New Jersey boasts some of the most picturesque beaches along the East Coast. If you have a great shot that celebrates and embraces the natural elements of the Garden State’s beautiful coastline, submit the image to NJSGC’s revamped “Favorite Beaches of the Jersey Shore” photo contest! Ultimately, the top twelve photos will be used to create New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s annual desktop calendar.
About the Contest:
New Jersey Sea Grant’s graphic design team will select 24 photos from all entries received up until June 1st. Those finalists will then be posted on the NJSGC website where visitors can vote for their favorite throughout the month leading up to the July Fourth holiday.
New Jersey’s “Favorite Beaches” Photo Contest Submission Guidelines: (If your submission does not meet the following guidelines, it will not be considered)
The email entry must include: name, current hometown, contact information (phone and email) and a title or name for the image.
Photo files must be .JPG format and a minimum of 300 DPI saved at quality setting of “10” or higher and 8 ½” for longest side
Images should be horizontal (landscape)
Entries will be accepted until 9 pm (EST) on June 1st, 2019
Submit only your own original work
Stick to the contest theme: The Natural Elements of New Jersey Beaches. We welcome both traditional and innovative approaches to this subject
Photos should be appropriate for a general audience. Explicit content is expressly prohibited
Post-processing and digital manipulation is not allowed, but minor adjustments to contrast, subtle burning, and dodging are acceptable since some images need minor adjustments due to scanning process or camera settings
All entries become the property of NJSGC and may be used by the organization for other educational or marketing materials (the twelve finalists will receive an additional waiver for signature prior to publication of the calendar)
By submitting your photo to this contest, you grant NJSGC permission to publicly display, reproduce, and use the photographs in all manner and media for any and all purposes, including related promotional purposes, in perpetuity. However, you will retain the copyright to your photo and NJSGC will not sell your photo. You also warrant that the photo is your original work and does not violate the copyright or any other personal or property right of any third party, and that you may be required to and can obtain any and all releases and permissions necessary for its use in the production of our calendar, including releases for any recognizable faces, unless they are incidental to a larger scene (e.g., a group of sunbathers on the beach)
To celebrate NJSGC’s “Favorite Beaches” contest in 2019, we’ll be announcing the Top 12 photos that received the most votes right before the July Fourth holiday. These images will be used to create the 2020 NJSGC downloadable desktop calendar, which will also feature useful coastal facts and information that will help locals and visitors learn more about and appreciate the Jersey Shore. The twelve finalists will receive an additional waiver for signature prior to publication of the calendar.
We’re always working hard to provide fresh and entertaining content on NJSGC’s official Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. Be sure to check out what’s new and get involved by tagging us on social media! Please visit njseagrant.org for further information and updates.
Students skipping through the hallways, birds chirping amongst the trees, seining nets sprawled out to dry on the front porch… It’s finally springtime at New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium!
This pre-summer edition of the COASTodian includes…
The beaches at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park are now open for the season. New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s headquarters, located at Fort Hancock, welcomes visitors Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. If you need a break from the sun, please stop in!
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.
** NOTICE DATE/LOCATION CHANGE: No longer at McLoone’s Asbury Park on Thursday, May 25th.
About: NJSGC’s State of the Shore Media Event is your opportunity to meet with coastal expert Dr. Jon Miller (NJSGC/Stevens Institute of Technology) and NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin to learn how New Jersey’s shorelines fared over the winter and hear their forecast on conditions for our state’s beaches during the 2017 summer season.
RSVP: Please confirm your attendance by emailing Danica Bellini, NJSGC Communications Specialist at dbellini@njseagrant.org.
Voting for New Jersey’s Favorite Beaches is underway for 2017!
From education to research to extension, this year was full of opportunities and accomplishments. You can check out more of what we’ve been up to in our Coastodian archive, but here are just a few of the highlights:
The Jersey Shoreline is a weekly round-up from New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium that scours the Garden State’s press and broadcasters for reports on several key topics related to the consortium’s research and outreach.
This week, a drone pilot captured footage of a young humpback whale feeding near shore in Ocean City and other locations, according to an NJ.com report. But, capturing footage like that may be soon be illegal in the barrier island town. An OCNJ Daily report says that the City Council has approved a ban on drones in the city, voted the Garden State’s Favorite Beach town, in the first of two votes required to pass the ban.
And, she’s back. Mary Lee, the now infamous great white shark, returned to New Jersey waters this week. No one is sure where she might head next. Read all about it at NJ.com.
Here’s the rest of New Jersey’s coastal news:
Coastal Processes & Concerns
Ecosystem Recovery After Dragging Debris, Homes From Waterways — Virginia Rettig, manager of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge noted that her agency removed nearly 2,000 tons of debris left behind from Sandy. The $13 million project overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, involved cleaning up over 30,000 acres of saltmarsh and coastal habitat in areas of Brick, Stafford, Eagleswood, Tuckerton and Lacey. Around 1,900 tons of debris from 22 miles of coastline was removed. Read more at Micromedia Publications.
Join us in stewarding New Jersey’s coastline! As we look ahead to 2026, we take pride in all that we have accomplished together and remain committed to our mission of safeguarding and sustaining our coastal environment. At the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC), we envision resilient shores, healthy marine ecosystems, and informed communities that value and fortify our state’s remarkable natural resources.
Your support is an essential part of this vision. Every contribution strengthens our education, communication, extension, and research programs that keep our coasts and the people who depend on them strong. In 2025, thanks to generous donors like you, we achieved meaningful progress in advancing coastal science and stewardship.
2025 Accomplishments:
The22nd Annual Ocean Fun Days was again a success!
NJSGC supported research focused on cleaner water, resilient coasts, sustainable aquaculture, marine innovation, and community-driven solutions to pollution and climate challenges.
Received thousands of responses across our Jersey Shore Photo and Favorite Beaches Contests.
Apprenticeship in Shellfish Aquaculture Program’s 3rd year generated greater interest in our local shellfish industry.
Conducted an assessment of the condition of boat ramps open to the public.
Over this past spring through fall alone, we hosted 47 diverse Scout Programs, providing young scouts the opportunity to earn the Environmental Science and Oceanography badge.
Engaged thousands of young citizens through field trips, in-school programs, scouts, and summer camp.
With your continued partnership, we can build on this momentum and make an even greater impact in the year ahead. Our work is more needed than ever, and your support is vital to our continued success.
By donating to NJSGC, you contribute directly to initiatives like:
Inspiring future science communicators by continuing our summer Communications Internship.
Fueling coastal innovation by providing additional support to our student researchers through our Omnibus Research Grants.
Empowering high school students through our Apprenticeship in Shellfish Aquaculture Program, providing paid aquaculture training and career-building experiences that support our coastal economy.
Keeping Ocean Fun Days free and open to all, ensuring families can celebrate our coast together.
Opening doors for young explorers by helping launch a summer camp scholarship fund for families experiencing financial hardship.
Expanding our coastal impact by improving communications tools that grow community engagement.
Ways to Give
Your support helps build a future where our communities are informed, our coastlines are stronger, and new generations are inspired to support New Jersey’s shore.
Every contribution, big or small, keeps our mission moving forward through educational opportunities, research, and community programs and events.
Click the button below to make a donation or explore other ways to get involved.
Thank you for being such an important part of our consortium family and for your continued dedication to New Jersey’s coasts. We’re so grateful for your support and can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in 2026.
If you’d prefer to mail your gift, please send it to:
Deborah Meehan Quinn New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium 22 Magruder Road Fort Hancock, NJ 07732
Please click on the “Donate” button above to process your secure on-line payment via PayPal.
Stick to the contest theme: Natural Elements of New Jersey Beaches. We welcome both traditional and innovative approaches to this subject, but please no family portraits.
Photo files must be .JPG or .PNG format and a minimum of 300 DPI saved at a quality setting of “10” or higher and 8 ½” for the longest side.
Images must be horizontal (landscape).
Entries will be accepted until 9 pm EST on June 28th.
Submit only your own original work.
Photos should be appropriate for a general audience. Explicit content is expressly prohibited.
Post-processing and digital manipulation are not allowed, but minor adjustments to contrast, filtration, etc., are acceptable.
Do not include any logos or text on the photo.
By submitting your photo to this contest, you grant NJSGC permission to publicly display, reproduce, and use the photographs in all manner and media for any purposes, including related promotional purposes, in perpetuity. You also warrant that the photo is your original work and does not violate the copyright or any other personal or property right of any third party, and that you may be required to and can obtain any releases and permissions necessary for its use in the production of our calendar, including releases for any recognizable faces, unless they are incidental to a larger scene (e.g., a group of sunbathers on the beach).
Copyright Ownership All photographers submitting work to the Jersey Shore Photo Contest retain full copyright ownership of their submitted photographs.
License Granted to NJSGC By submitting photographs to the contest, the photographer grants the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use the submitted photographs in any format or medium, now known or later developed.
This license includes the unrestricted right to:
Publish and republish
Distribute and redistribute
Display publicly or privately
Archive
Edit or adapt for layout or formatting purposes (without altering the integrity of the image)
Share with NJSGC partners, affiliates, and collaborators
Permitted Uses NJSGC may use the submitted photographs for any purpose related to its mission, including but not limited to:
Social media platforms
Websites and digital media
Printed and digital publications
Educational materials
Promotional and marketing materials
Advertisements and campaigns
Exhibitions and public displays
Grant reports and institutional communications
No Compensation Required Photographers acknowledge that no monetary compensation will be provided for the use of submitted photographs beyond any recognition explicitly stated as part of the contest.
Photographer Rights This license is non-exclusive, meaning photographers remain free to use, publish, license, or sell their photographs elsewhere without restriction.
Stick to the contest theme: Natural Elements of New Jersey Beaches. We welcome both traditional and innovative approaches to this subject, but please no family portraits.
Photo files must be .JPG or .PNG format and a minimum of 300 DPI saved at a quality setting of “10” or higher and 8 ½” for the longest side.
Images must be horizontal (landscape).
Entries will be accepted until 5 pm (EST) on June 27th
Submit only your own original work.
Photos should be appropriate for a general audience. Explicit content is expressly prohibited.
Post-processing and digital manipulation is not allowed, but minor adjustments to contrast, filtration, subtle burning, and dodging are acceptable.
All entries become the property of NJSGC and may be used by the organization for other educational or marketing materials (the twelve finalists will receive an additional waiver for signature prior to publication of the calendar).
Do not include any logos or text on the photo.
By submitting your photo to this contest, you grant NJSGC permission to publicly display, reproduce, and use the photographs in all manner and media for any and all purposes, including related promotional purposes, in perpetuity. You also warrant that the photo is your original work and does not violate the copyright or any other personal or property right of any third party, and that you may be required to and can obtain any and all releases and permissions necessary for its use in the production of our calendar, including releases for any recognizable faces, unless they are incidental to a larger scene (e.g., a group of sunbathers on the beach).
