New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) in conjunction with The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, has released a Request for Proposals (RFP). This research-grant based RFP, funded through the state’s Offshore Wind Research & Monitoring Initiative (RMI), promotes regional research and monitoring efforts to assess the impacts of offshore wind development on coastal and marine resources during the pre-construction, construction, operation, and decommissioning phases. Please see the full Request for Proposal here.
The goal of this funding is to execute a robust Research and Monitoring Initiative to support the responsible implementation of offshore wind energy in the waters off New Jersey’s coastline. The Initiative employs the best available science and is consistent with mandates to protect and responsibly manage New Jersey’s marine and coastal resources.With this solicitation, the RMI seeks to award funding for projects in the following focus areas:
Non-extractive methods for surveying wildlife and habitat ($500,000)
Technological innovations in data collection, analysis, and management ($500,000)
Fishery sustainability and socioeconomic impacts of offshore wind activities ($750,000)
Identifying and reducing offshore wind noise impacts on marine wildlife ($750,000)
Characterization of benthic ecosystems and primary productivity ($1,000,000)
Assessing bird and bat abundance, migration patterns, and risk exposure associated with offshore wind ($500,000)
Proposals that address other high priority research needs identified by the RMI. These high priority research needs include projects on data management, environmental change, benthic systems, birds, bats, fish and invertebrates, sea turtles, marine mammals, and fisheries ($750,000)
Applicants should contact New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium by August 28, 2024 by 5pm EST with their intention to submit a proposal by sending a Letter of Intent to Julie Lang at jlang@njseagrant.org. Please contact Dr. Peter Rowe at prowe@njseagrant.org with any questions or concerns.
As you may know NJSGC holds the Favorite Beaches Contest in New Jersey every year. Well, the public voted and the results are in! Congratulations to all shore towns. The winners are as follows:
On Friday July 12, NJSGC held it’s annual Favorite Beaches Contest Ceremony in Ocean City, New Jersey. Mayor Jay A. Gillian of Ocean City received their award for Overall Favorite Beach and for Winner of Cape May County. Special thanks to Ocean City for hosting our awards ceremony on their Music Pier!
Samantha, Michele, and Lou on 94.3 the Point Morning Show
Winners at the Ocean City Awards Ceremony
NJSGC Team in Ocean City
Samantha Kreisler (left) and Julie Lang (right)
NJSGC team with 94.3 the Point
From Left to Right: Matt Ryan, Sylvia Sylvia, Samantha Kreisler, Kory Koch, Julie Lang, and Matthew Whelan.
In addition, the NJSGC communications team went live on the famous radio station 94.3 the Point twice that day. In the morning with Lou Russo and Michele Pilenza and again in the afternoon with with Matt Ryan to announce the winners. They also met with give Sylvia Sylvia Business Development Administrator / UEZ Coordinator for the City of Asbury Park and Matthew Whelan, Executive Director, Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce to give the award for the Best Beach in Monmouth County to City of Asbury Park.
NJSGC held its annual Jersey Shore Photo Contest again this year. The contest always gets a lot of submissions, but this year we received an incredible amount and quality of images!
Twelve submissions won the contest and will be on display for NJSGC’s desktop calendar. The winning photos shown below were shot in familiar locations like Brigantine, Cape May, Seaside Heights, and many more. The 2025 desktop calendar with these dazzling nature photos will be available on njseagrant.org in a few months. But in the meantime, view the winners below (in no particular order). Congratulations to all of the winners!
Dawn’s Awakening, Edward Volpe
Mother Nature’s Artistry: No Filter Required, Laurie VanSant
Red Fox Enjoying a Day at the Jersey Shore, Scott M. Miller
Bachelor Party, Anthony G. Bagileo
Sunrise Surfer, Anthony Ferranina
Morning Light, Brian Lundy
Cape May Locals, Melissa Laurino
Brigantine Sticks, Robin Eisman
Humpback Whale Lunge Feeding Off Lavalette Beach, Karen Riley
The submissions have been collected and it is now time for YOU to decide the top photos to win the Jersey Shore Photo Contest. The winners will be featured in the NJSGC’s 2025 Desktop Calendar.
NJSGC’s Fish and Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulation cards are now available for 2024. The free, downloadable cards are provided by New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Please click below to download a copy.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
The cards provide information on the correct minimum size, possession limits, and season of catch. The cards are convenient to bring on any fishing outing, complete with built-in ruler to measure your catch and make sure they are above the minimum size. We recommend laminating after printing.
Fish are measured from tip of snout to tip of tail, with the exception of black sea bass and sharks. No species of fish with a minimum size limits listed on the card can be filleted or cleaned at sea.
The cards also serve as a reminder to register to fish. It is free and can be done at SaltwaterRegistry.nj.gov.
Please visit our website or NJFishandWildlife.com for more resources. Also feel free to contact NJSGC’s Assistant Director of Extension and Marine Recreation Agent: Fisheries and Boating Mike Danko for additional information.
This year’s State of the Shore media event was an important opportunity for members of the community and members of the press to meet with coastal expert Dr. Jon Miller, Laura Kerr, and NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette to learn how New Jersey’s shorelines fared over the winter and a forecast on conditions and storms for our state’s beaches during the 2024 summer season. View the recording of the event here.
Get your beach towels and flip flops ready because summer is almost here! After this winter of rain and snow, New Jersey’s residents and visitors are ready for the summer weather and sunshine. The locals and tourists aren’t the only ones ready; most of our sandy shores are too!
(From right to left) Dr. Peter Rowe, Executive Director, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, Shawn LaTourette, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 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, 2024 State of the Shore Report, Laura Kerr, Coastal Resilience Specialist, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium; Senior Research Engineer, Stevens Institute of Technology
Coastal flooding, erosion, and wave activity varied from location to location. The northern part of the state experienced higher peak water levels, while the southern part of the state experienced more flooding events. During a January storm, water levels at Sandy Hook measured some of the highest water levels since Superstorm Sandy. However, the storm this past April that dumped several inches of rain and downed trees throughout the state was the most intense storm that impacted Sandy Hook. While some beaches remained pretty much intact during this winter, others had erosion that may require some sort of remediation. These small or moderate storms that cause this are expected to become more and more common.
While many beaches suffered little to no erosion, some beaches in the south need replenishment to repair some of the berm erosion suffered by the mild-moderate storms this winter. Beachgoers should be aware of large sand bars this winter produced along the shore that can lead to dangerous rip currents. As the memories of Sandy begin to fade, this winter should serve as a reminder of the damage that can be caused by more common storms and the need to continue to maintain our beaches through programs such as the Shore Protection Fund.
The forecast for this summer is predicted to be very eventful. This summer’s La Nina conditions are expected to result in more extreme weather this summer. The four independent institutions have reached very similar models of above average number of storms. Despite relatively low probabilities of hurricanes making landfall in general, it’s important to remember that it only takes a single storm to create catastrophic impacts.
As always, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is excited to provide year’s State of the Shore Report to give the public insight of the condition of New Jersey’s beaches. Just remember to be safe: wear your sunscreen, remain cognizant of your surroundings, check conditions, be aware of rip currents, and guard your fries from hungry seagulls. Have a great summer!
It’s once again time to cast your vote for New Jersey’s favorite beach! The fate of our beaches is in your hands. Choose your favorite local “hotspots” from a list of amazing beaches throughout the Jersey Shore’s four coastal counties – Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean. New Jersey Sea Grant (NJSGC) will announce the winners around the July Fourth holiday.
Debuting in 2008 as New Jersey’s “Top Ten Beaches,” the survey was initially designed to encourage friendly competition and camaraderie amongst popular Jersey Shore communities along the coast. Following Hurricane Sandy, the contest was rebranded “Favorite Beaches” to diversify results so that ALL areas of the Garden State’s gorgeous oceanfront are recognized, inspiring a refreshing sense of unity and support.
Be sure to share NJSGC’s highly-anticipated “Favorite Beaches” poll with family and friends, and stay tuned for the official results later this summer. Send them this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/favoritebeach2024
Connect with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for more updates. Thank you for your continued support!
New Jersey boasts some of the most picturesque beaches along the East Coast. If you have a great shot that celebrates and embraces the natural elements of the Garden State’s beautiful coastline, submit the image to NJSGC’s “Favorite Beaches of the Jersey Shore” photo contest! Ultimately, the top twelve photos will be used to create New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s annual desktop calendar for 2025.
About the Contest:
New Jersey Sea Grant’s graphic design team will select 24 photos from all entries received up until Wednesday, June 21st (5 pm EST). Those finalists will then be posted on the NJSGC website where visitors can vote for their favorite throughout the month leading up to the July Fourth holiday.
New Jersey’s “Favorite Beaches” Photo Contest Submission Guidelines:
(If your submission does not meet the following guidelines, it will not be considered)
The email entry should include: name, email, photo location, and image title.
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 should be horizontal (landscape).
Entries will be accepted until 5 pm (EST) on June 21st
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).
Winners will be announced prior to the July Fourth holiday. These images will be used to create the 2025 NJSGC downloadable desktop calendar (https://njseagrant.org/desktop-calendars/), which will also feature useful coastal facts and information to help locals and visitors learn more about and appreciate the Jersey Shore.
Are you a middle or high school student interested in helping the environment? Do you want to help with scientific research and make a difference in your community at the same time? Become an ECO AMBASSADOR! Be part of the solution!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
The Eco Ambassadors Solutions Lab is a dynamic and immersive virtual initiative designed for high school students passionate about environmental sustainability, global citizenship, and technical skills development. This global eight-week program aims to empower students with a comprehensive understanding of local sustainability challenges and their intersection with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a blend of interactive virtual sessions, digital hands-on activities, and technical training, students will explore geospatial technologies and data-driven research, global citizenship, sustainable development, digital storytelling, and engage with experts while gaining valuable insights into how these tools and knowledge can be leveraged for achieving sustainability.
The theme for this year’s program is “Ocean, Rivers, and Water Bodies in Our Backyard”, centering around SDG 6, SDG 13, and SDG 14, and is sponsored by New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. We invite students keen on delving into water and micro-plastic science, engaging with experts, students, policymakers, and more to apply for this enlightening program. The program is entirely virtual and is provided free of charge for participating students. Final projects/solutions are required to be submitted in the ArcGIS StoryMap format, and licenses will be awarded to students who actively participate in the sessions.
Complete this registration form by May 31, 2024 to apply to the 2024 Eco Ambassadors Solutions Lab run by the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) of the Climate School at Columbia University and SDGs. You can review previous years’ programs at https://sdgstoday.org/eco-ambassadors-program.
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, our nation is investing in transformational projects in climate, energy and the environment, and as a result NOAA has tasked Sea Grant with working towards creating clean and safe water for all citizens through marine debris prevention and removal efforts. This project builds upon Columbia University Center for Sustainable Development’s Eco-Ambassador Solutions Lab / Eco Ambassador Program that equips youth participants with scientific knowledge and skills to promote circular economy, via development of solutions for mitigating plastic use and establishment of sustainable solutions for management and stewardship of plastic waste within their communities. The project is a collaborative effort with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) and New York Sea Grant (NYSG) to not only develop timely and effective marine debris curricula but to also expand environmental literacy in communities in New Jersey and New York urban watersheds.
Sea Grant-funded research and work with coastal and Great Lakes communities across the nation are being highlighted in a special issue of “Oceanography,” the official journal of The Oceanography Society. This special issue, published in April 2024, Volume 37 entitled Sea Grant: Science Serving America’s Coastlines and People features 36 articles contributed by Sea Grant authors across 29 programs and the National Sea Grant Office.
The articles cover a diverse range of topics including projects that advance aquaculture, marine debris research, green infrastructure, science communication and community partnerships, highlighting the wide scope of contributions Sea Grant makes to the environmental and marine sciences. The special issue included coverage from BEach SAFEly, a collaborative social media project between New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and New York Sea Grant that focused on safety on the beaches during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, another article features how Sea Grant programs enhance or sustain investments in regional collaborative networks and planning efforts that leverage multiple partners, expertise, and funding sources to rapidly translate science innovations for broad application by coastal communities. As an example, the New Jersey Coastal Resilience Collaborative (NJCRC) is a network established to foster sustainable and resilient coastal communities and ecosystems. Organized initially in 2016, the Collaborative has been facilitated by New Jersey Sea Grant since 2019 and has grown to include over 75 member organizations. The NJCRC brings together interested parties and serves as a community of practice for the state while also providing connections for technical assistance. Efforts like these multiply the capacity of Sea Grant programs. The article also highlights a NJSGC partnership with the Department of Defense that focuses on resilience of Naval Weapons Station Earle.
Read more about the two NJSGC projects that were featured below:
Rising Together in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Keri Kaczor, Rosanna ‘Anolani Alegado, Katy Hintzen, Lauren Ching, Michael Lieberman, Sandra Chang, Eileen Nakano, Angela Sy, David Horio, Kaeo Tam, Vivek R. Nerurkar, Ashley Smyth, Angela Collins, Kathleen Fallon, Paul Focazio, and Samantha Kreisler
Sea Grant Programs Build Resilience to Coastal Climate Hazards
By Ian Miller, Mary Collins, Michelle Covi, Parker Gassett, Holly Abeels, Karina Alvarez, Juliana Barrett, Savanna Barry, Mona Behl, Renee Collini, Laura Engeman, Phyllis Grifman, Laura Kerr, Kate McClure, Christopher Petrone, Laurie Richmond, Pamela Rubinoff, and Danielle Swallow
“Sea Grant’s success and impact will continue to rely on the power of collaboration,” said Jonathan Pennock, director of the NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program. “This special issue showcases and celebrates the breadth of Sea Grant’s work. The articles in this special issue highlight projects from across the Sea Grant network and include contributions from 175 authors and over 50 external partners.”
