Who’s up for a little marine-inspired scavenger hunt? Get ready for NJSGC’s “Sea Creatures in your Neighborhood” campaign! Here’s the plan.
Draw and color a picture of NJSGC’s “animal of the week” (more information below).
Include a “fun fact” about this creature.
Hang your masterpiece in a front window, door, or yard. Snap a photo to post on social media with the hashtags #SeaCreaturesInYourNeighborhood, #NJSGC, and #SeaGrantSTEM. Be sure to include the name of your city or town. Feel free to send photos directly to NJSGC by contacting our Communications Specialist.
On your next ride or walk around the neighborhood (while respecting the rules of social distancing), take pictures of any #SeaCreaturesInYourNeighborhood you notice. Or search and discover more virtually.
Encourage friends and family to do the same and be sure to share your findings with us!
Stay tuned for next week’s ”animal of the week” and repeat. Stay safe and have fun while learning about our favorite sea creatures found along the Jersey Shore!
NJSGC will “spotlight” all submissions throughout Spring 2020.
__________________________
June 22, 2020
The Long-Clawed Hermit Crab (Pagurus longicarpus) – please use this template for guidance.
Have you ever walked through a shallow, intertidal beach and noticed a small, dark object moving along the sandy bottom? If so, chances are that you’ve seen a long-clawed hermit crab, one of many marine crustaceans found along the Jersey shore. A close relative of lobsters, long-clawed hermit crabs are invertebrates with exoskeletons that shed in order for the animal to grow. Like lobsters, long-clawed hermit crabs have two chelipeds (claws). but instead are narrow and unequal in size, with the right one growing larger than the left. They have five pairs of legs and use the first three pairs for walking; the fourth and fifth pairs are small and modified to hold into the gastropod (snail) shell that they carry on their backs. Hermit crabs “wear” unoccupied gastropod shells to protect their soft, elongated abdomens and will change shells when they outgrow the current one.
1. Hermit crab eggs hatch into larvae, called zoea. After molting several times, the zoea become megalops which then develop into juveniles, which will then grow into adults.
2. Long-clawed hermit crabs are the ultimate recyclers because, as scavengers, they recycle energy back into the ecosystem.
3. Long-clawed hermit crabs can regenerate lost limbs when they molt.
Check out this cool video of a long-clawed hermit crab changing shells with anemones. And here’s another clip of hermit crabs living in aluminum cans.
June 5, 2020
The Atlantic Silverside (Menidia menidia) – please use this template for guidance.
The Atlantic Silverside is a resident species and is one of the most abundant fish found in NJ’s estuaries and nearshore habitats. They have long slender bodies that are grey-green above and pale colored below with a distinct silver band that runs along each side (giving it the name “silverside”). Silversides are small, growing only up to 6 inches in length, and can often be found schooling in shallow waters. Commonly called “spearing” or “shiners” by fishers that use them for bait, silversides are consumers in the marine food web because they feast on the tiny phytoplankton and zooplankton that drift with the currents. Their small mouths lack teeth and are positioned upwards at the end of their snouts so that they can grab food that floats or swims above them. Females are usually larger than males and during the spawning season (May, June, early July) will deposit egg clusters on sandy bottoms. Silversides are sensitive to fluctuations in salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature, so they are an important species in helping scientists study environmental change.
Did you know…
Atlantic silversides can live up to two years, but most only make it to one year.
Silverside eggs that hatch in cooler water will develop into females, and those that hatch in warmer water will develop into males.
Silversides are an important food source for other marine animals in the estuary, and are eaten by everything from bluefish and striped bass to sea birds and crabs.
May 22, 2020
The Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) – please use this template for guidance.
“Memorial Day is the start of the beach season at the Jersey Shore, and no sound is more iconic to beachgoers than the call of the laughing gull (click on this link to hear one). Like many vacationers, laughing gulls are regular visitors to NJ’s beaches, marshes, and back bays throughout the summer and fall. These medium-sized birds are relatives to lesser black-backed and Bonaparte’s gulls, which they can be found in congregation with along coastal areas of NJ. Adults have black heads, thin white eye crescents, and red bills which make them easy to identify. If you notice a laughing gull extending and lowering its neck, calling, and then throwing its head backwards, it is displaying a threatening behavior and alerting other gulls to stay away. This is also an important reminder for all beachgoers to practice social distancing!”
Did you know…
– Laughing gulls are opportunistic feeders. They eat snails, insects, crabs, squid, garbage, and anything else they can get their beaks on – including the snacks they steal from your beach bag!
– During the spring nesting season, male and female laughing gulls build their nest together where the female will lay 2-4 brown with black-speckled eggs.
– The oldest known laughing gull lived to be 22 years old!
Check out this cool video – and happy Memorial Day weekend!
May 11, 2020
The Common Atlantic Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) – please use this template for guidance.
“In honor of Mother’s Day this past weekend, we would like to pay tribute to one of the most dedicated moms in the ocean, the octopus! The Common Atlantic Octopus can be found living in crevices and muddy bottoms of NJ’s coastal waters. This member of the Mollusk family has greyish-yellow or brownish-green smooth skin that can change with its surroundings, which helps it maintain its private lifestyle. Like all octopuses, it has 8 arm-like tentacles with suckers to capture its prey. When a female is ready to lay her eggs, she will find a hiding spot such as a hole or other hollow area that can be sealed off with rocks, shells, or debris. Inside she will lay thousands of eggs (up to 500,000!) and stitch them together in long braids that she will then attach to the walls of the den. In the 4-5 months that it takes for the eggs to hatch, the mother octopus never leaves the nest to feed. Instead, she will vigilantly care for her young by carefully blowing water with her siphon over the eggs to keep them clean and oxygenated and protecting them from predators. After her young have hatched and she has shuttled them out of their nest, she will finally venture out in a weakened state and give the ultimate gift – her life.”
Watch this cool video excerpt from PBS’ “Nature” show entitled Octopus: Making Contact where a teenager befriends this unique creature!
Did you know…
– Considered the smartest of all invertebrates thanks to their large brains, octopuses can recognize people and explore objects through play – even opening jars and locked boxes!
– Octopuses use their tentacles not only for touching but for tasting, too!
– The Common Atlantic Octopus can grow up to 3 feet and live for 2-3 years.
– As a mollusk, octopuses are related to clams and oysters, but they have no external or internal shell.
May 1, 2020
The Blue Claw Crab (Callinectes sapidus) – please use this template for guidance.
“Spring is a time that many land animals emerge from hibernation, and there are some similarities in the ocean. Although most marine organisms do not hibernate specifically, some (like the blue claw crab) spend the colder months buried in the ocean bottom in a dormant state. As the duration of sunlight increases and water temperatures rise in May, hungry blue crabs will emerge and swim to shallow bays and estuaries. Crabs are ambush predators and once close to shore they will lie in wait for their prey to swim or amble by. Eating clams, fishes, and other crabs cause these invertebrates to fatten and eventually molt as they outgrow their shells. It takes a few hours for the new shell to harden, and while it is “soft shell” a crab is vulnerable to predators. Therefore, blue crabs will once again bury themselves into the sandy shallow bottom until their shells can protect them.”
Did you know…
(Virginia Institute of Marine Science)
– Blue crabs are only one of two crab species in NJ that can swim – their 5th pair of (back) legs are modified to look like paddles, known as swimmerets.
– By looking at the abdomen, you can tell the gender of a crab: males are shaped like a golf tee, while females are shaped either like a triangle (immature) or rounded (mature). The large claws on mature females also have red tips.
– Although crabs spawn in the fall, females do not lay eggs until the spring, and they can lay up to 8 million at a time!
– Male blue crabs can live up to 3 years while females only live up to 2 years.
– Blue crabs feed by catching prey with their large claws and ripping their food apart to pass into their mouths.
The Atlantic Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) – please use this template for guidance.
“The Spiny Dogfish is a small shark found in abundance throughout the Garden State’s coastal waters. They are called ‘spiny’ because of the long spines located anterior to each of its two dorsal fins. These slim fish have long snouts and can grow up to four feet long. Like many sharks, Dogfish exhibit countershading, a type of camouflage that makes them effective predators. Dogfish are grey with white spots on their dorsal sides, and white below (on their ventral sides), making them difficult for prey swimming below them to see in the water. They are opportunistic feeders, which means that they will eat just about anything that they can catch, but they prefer crustaceans, squid, jellyfish, and other fish. While they are predators, Spiny Dogfish are also eaten by other animals higher up the food chain such as cod, hake, sharks, and even some whales. Dogfish, together with all types of sharks, are very important to the marine food web by helping to keep other species populations in balance.”
Did you know…
– Many people in European countries enjoy eating dogfish as part of a “fish and chips” meal.
– Females take up to 12 years to mature. When they do, they can give birth to an average of 6 live pups that take up to 24 months to gestate.
– The dogfish’s salt gland produces a substance called squalamine which scientists are studying as an anti-cancer agent.
– Spiny dogfish can live up to 40 years.
Check out this cool YouTube video on shark conservation.
April 17, 2020
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – please use this template for guidance.
“Sometimes called “fish hawks,” ospreys live along waterways, lakes, and coastal waters in NJ and are typically spotted throughout Spring/Summer/Fall. These large birds feed almost exclusively on fish and can plunge feet-first into water to catch prey with their sharp talons. Identifiable characteristics of the osprey include: dark brown back, white front plumage, dark stripes on the head and tail, bent wings, and a high-pitched call. Ospreys breed during this time of the year, and pairs can be found preparing for nesting. Nests need elevation to keep predators away, so observers are likely to find them in tall trees, chimneys, cell phone towers, or man-made nesting platforms. Ospreys use sticks, bark, seaweed, bones, and even beach towels to build their nests. Males collect nesting materials while the females arrange it. The couple will then use this same nest for years to come – eventually even ‘growing’ large enough for a human to sit in!”
Did you know…
– Ospreys mate for life, but males and females winter separately.
– Females are larger than males and have a dark feather “necklace” on their white chest.
– Females lay approximately three brown-spotted eggs in mid-April to early May, and chicks hatch in late May.
– Both osprey parents help feed and care for their young.
“Egg case of the Jersey Shore,” the Clearnose Skate (Raja eglanteria). Please use this template for guidance.
“Have you ever seen a dark brown, leathery pouch with “horns” on each end wash up on the beach? You might have heard it being called a “mermaid’s purse,” but it doesn’t come from a mermaid at all! They’re actually made by skates, a flat fish related to sharks. Female skates produce these casings when they lay their eggs and attach them to seaweed. The young grow and develop inside these egg cases, eventually breaking out and swimming away when they get to be about 6 inches long, which can take up to 3 months. As they mature, they feed on shrimp and other crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish.”
Did you know…
– Skates have cartilage instead of bones.
– Skates have flattened bodies, with their pectoral fins joined to their head and trunk, and a long tail trailing behind them.
– Skates can’t harm people with their tails because they do not have a venomous barb like stingrays do.
The Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) – please use this template for guidance.
“The lined seahorse is a resident of NJ’s shallow coastal waters and can be found living in eelgrass and seaweed beds. This fish has a horse-like head with a small mouth at the end that can quickly slurp up its favorite food – tiny crustaceans and other zooplankton. Its body is upright and covered in bony plates, and its long, finless tail curves inward to help it grasp objects. Seahorses grow to be 4-6 inches in length and can live to up to 4 years in the wild. They are vulnerable to pollution, loss of habitat, and overfishing (people like to collect them!) so protection is important so that they can thrive in their natural environment.”
Did you know…
– Seahorse fathers incubate the mother’s eggs and give birth to as many as babies!
– Seahorses mate for life, and pairs “dance” together every morning.
– Their color varies from light brown to almost black and it can change depending upon the background it is against.
NJSGC’s first pick of the week is the Eastern Common Sea Star. Feel free to use this template for guidance.
Did you know… – Sea stars can regenerate their limbs if damaged or severed – Sea stars eat their food outside of their body by turning their stomach inside out and extending it through their mouth – Sea stars can live up to 35 years – Or do your own research and get creative with the “fun fact!”
“The Eastern Common Sea Star is native to NJ’s coast and can be found in shallow rocky areas or sandy bottoms. Usually referred to as ‘starfish,’ they’re actually not fish at all. They’re echinoderms, belonging to a group of marine animals with tough, spiny skin and no bones (invertebrates). Sea stars have limbs (called rays) that radiate out from a central disc (radial symmetry) in multiples of five that help them move around and find food. They are carnivorous predators that love to eat snails, clams, oysters, mussels and barnacles. Sea star colors vary from olive, brown, yellow, orange, purple ,or red. They are related to sand dollars and sea urchins, both of which can also be found in coastal NJ waters.”
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:
Ocean City
Margate
Atlantic:
Margate
Brigantine
Atlantic City
Longport
Ventnor
Cape May:
Ocean City
Wildwood Crest
Sea Isle City
Cape May
Wildwood
Monmouth:
Asbury Park
Spring Lake
Sandy Hook – Gateway National Recreation Area
Belmar
Ocean Grove
Ocean:
Seaside Heights
Point Pleasant Beach
Beach Haven
Island Beach State Park
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!
Get the shades and sunscreen ready! The fun-filled days of summer are fast approaching, which means it’s finally time to cast your vote for New Jersey’s favorite beach!
Starting today, fans get to choose their 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.
This year’s poll debuted during a LIVE broadcast on the Asbury Park boardwalk with 94.3 “The Point.”
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.
An overall victor is still announced, with Ocean City remaining undefeated champ over the past several years. But will that impressive winning streak end in 2019? Asbury Park has definitely proved a fierce competitor over the past couple years… You decide!
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.
Connect with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates. Thank you for your continued support!
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium honored the Garden State’s “Favorite Beaches” during the start of a heat wave in Ocean City, NJ on Friday (June 29th). In anticipation of the July Fourth holiday, NJSGC revealed the full list of 2018 winners during a gorgeous beachside ceremony in the beloved Jersey Shore town. Drum roll, please…
OCNJ Daily
OVERALL
1. Ocean City
2. Margate
Monmouth County
1. Asbury Park
2. Sandy Hook – Gateway National Park
3. Spring Lake
4. Belmar
5. Long Branch
Ocean County
1. Seaside Heights
2. Beach Haven
3. Point Pleasant Beach
4. Ship Bottom
5. Island Beach State Park
1. Ocean City
2. Wildwood Crest
3. Cape May
4. Wildwood
5. Sea Isle City
Several thousand voters participated in this year’s survey, with Ocean City snagging the top spot yet again.
First created in 2008, NJSGC initially deemed the poll “New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches” to help encourage stewardship and pride in the state’s different “sand and surf” hotspots while promoting a little healthy (and friendly) competition. But since New Jerseyans are passionate about visiting ALL different parts of our wonderful coastline, starting in 2016, individual victors from NJ’s four coastal counties (Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean) were ultimately recognized.
Starting today, fans get to choose their favorite local “hotspots” from a list of all the amazing beaches throughout NJ’s four coastal counties – Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean. The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium will announce the winners around the July Fourth holiday.
Debuting in 2008 as New Jersey’s “Top Ten Beaches,” the survey was designed to encourage a little “friendly” competition and camaraderie between popular Jersey Shore communities along the sandy coast.
Now in its tenth year, the poll was recently rebranded “Favorite Beaches” to diversify results so that ALL areas of the Garden State’s gorgeous oceanfront were recognized. An “overall” victor is still announced, and Ocean City, NJ has remained undefeated champ over the past decade. But will that impressive winning streak end this year? You decide!
Be sure to share the 2018 “Favorite Beaches” poll with family and friends, and stay tuned for the official results later this summer.
Connect with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates. Thank you for your continued support!
The historic Fort Hancock area of Sandy Hook transformed into a “coastal awareness” wonderland on Sunday (May 20th) to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Ocean Fun Days. The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium hosted over 35 exhibitors and displays, as well as several engaging tours and workshops. Take a look!
Did YOU attend Ocean Fun Days this year? If so, we’d love to hear your thoughts! If interested, please take part in the 2018 Ocean Fun Days survey.
Despite rather unpredictable weather conditions, hundreds of enthusiastic visitors descended upon the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium parade grounds to learn more about marine science, energy conservation, and a diverse array of eco-friendly concerns. Such outgoing optimism even inspired the sun to shine bright throughout the entire event, making for a full afternoon of family fun and unforgettable memories at the Jersey Shore.
To mark such a monumental year, several new activities were offered, including an interactive Rip Currents vs. Sharks trivia game and participatory paddleboarding/kayaking demos. Parts of the NOAA Fisheries Service James J. Howard Lab were open to the public, and tour guides aboard the “History Bus” provided interesting facts and information while transporting attendees to various WWI and WWII sites throughout the Gateway National Park. For the full Ocean Fun Days 2018 program, please go here.
Ocean Fun Days also took place at Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park, NJ on Saturday (May 19th).
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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is looking forward to hosting another eventful Ocean Fun Days in 2019!
This year’s highly-anticipated Ocean Fun Days will be held on Saturday, May 19th at Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park and Sunday, May 20th at New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s (NJSGC) headquarters in the historic Fort Hancock section of Sandy Hook. Both events take place rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. As always, admission and parking are free to all attendees.
View the official 2018 Ocean Fun Days brochure here!
Ocean Fun Days is a weekend of eco-friendly fun the whole family can enjoy. Many popular exhibitors are scheduled to return in 2018, along with new additions. They’ll offer a diverse array of educational displays, nature tours, and interactive programs focused on coastal stewardship and energy conservation. Activities at both locations include seining, coastal crafts, an energy scavenger hunt, youth fishing clinic, face painting, touch tanks, games and exciting giveaways.
New this year at Island Beach State Park, volunteer to help plant dune grass and keep the park clean by collecting marine debris and learning about our oceans’ plastic pollution problem with park staff. Register on-site for workshops including kayak and surfing demonstrations, seining the bay, and shorebird watching.
On Sandy Hook, be sure to see NJSGC’s famous fiddler crab races and take part in Dr. Amy Williams’ thrilling Rip Currents vs. Sharks trivia game to learn about ocean hazards and beach safety. Meet author Don Walsh as he reads from his book “Teach the Beach” and don’t miss Kevin Murray, from Sandy Hook’s Kayak and Sup Rentals on the parade ground as he shares useful tips about paddleboarding and kayaking on the bay. As always, the NOAA Fisheries Service James J. Howard Lab will be open to the public as will historical WWI and WWII sites throughout the park including Battery Gunnison and History House. New this year at Sandy Hook there will also be boats and historic military vehicles on display. Complimentary shuttle bus service is provided from 11 a.m. to 3p.m. to take visitors to all tour sites.
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 visit NJSGC’s official OFD webpage for more information.
Please accept our sincerest appreciation for your past support of Sea Grant and New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. Last year, you reached out and told your elected officials how important Sea Grant is to you, our state, and the nation. You were most definitely heard. Congress soundly rejected the Administration’s proposal to eliminate all Sea Grant programs. This allowed us to continue to work with you on so many crucial issues including stormwater management, coastal resilience, supporting the shore tourism and boating industries, and providing environmental and STEM educational experiences for children, college students, and the public.
The Administration recently released its FY 2019 budget blueprint. Once again, it proposes the termination of the entire Sea Grant program and so, once again, we must ask for your help.
Please reach out to your elected officials as soon as possible to ask for their renewed support of the Sea Grant program. When you write or call your elected representatives, it is important to thank them for their past support and remind them why the Sea Grant program is crucial to New Jersey’s well-being and how our work has benefited you personally.
To help you develop your message, we have included a templatefor possible use in composing your message. To further assist you, this directory includes each of New Jersey’s elected officials, including email addresses for their aides. If you decide to write, please direct your letters to local offices (not DC). If you decide to call or fax, it is best to call both the local and Washington D.C. offices. If you decide to email, please write your message to your elected official, but use the email address provided in the directory for his or her aide. You can also locate your Senators and Representatives at https://callyourrep.co/ or text your home address to 520-200-2223 and you will receive a message containing the names and phone numbers of your representatives.
As an additional guide, please take a look at NJSGC’s year-in-reviewfact sheet developed by NOAA, and feel free to share!
We are forever grateful for your support and it is our pleasure to serve you.
It is widely known as the “Garden State,” but with 130 miles of ocean beaches and 1,792 miles of tidal shoreline, New Jersey could just as easily have been the “Coastal State.” Seventeen of New Jersey’s 21 counties border estuarine or ocean waters. NOAA defines all but one of those counties as coastal, and, under Section 6217 of the Federal 1990 Coastal Zone Management Reauthorization Act, all of New Jersey is considered coastal since all of its watersheds drain to the coast.
New Jersey is home to a number of extraordinary demographics. While it is the fourth smallest state area-wise, it is the most densely populated one in the nation. Like many coastal states, New Jersey is highly dependent upon its coastal resources. In addition to its coastal tourism, boating, and recreational fishing industries, New Jersey is home to nine commercial fishing ports and two of the nation’s largest commercial shipping ports. The value of these industries is enormous, with ports commerce supporting a $50 billion industry, coastal tourism at $28 billion, and total sales revenue in commercial (including aquaculture) and recreational fisheries accounting at nearly $10 billion. More than 1.5 million individuals with per capita incomes among the highest in the nation depend on these coastal-dependent industries for their livelihoods. The coast is also a source of recreation for New Jersey’s nearly 9 million residents and the 91 million-plus potential visitors who live within a four-hour drive.
These competing uses have created intense competition for New Jersey’s coastal lands, waters, and resources. The state’s coastal communities face enormous pressure to balance demand for revenue and growth with protection of marine and coastal resources. In addition, because New Jersey’s coastline is heavily developed, human safety, protection of property, and coastal hazard mitigation are areas of ever-increasing concern. Balancing economic growth, development, and redevelopment, with coastal resource quality and human safety is the critical issue for the future of New Jersey’s coastal communities.
Science-based management and effective public policy are essential to ensuring human health and safety and to preserving New Jersey’s ecological services and economically essential uses. Through this plan, NJSGC renews its commitment to advance knowledge and stewardship for New Jersey’s marine and coastal environments and provide New Jersey’s citizens, stakeholders, and policymakers with a trusted source of sound, unbiased, and evidence-based information and technical assistance to help them make well-informed decisions and take appropriate actions affecting the future of the state’s coastal resources and all who depend on them.
This plan aligns with the National Sea Grant College Program’s 2018- 2021 Strategic Plan and is organized in accordance with its four focus areas: Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, Resilient Communities and Economies, and Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development. The plan also affirms New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s support of the National Sea Grant College Program’s core values and cross-cutting principles while drawing on the unique strengths and abilities of NJSGC to address critical state needs.
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium recently announced its latest round of Sea Grant-funded research projects that are included in the program’s omnibus for 2018-2020.
As previously reported, NJSGC received a record-breaking number of research pre-proposals from a diverse array of institutions in early 2017, all seeking funding to conduct research to respond to the priorities identified in NJSGC’s most recent request for proposals. Of the 43 pre-proposals submitted, NJSGC’s Technical Review Panel (TRP) recommended that 17 move forward to the final round of review. Full proposals were submitted in June and assessed until the end of the year.
During the rigorous review process, priorities for funding such research were determined through a collaborative process that received input from stakeholders, NJSGC’s advisory boards and partners, and several other objective specialists. The final projects were selected based on relevancy and scientific rigor using a competitive, peer-reviewed evaluation. As a result, the select projects chosen for funding reflect local concerns and seek solutions to New Jersey’s most pressing marine and coastal issues. The current cycle covers a wide range of topics, including:
While these projects span a variety of topics, they all contribute towards NJSGC’s mission to provide sound scientific data to promote wise decision-making about New Jersey’s coastal and marine resources. Projects are funded in part through a grant from NOAA/National Sea Grant which NJSGC has successfully managed in the state of New Jersey since 1976.
