressly prohibited.
Post-processing and digital manipulation is not allowed, but minor adjustments to contrast, filtration, subtle burning, and dodging are acceptable.
All entries become the property of NJSGC and may be used by the organization for other educational or marketing materials (the twelve finalists will receive an additional waiver for signature prior to publication of the calendar).
Do not include any logos or text on the photo.
By submitting your photo to this contest, you grant NJSGC permission to publicly display, reproduce, and use the photographs in all manner and media for any and all purposes, including related promotional purposes, in perpetuity. You also warrant that the photo is your original work and does not violate the copyright or any other personal or property right of any third party, and that you may be required to and can obtain any and all releases and permissions necessary for its use in the production of our calendar, including releases for any recognizable faces, unless they are incidental to a larger scene (e.g., a group of sunbathers on the beach).
Summer Research Intern (8 Positions Available): Montclair State University is seeking eight undergraduate Summer Research Interns to join a vital project focused on detecting invertebrate and invasive species in Barnegat Bay, NJ, using environmental DNA (eDNA) technology. This hands-on internship offers the unique opportunity to gain practical field and laboratory experience while contributing to critical environmental research efforts. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in marine science, environmental biology, conservation, or molecular ecology to build valuable, workforce-ready skills. Click here to view the full job description.
Internship Details:
Location: Fieldwork in Barnegat Bay; laboratory work on Montclair State University campus
Duration: June 1st – August 15th, 2025
Stipend: $2,500 plus limited travel allowances for fieldwork
Schedule: Hours vary based on field and laboratory activities
Experience Needed: None — full training will be provided!
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should email the following materials:
Resume or CV
Unofficial transcript
A personal statement (no more than one page) describing your interest in the position
Submit your application materials to: Dr. Kirsten Monsen-Collar at monsenk@montclair.edu
Check out this interview with Diana Burich, NJSGC Director of Education and 107.1 The Boss for “Make A Difference Mondays.” Are you excited for Ocean Fun Days May 17th and May 18th? We sure are!
Every Monday morning, 107.1 The Boss highlights a different Nonprofit that “Makes A Difference” in communities, via an on-air interview. https://1071theboss.com/featured/make-a-difference-mondays-presented-by-new-jersey-natural-gas/
Communications Intern: New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) is currently seeking a summer intern to work within the communications department and assist staff with all relevant tasks including (but not limited to): social media campaigns, video production, event coverage/promotion, and programmatic outreach. This position is ideal for undergraduates interested in pursuing a career in the digital communications field, with a unique emphasis on marine, coastal, and STEM initiatives. The intern will report directly to NJSGC’s Communications Specialist and work throughout the busy 2025 summer season (May-August) at the Jersey Shore. Click here to view the full job description.
Field Instructor: The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC), a non-profit organization on Sandy Hook, is hiring part-time field instructors for their K-12 Education Program and Scout Program. NJSGC provides students and scouts with dynamic ocean science programs that may include but not be limited to outdoor experiential learning activities such as seining, interactive games, scientific demonstrations and laboratory experiments. Join a great group of people that love the beach, the outdoors and sharing their knowledge with students to promote a love of environmental science. Gain hands-on educational experience and work in one of the most unique natural “classroom” environments in New Jersey, Gateway National Recreation Area-Sandy Hook Unit. Click here to view the full job description.
As Congress finalizes next year’s federal budget, we face the concerning possibility that the second Trump administration will again propose to eliminate all federal funding for Sea Grant. Thanks to the voices of our supporters, our funding was restored and increased during the first Trump administration with bipartisan congressional support.
Please consider adding your name to New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s sign-on letter to your congressional delegation and sharing this request with your networks and any individuals or organizations who have benefited from the work of New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. We urgently need your support to ensure that Congress at least maintains our current level of funding. Thank you!
Apprenticeship in Shellfish Aquaculture Program (ASAP) is a unique new training concept for New Jersey high school students ages 16 and older to gain understanding about the aquaculture industry through education and practice. With a combination of in-person instruction and on-farm work experience, participants will discover the inner workings of shellfish aquaculture, gain entry level work skills, and learn what it takes to get food from the farm to our tables.
Do you want to learn more about aquaculture and the opportunities in this fast-growing industry? Then apply here!
NJSGC will be at the Kids Cove February 13-16, 2025 for the “I SPY” Scavenger Hunt. Little skippers can participate in a nautical version of “I Spy Scavenger Hunt” at the show and those skippers that successfully complete their watch can visit the NJSGC exhibit for a take home marine science craft. Learn more here.
Where: NJ Convention & Expo Center Located at the Raritan Center in Edison NJ. At the crossroads of the NJ Turnpike and the GSP. It is off Route 440, minutes from US Route 1 and I-287, as well as the Outer Bridge Crossing and Staten Island.
