In 2019-2020, contributions from donors like you allowed us to:
Continue supporting marine, coastal, and social science research to help further promote and enhance healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries/aquaculture, resilience communities/economies, and environmental literacy/workforce development throughout the Garden State.
Provide direct instruction to nearly 20,000 schoolchildren from over 30 different legislative districts throughout NJ on a broad range of environmental topics through our diverse, interactive education programs.
Disperse nearly 65,000 NJ Fish and Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulation cards to and posters to over 260 marinas throughout the State, from over 24 different legislative districts. Of these, more than 100 have operating pumpout stations (including nine pumpout boats) thanks to NJSGC’s involvement with the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Program.
Accept four graduate students from prestigious institutions throughout NJ into the highly-competitive John A. Knauss Marine Policy fellowship program.
And while combating the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium continues developing several outstanding programs and projects, including:
Virtual education initiatives appropriate for grades K-12. Taught by experienced environmental education staff, these lively presentations, demonstrations, experiments, and games encourage student interaction on topics designed to excite while meeting educator’s curricular needs, scout leader’s requirements, and/or families’ interests.
A new COVID-19 rapid response opportunity (led by NJSGC’s Aquaculture Program Coordinator Lisa Calvo) that helps support oyster farmers, promote habitat restoration, and advocate local seafood sales.
For the first time in 17 years, NJSGC and its partners hosted a virtual Ocean Fun Days event. Online video presentations, teacher/parent resources, and other printout activities from over 25 exhibitors provided eco-friendly fun focused on ocean discovery, coastal stewardship, and energy conservation.
In partnership with New York Sea Grant, NJSGC created a BEach SAFEly campaign to remind beachgoers to stay safe while still having fun at the Jersey Shore (and beyond).
And more to come in 2021!
Despite such trying times, we hope you choose to help so that we can continue our mission to promote the wise use of New Jersey’s marine and coastal resources through research, education, and outreach. To make a year-end, tax-deductible contribution to NJSGC for 2020, please click HERE.
If you prefer to mail your gift, kindly address your contribution to:
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium
22 Magruder Road
Fort Hancock, NJ 07732
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 HEREfor 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.
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):
A student must be enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program at any point between the onset of the 2020 Fall Term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and February 19, 2021;
The student’s graduate degree program must be through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories;
Students are eligible regardless of nationality; domestic and international students at accredited U.S. institutions may apply; and
Applicants must have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.
Please share this opportunity with colleagues, friends and potential applicants!
Celebrating 17 Years with 17 Days of Virtual Family Fun and Education
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.
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.
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!
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.
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:
Brigantine
Atlantic City
Margate
Cody Molowski, “Autumn At Sunset Beach” (Cape May)
Cape May County:
Cape May
The Wildwoods
Ocean City
Linda Griffiths, “Late August Evening” (Sandy Hook)
Monmouth County:
Asbury Park
Bradley Beach
Belmar / Manasquan / Sandy Hook – Gateway National Recreation Area (three-way tie)
Patrick Welsh, “Lonely Dunes” (Point Pleasant Beach)
Ocean County:
Point Pleasant Beach
Lavallette
Island Beach State Park
Top overall:
Brigantine
Cape May
Atlantic City
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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 clickhere 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.
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.
