NJSGC Announces 2019 Dates for Individual Environmental Science & Oceanography, Enroll Now!

Please find the Scouts reservation form HERE.

Knauss Fellowship, Meet NJSGC’s Class of 2020

National Sea Grant accepted 69 finalists into the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program for 2020, including three fellows from New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. To learn more, please visit the website above.

Sea Grant Announces 2020 Finalists for the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program

ANNOUNCEMENT

Silver Spring, MD — NOAA and Sea Grant are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2020 class of the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program. Since 1979, the National Sea Grant College Program has provided one-year fellowships working in federal government offices in Washington, D.C. to over 1,300 early-career professionals. The 69 finalists in the 2020 class represent 27 of the 34 Sea Grant programs.

“With each year and class, we continue to be more impressed with the Sea Grant Knauss fellows. They bring fresh perspectives and experiences to the coastal and marine science and policy work happening in D.C., and they continue to raise the bar for us all,” said Jonathan Pennock, National Sea Grant College Program Director. “Congratulations to the 2020 Knauss finalists!”

Congratulations to Michael Acquafredda (Rutgers University), Victoria Luu (Princeton University), and Brittany Schieler (Rutgers University) for being accepted into the Knauss class of 2020 as representatives of New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. Please stay tuned for more updates!

Knauss finalists are chosen through a competitive process that includes several rounds of review at both the state Sea Grant program and national levels. Students finishing Masters (M.S.), Juris Doctor (J.D.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs with a focus and/or interest in marine science, policy or management apply to one of the 34 Sea Grant programs. If applicants are successful at the state program level, their applications are then reviewed by a national panel of experts. This fall, the 2020 finalists will travel to Washington, D.C., to interview with several executive or legislative offices. Following placement, they will begin their fellowship in February 2020.

Executive appointments for the 2019 Knauss fellows included placements throughout the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well as with Department of the Interior, National Science Foundation, U.S. Navy, and other agencies. Legislative placements included the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (Minority), the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Majority), the Senate Commerce Committee (Majority and Minority), the House Committee on Natural Resources (Minority), and several placements in both majority and minority offices.

The 2020 Knauss finalists will become the 41st class of the fellowship and will join a group of over 1,300 professionals who have received hands-on experiences transferring science to policy and management through one-year appointments with federal government offices in Washington, D.C.

Curious about the Knauss fellowship? The Knauss blog shares stories from the 2019 Knauss class on fellowship experiences and their journeys to D.C.

Placement of 2020 Knauss finalists as fellows is contingent on adequate funding in Fiscal Year 2020. 

Please visit the National Sea Grant/NOAA website for more information.

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT – Director, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Director provides leadership of the NJSGC and oversees all aspects of its Sea Grant College Program. NJSGC annually receives a base appropriation of approximately $1.4 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as matching funds from a variety of sources. Approximately 40% of the NOAA/Sea Grant funds are distributed for research projects, awarded through a biennial peer-reviewed competition led by the Director, with the remainder supporting management, outreach, and education programs. A well integrated education and outreach program is a key element of the Sea Grant Program at the NJSGC and it is the responsibility of the Director to lead this effort supported by an in-house team of education and outreach professionals and an external team of extension agents and specialists engaged through memorandum of understandings.

As Director, the incumbent will oversee all aspects of NJSGC, including administrative, budgetary, office, and personnel issues. The Director also represents the Consortium and its members through collaborations with government, non-government, academic,research and other relevant entities throughout New Jersey and the region and with regional, out-of-state, and national institutions including the Sea Grant Network and Sea Grant Association.

The Director reports to a Board of Trustees comprised of public, academic, and government trustees, and is advised by a stakeholder advisory council. Both provide support and expertise to ensure NJSGC is both fiscally sound and beneficial to the people of New Jersey. The position requires moderate travel, both in-state and nationally. Travel regularly requires overnight and weekends away from home.

For more information and details on how to apply, please CLICK HERE.

NJSGC’s 2018 Annual Report – a Message from the Executive Director

For the past 11 years, it has been my pleasure as Executive Director to present you with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s annual report wherein I try to express how proud I am to be just a small part of all that was achieved through the hard work and dedication of the Consortium’s staff, board members, partners, stakeholders, and friends. Quite honestly, despite a decade of attempts, I do not think I have ever done justice to the contribution the Consortium and its people make towards the betterment of New Jersey’s environment by connecting, questioning, collaborating, and doing their best to preserve and sustain our state’s marine and coastal resources. The body of work is truly amazing. Probably best to let the results speak for themselves. This year’s message is especially poignant for me. After 25 years at the Consortium, I’ve decided to move on. Rest assured, I know how privileged I am to have spent these years at a place where the dynamic nature of marine and coastal research, education, and outreach intersect each day to realize a mission, upheld by an amazing group of people, that is as important now as it was then. Thank you for your support and your interest in the work of the NJSGC. I hope you enjoy this annual report.

– Claire Antonucci, Executive Director and Director of Education

Please view NJSGC’s full Annual Report for 2018.

Additional materials also included are FY18 Financials and Form 990 (without Schedule B).

2019 Fish and Wildlife Marine Recreational Fishing Regulation Cards Now Available

NJSGC’s Fish and Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulation cards are now available for 2019. The cards are provided free of charge 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.

The cards provide information on the correct minimum size, possession limits, and season of catch. The laminated 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.

The regulation cards are distributed to the public through NJSGC and can be found at local marinas, bait and tackle shops, etc. This year, cards can also be found at the New Jersey Natural Gas Studio located on the Asbury Park Boardwalk between 3rd and 4th Ave. NJSGC broadcasts live from this booth every Friday (7:45am and 6:15pm) with 94.3 “The Point” radio.

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.

RELATED: Attention Anglers, 2019 NJ Minimum Size, Possession Limits & Seasons

NJSGC Hosts 2019 “Favorite Beaches” Awards Ceremony in Ocean City

It’s officially summertime at the Jersey Shore, which means New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is ready to announce the results of this year’s “Favorite Beaches” contest!

Thousands of voters participated in this annual survey following its 94.3 “The Point” radio debut over the Memorial Day Weekend. In anticipation of the July Fourth holiday, winners were honored during a gorgeous beachside ceremony held at Music Pier in Ocean City on Friday, June 28th. Once again, this popular shore town was honored as top overall favorite – that’s 11 years of undefeated victory!

The survey – initially deemed “New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches” – was created in 2008 to encourage some friendly competition and camaraderie amongst popular Jersey Shore communities throughout the state. The poll was later rebranded “Favorite Beaches” so that individual towns from all four coastal counties can have an opportunity to shine. So without further delay, here is the breakdown for 2019:

Overall: 

1. Ocean City
2. Margate

Atlantic:

1. Margate
2. Brigantine
3. Atlantic City
4. Longport
5. Ventnor

Cape May:

1. Ocean City
2. Wildwood Crest
3. Sea Isle City
4. Cape May
5. Wildwood

Monmouth:

1. Asbury Park
2. Spring Lake
3. Sandy Hook – Gateway National Recreation Area
4. Belmar
5. Ocean Grove

Ocean:

1. Seaside Heights
2. Point Pleasant Beach
3. Beach Haven
4. Island Beach State Park
5. Barnegat Light

And new this year… NJSGC’s revamped  “Jersey Shore” photo contest received dozens of submissions and thousands of votes. The Top 12 winning images featured below will appear in the official NJSGC online desktop calendar for 2020.

Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to stay tuned for more updates throughout the summer!

IN THE NEWS...

You Voted, We Listened: Here Are Your Favorite Beaches!
(94.3 "The Point)

Ocean City Again Voted New Jersey's Favorite Beach
(Patch.com)

OC Wins "Favorite Beach" Contest - Again
(OCNJ Daily)

Ocean City Named New Jersey's Favorite Beach for 11th Consecutive Year
(CBS Philly)

Barnegat Light, Beach Haven Among Favorite Beaches in NJ Sea Grant Annual Poll
(The Sandpaper)

NJSGC Announces “Jersey Shore” Photo Contest Winners

The winners of New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s 2019 “Jersey Shore” photo contest are listed below. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

ASBPA’s “Coastal Observation” featuring NJSGC’s Dr. Amy Williams

In the Spring 2019 edition of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association‘s “Shore & Beach” journal (ASBPA), NJSGC’s Coastal Ecosystems Extension Agent Dr. Amy Williams contributed to a “Coastal Observation” piece about beach erosion in the Outer Banks.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Coastal erosion field trip at the Sea Grant’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting with North Carolina Sea Grant Specialist Spencer Rogers

Amy Williams, Kathleen Fallon, Danielle Swallow

Abstract:

During Sea Grant’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting at the end of March 2018, a group of coastal scientists took advantage of the location on the Outer Banks of North Carolina to view the recent impacts of multiple nor’easters that had wreaked havoc on the coast (Figure 1). “Nor’easters” is the term used for the extratropical cyclones that form during the months between October and April, typically, when cold, dry continental air meets warmer air from the Atlantic Ocean. These storms intensify as they move northeast along the coast, bringing large storm surges and increased wave energy resulting in flooding and beach erosion. Coastal resiliency and flood insurance rates are critical issues to local communities. The Community Rating System, FEMA flood maps, and the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 all play a part in determining the flood insurance rates for homeowners in North Carolina.

Find more information at http://asbpa.org/publications/shore-and-beach/.

Jersey Shore Photo Contest Finalists – Vote Now!

Voting for NJSGC’s “Jersey Shore” photo contest is now underway! Thanks to everyone who entered – the design team received dozens of extraordinary images, and it was very difficult to narrow it down to just 26 finalists.

Fans can now select up to three of their favorite snapshots displayed here. The 12 photos with the most votes will be used for New Jersey Sea Grant’s 2020 desktop calendar. Winning photographers will also receive an enlarged glossy poster of their amazing work.

Please visit NJSGC’s “Jersey Shore” photo contest homepage to view all the finalists. Once you’ve had the opportunity, it’s finally time to vote here!