NOAA recently announced 32 research grants totaling $9.3 million for projects around the country to further develop the nation’s marine and costal aquaculture industry. NJSGC will receive $149,219 of this funding for an Establishing Shellfish Hatchery Biosecurity Certification Standards to Facilitate Interstate Transport of Shellfish Seed project. According to the National Sea Grant College Program website:
This project seeks to fulfill several objectives, including host a three-day workshop that convenes the existing Hatchery Certification Working Group established with prior Sea Grant funding to visit operational shellfish hatcheries of varying size and design to enable the group to overcome its own internal impediments and reach consensus on an initial shellfish hatchery certification protocol; to finalize a set of guidelines that are adaptable to varying situations geographically or temporarily and responsive to varying levels of acceptable risk; to initiate certification of one or more hatcheries; and to refine and disseminate progress and results.
NOAA initially received 126 proposals requesting nearly $58 million in federal funds, of which 32 projects were chosen. For a complete list, including short descriptions of each awarded grant project, please click here.
In an effort to raise flood risk awareness and action, many of Monmouth County’s coastal communities are participating in the Monmouth County High Water Mark Initiative.
As a component of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the HWM Initiative uses signs on public and private property to show the high water mark from past flooding events, like Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Through this initiative, the County and its partners have already placed nearly 100 high water mark signs throughout 14 towns and 2 federal sites (including Sandy Hook).
To increase awareness of this initiative and to convey information about flood risk, safety, preparedness, and community resilience to students, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium has created a Teachers Guide to the Monmouth County High Water Mark Initiative.
Our hope is that this guide will be used by New Jersey’s formal and informal educators to teach students about flood risk so students and their families will be well-informed before future events. The lessons and activities included in this guide could be integrated into your science lessons on weather, climate, or human impact on the earth, or during social studies lessons on geography or people and the environment. Connections to language arts and mathematics could be made as well.
It is our hope that by highlighting ecological solutions to New Jersey’s coastal hazards, we can help communities prepare and adapt to ongoing and future changes, strengthening long-term coastal resilience for both people and wildlife. This guide advances practices that can help coastal communities to become safer and more sustainable in ways that work with, rather than against, nature. It describes ecological solutions to coastal community hazards, including measures to protect open space, enhance and protect coastal ecosystems (including beaches and dunes, coastal forests and shrublands, and tidal marshes) in ways that increase elevation and reduce erosion and flooding risks.
This project was recently awarded the “Outstanding Community Engagement or Education Award” for a planning project or initiative that has involved or resulted in significant advancement of community comprehension of planning issues or outcomes. BESCCH was nominated by the NJ Chapter of the American Planning Association via Linda Weber and Sustainable Jersey.
Memebers of Troop 36 from Long Valley, NJ earned their Environmental Science merit badges on the shores of Sandy Hook earlier this month. Congrats to the Scouts, and thanks for joining us in the NJSGC lab!
For more information on NJSGC’s Scouts Program, please click here.
Following the success and popularity of NJSGC’s quarterly newsletter the COASTodian, we’d like to provide more consistent and timely updates for our supporters to enjoy!
NJSGC ‘Highlights’ offers a weekly roundup of all the exciting things happening at the Consortium. From research and project achievements to staff updates to environmental/coastline concerns to current events involving the science and marine world – get a better inside look into all the hard work that helps shape and progress NJSGC!
Please find NJSGC’s new ‘highlights’ section under the ‘Communications’ tab. For more information or if you’d like to pitch any relevant story ideas, please contact our Communications Specialist Danica Bellini at dbellini@njseagrant.org.
The ‘highlights’ just launched last week (Sept. 11-15), so let us know what you think!
The Education Program at NJSGC is seeking year-round, part-time instructors for their Boy and Girl Scout Programs. These innovative programs pair marine and environmental science education with merit badge requirements to help students grow as scouts, scientists, and stewards. Following a paid training period, you will lead scout groups on hands-on, interactive explorations of Sandy Hook’s salt marsh and barrier beach environments and provide classroom and laboratory instruction. Experience is not necessary, but a background in marine science, scouting, or education is helpful. Scheduling is flexible but the ability to work some weekend and evening (after-school) hours is a must. Interested candidates should email resumes to Rosemary Higgins or mail resume to:
Rosemary Higgins
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium
22 Magruder Road
Fort Hancock, NJ 07732
For those still interested, classes for the Environmental Science and Oceanographymerit badges (individual enrollment) are now confirmed for Fall 2017.
We are delighted to announce that the next Individual Enrollment Oceanography merit badge will be held at NJSGC on Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 10:00 – 2:00 pm. The fee is $35.00/scout and adults are free.
The next Individual Enrollment Environmental Science merit badge will be held at NJSGC on Sunday, October 1,2017 from 10:00 – 3:00 pm. The fee is $45.00/scout and adults are free.
The New Jersey Clean Marina Program is a voluntary, incentive-based initiative that encourages marinas to adopt environment-friendly business practices to reduce pollution in local waterbodies. The NJCMP is managed by the Coastal Management Office of the NJDEP and has entered into a formal agreement with the Extension Program to carry out additional tasks such as outreach to marina owners, yacht clubs and boatyards, coordination of educational workshops and provision of technical assistance.
The following marinas have been certified as New Jersey Clean Marinas by the New Jersey Clean Marina Program
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS MUNICIPAL MARINA MARINE MAX (BRANT BEACH)
BAKERS MARINA ON THE BAY YACHT CLUB MARINE MAX (BRICK)
BAYWOOD MARINA MARINE MAX (LAKE HOPTACONG)
BRENNAN BOAT COMPANY MARINE MAX (SOMERS POINT)
BRIDGE MARINA MORGAN MARINA
BROWN’S BOAT YARD MUNRO’S MARINA
CLARK’S LANDING MARINA NEW LIBERTY LANDING MARINA
CURTIN MARINA OCEAN GATE YACHT BASIN
DEEP WATER LANDING MARINA PERTH AMBOY HARBORSIDE MARINA
DILLON’S CREEK MARINA PIER 47 MARINA
FORKED RIVER STATE MARINA QUEEN CITY MARINA
GARDEN STATE YACHT SALES ROBBIES LOVELADIES MARINA
GOOD LUCK POINT MARINA SCHOONER ISLAND MARINA
GREEN COVE MARINA SHARK RIVER MUNICIPAL MARINA
HAGLER’S MARINA INC SHERMAN’S BOAT BASIN
HARBOR VIEW CLUB AND MARINA SHORE HAVEN YACHT CLUB
HOBBY LOBBY MARINE SHORE POINT MARINA
JERSEY SHORE MARINA BOATS SILVER CLOUD HARBOR MARINA
KAMMERMAN’S ATLANTIC CITY MARINA SOUTHWICKS MARINA
KEY HARBOR MARINA SPENCER’S BAYSIDE MARINA
LEAMINGS MARINA, INC SPRING GARDEN MARINA
LEONARDO STATE MARINA THE MARINA AT TALL OAKS
LIGHTHOUSE MARINA TWIN LIGHTS MARINA
LOCKWOOD BOAT WORKS VIKING YACHTING CENTER
LONG KEY YACHT CLUB AND MARINA WILBERT’S MARINA
For more contact information on each marina listed above, please click here.
Each facility has successfully implemented sufficient best management practices, earning a Clean Marina score of at least 80%, thus demonstrating a commitment to protecting water quality and coastal resources by preventing and reducing nonpoint sources of pollution. Congratulations to all on your effort and success!
You can learn more about the NJCMP by downloading a copy of the brochure, requesting a copy of the NJ Clean Marina Guidebook, or visiting njcleanmarina.org.
As the final week of marine summer day camp draws to a close, we’d like to thank all campers and counselors for a great summer!
NJSGC’s summer camp program is dedicated to educating children about our marine world, with a special focus on creating awareness and appreciation for the marine environments of New Jersey. We hope to provide an exciting, week-long experience that is educational, safe, and most importantly, fun for the campers!
A typical day at camp starts with mornings spent outside observing and exploring the natural marine environments of Sandy Hook. By the afternoon, groups will make their way to the NJSGC headquarters building #22 for lab investigations, games, crafts, and more interactive exercises. Throughout the week, campers will visit a variety of sites on Sandy Hook including the salt marsh, ocean beach, maritime forest, and a few historical sites such as the lighthouse. Many activities are very “hands-on” in hopes of demonstrating to campers, like no classroom lecture can, the connections between living things on land and in the sea.
Here’s what has been happening at NJSGC throughout July and August:
Science of the Sea (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders)
Oceanography Week (4th, 5th, and 6th graders)
Using Robotics in Ocean Exploration (7th, 8th, and 9th graders)
Science of Sandy Hook (7th and 8th graders)
Registration for 2017 is officially closed, but please visit our website for more information on next year’s program!
Things are definitely heating up at New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium this summer! While most New Jerseyans enjoy lazy, carefree days spent at the Garden State’s vast array of gorgeous beaches, NJSGC’s staff is working hard to advance knowledge and appreciation of New Jersey’s shorelines.
From Ocean Fun Days to our biennial research competition and ongoing rip current awareness campaign, NJSGC strives to inform the public about coastal and environmental concerns in new and exciting ways.
Communicating climate sciences, learning more about the origins of striped bass, and engaging youth in summer camp experiences are just some of the interesting topics covered in this edition of our quarterly newsletter. You’ll also find out which popular shore town snagged top honors in NJSGC’s annual “Favorite Beaches” poll!
Topics covered in the latest edition of the ‘COASTodian’ include:
Where Are They Now? Meet Our Brilliant Staff! NJ’s Favorite Beaches 2017 Announcement State of the Shore Report Ocean Fun Days (recap) Rip Current Awareness National Network for Climate and Ocean Change Interpretation Marine Summer Day Camp FY 2018 Budget (update) NJSGC Broadcasting Live from Asbury Pary Boardwalk (94.3 ‘The Point’) Summer College Course Opportunities Striped Bass Fishery Project (update) Ocean County Pumpout Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary Share your #NJSGC memories
Learn more about all the exciting things happening at NJSGC everyday by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit njseagrant.org for any further updates.
