NJSGC will host an informational “Knauss 101” Zoom meeting with Acting Director Dr. Peter Rowe on Wednesday, January 6th at 10 a.m. Please contact our Communications Specialist for more information on how to join the session.
For more information on the fellowship, please visit our website.
From the Sea Grant National Office / Since 1990, Sea Grant’s joint fellowship program with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has helped strengthen collaborative efforts and further fulfill broad educational responsibilities. The two opportunities – Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics – have been combined into one NOFO for 2021. Separate review panels will still be held; therefore, all applicants must indicate their concentration – either Population and Ecosystem Dynamics (PED) or Marine Resource Economics (MRE) – on their cover sheet. The request for federal funding has been increased to $53,000 per year for up to three years. Please click HERE for the full instructions package, or view the official announcement for more information.
This combined Federal Funding Opportunity can also be accessed on Grants.gov.
The primary goals of this program are:
– To encourage qualified applicants to pursue careers in either population and ecosystem dynamics and stock assessment or in marine resource economics.
– To increase available expertise related to these fields.
– To foster closer relationships between academic scientists and NOAA Fisheries.
– To provide real-world experience to graduate students and accelerate their career development.
And for more information on all current fellowships, please visit the NJSGC website.
Applications submitted to NJSGC must be received by 5pm on January 26, 2021. New Jersey students are encouraged to contact Dr. Peter Rowe with any questions or concerns.
FROM THE SEA GRANT NATIONAL OFFICE
The notice of federal funding opportunity for the 2022 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship is now open. The fellowship provides a one-year, paid experience for highly-qualified early career professionals to work on issues related to coastal, marine and Great Lakes science and policy in offices within the executive or legislative branch of government in Washington, D.C.
Graduate students interested in marine science policy should explore the information about the fellowship as soon as possible and talk to their local Sea Grant program (or the National Sea Grant Office) at least one month prior to the February 19, 2021 deadline.To be eligible for the 2022 fellowship (which lasts February 1, 2022 through January 31, 2023):
Please share this opportunity with colleagues, friends and potential applicants!
Photo: The 2020 Knauss fellows pose at the end of their Placement Week (Fall 2019)
Get to know NJSGC’s 2021 Knauss Fellow, Arye Janoff.
This year’s family friendly Ocean Fun Days event (originally scheduled to be held at Island Beach State Park and Sandy Hook in May) will now take place virtually starting October 10th and run for 17 days.
Online video presentations from over 30 exhibitors will provide eco-friendly fun focused on ocean discovery, coastal stewardship and energy conservation. Several presentations provide fascinating information about some of our most important local animals, including horseshoe crabs and harbor seals. There will also be videos on boating safety and saving energy and the environment. In addition, you’ll find other fun activities like word searches, crossword puzzles, coloring pages, and more.
The new event platform includes a short “throwback” video from New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s famous Fiddler Crab Races, and a quick video on Diamondback Terrapin turtles recorded during our Virtual Summer Day Camp program – culminating in exciting turtle races!
Online experiments (including some from our member college professors and current research being done at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, Fisheries Lab) provide a great resource for teachers to share with students in their virtual classrooms. There are plenty of additional resources, including worksheets, and other learning tools for educators and parents alike.
Stating October 10th, visit oceanfundays.org to join the fun!
So, what’s next? We’re hoping for an in-person event come 2021! Save the dates for May 22 at Island Beach State Park and May 23 at Sandy Hook.
Ocean Fun Days is presented by founding sponsor New Jersey Natural Gas, in partnership with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, Asbury Park Press, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, National Park Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Please contact our Communications Specialist for more information.
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s ‘COASTodian’ newsletter (Summer 2020) is now available online.
The staff at NJSGC would like to thank everyone for their continued support and dedication in our ongoing mission to promote the wise use of the Garden State’s marine and coastal resources through research, education, and outreach. Several of our popular programs and events are going “virtual” this year, and we’re excited to participate in this new journey of remote learning. Learn more about our efforts here.
This summer, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) and New York Sea Grant (NYSG) want you to enjoy the BEach SAFEly!
COVID-19 brings more considerations beyond the usual “beach safety and ocean hazards” messaging. Starting this month and continuing into September, our Sea Grant programs will debut a new social media graphic each week to remind beachgoers to stay safe while still having fun at the Jersey Shore and beyond!
For more information, please visit the NYSG “BEach SAFEly” homepage.
Week 1: Stay Social, Be Distant! | (PDF download)
This summer, the beaches are open and you should enjoy them! Just remember that you still need to practice social distancing – embrace your personal space.
Stay at least 6 feet apart from other beachgoers that you didn’t come with; this is about the average length of a surfboard, two boogie boards, a bit more than an beach towel length, or three beach chairs – you could even measure based on your beach umbrella pole!
When you’re walking around the beach, to and from the parking lot or other facilities, or if you can’t stay more than 6 feet apart from others, remember to wear your mask. Frequently wash or sanitize your hands – and if you feel sick, stay home.
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Come back every Thursday for our next #BEachSAFEly graphic reveal!
Read More: “BEach SAFEly” Campaign – NJSGC’s Rapid Response to COVID-19.
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is happy to announce the Top 12 “Jersey Shore” photo contest winners for 2020. The competition was fierce, with over 100 submissions and thousands of votes prior to the July Fourth holiday. These images will be featured in NJSGC’s popular desktop calendar for 2021.
Congratulations to all participants!
Things are a bit different at the Jersey Shore this year, and New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium would like to refer everyone to the CDC’s “Guiding Principles to Keep in Mind at the Beach” when visiting the Garden State coastline.
NJSGC’s long-standing “Favorite Beaches” survey also ran a bit differently this year. The current situation surrounding COVID-19 greatly impacted the poll’s outcome, with limited planning, participation, and publicity. As a surprising result, the winners list is more diversified and widespread as compared to previous years. Even without the possibility of hosting a public ceremony alongside the ocean, NJSGC is thrilled to announce the top “favorite beaches” throughout Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties for 2020!
Please stay tuned for the launch of NJSGC’s “BEach SAFEly” campaign in partnership with New York Sea Grant. COVID-19 brings more considerations beyond our usual Rip Current Awareness messaging, so every week starting in early July, we will be launching a new graphic to remind beachgoers to have fun while remaining safe, healthy, and alert.
Kirsten Hogg, “Brigantine Sunrise”
Atlantic County:
Cody Molowski, “Autumn At Sunset Beach” (Cape May)
Cape May County:
Linda Griffiths, “Late August Evening” (Sandy Hook)
Monmouth County:
Patrick Welsh, “Lonely Dunes” (Point Pleasant Beach)
Ocean County:
Top overall:
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Thousands of voters also participated in NJSGC’s revamped “Jersey Shore” photo contest (four contestants were featured in the list above). The competition was intense, with over 100 breathtaking snapshots submitted, but we’re happy to announce the Top 12 photographs which will be featured in NJSGC’s popular desktop calendar for 2021. Check out the winners here.
NJSGC’s Fish and Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulation cards are now available for 2020. 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 here to download a copy.
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.
For more information on what catch is safe to eat, visit FishSmartEatSmartNJ.org.
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.
From NJSGC’s 18th annual State of the Shore Report:
Current times remain daunting and uncertain for most. But take a moment to close your eyes and just imagine – sandy toes, sun-kissed skin, gentle gusts of the warm, salty air . . . That’s the epitome of summers spent at the Jersey Shore. Despite the future’s unknown, one thing remains for sure. The beaches await our return – under whatever circumstances that might be.
And according to New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium Coastal Processes Specialist Dr. Jon Miller (Stevens Institute of Technology), the Garden State’s coastline is ready for just that.
We’re conducting the 18th annual State of the Shore event a bit differently for 2020. Over the past several years, media representatives throughout the region have gathered with local experts at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club (located on the iconic Asbury Park boardwalk) to receive accurate, science-based information on current beach issues and outlooks, including preparations for the Jersey Shore’s upcoming summer tourism season. But just as with any passing storm, we must change and evolve with the turbulent tides. Although we cannot celebrate the start of summer “together,” NJSGC’s mission will always be to promote the wise use of New Jersey’s marine and coastal resources through research, education, and outreach (whether near, far, or socially distant).
And with that, we present Dr.Miller’s official “State of the Shore” report.
Due to a relatively mild winter storm season, beaches are found to be in extremely good shape throughout New Jersey. Please read on for more detailed, in-depth analysis of coastal storm impacts (nuisance flooding, beach erosion) and tropical outlooks. With everything else going on right now, please do not forget that rip currents in the ocean pose a dangerous threat to all swimmers, regardless of age or gender. Please visit the NJSGC website to learn more about our revamped “Ocean Hazards & Beach Safety: Sharks vs. Rip Currents” initiative, including materials on our Rip Current Awareness program.
Click here to read the full report.