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Support the Consortium

The New Year is just around the corner. Can we count on you to support our mission to care for New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment?

DONATE NOW

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.
  • Host major public outreach events, including: Ocean Fun DaysState of the Shore, NJSGC’s annual Favorite Beaches poll/ceremony, and our revamped “Jersey Shore” photo contest.
  • 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 Announces “Favorite Beaches” for 2020

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:

  1. Brigantine
  2. Atlantic City
  3. Margate

Cody Molowski, “Autumn At Sunset Beach” (Cape May)

Cape May County:

  1. Cape May
  2. The Wildwoods
  3. Ocean City

Linda Griffiths, “Late August Evening” (Sandy Hook)

Monmouth County:

  1. Asbury Park
  2. Bradley Beach
  3. Belmar / Manasquan / Sandy Hook – Gateway National Recreation Area (three-way tie)

Patrick Welsh, “Lonely Dunes” (Point Pleasant Beach)

Ocean County:

  1. Point Pleasant Beach
  2. Lavallette
  3. Island Beach State Park

Top overall:

  1. Brigantine
  2. Cape May
  3. 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 ‘COASTodian’ Newsletter Now Available (Spring 2020)

What you need to know heading into the Summer Season with NJSGC… view the latest edition of the “COASTodian” here.

SPOTLIGHT

Favorite Beaches survey
State of the Shore update
Jersey Shore photo contest
Virtual “Sharks vs. Rip Currents”
Ocean Fun Days update
Knauss Fellow diaries
Seabeach Amaranth feature
Jersey Shore Junior Science Symposium follow-up
#SeaCreaturesInYourNeighborhood campaign

Read more here.

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)

Support the Consortium

The New Year is just around the corner. Can we count on you to support our mission to steward New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment?

 

In 2022-2023, contributions from important donors like you allowed us to:

  • Provided nearly 20,000 schoolchildren from over 30 different legislative districts the opportunity to experience unique hands-on experiential learning through our robust education programs.
  • Dispersed nearly 80,000 NJ Fish and Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulation cards and posters to over 280 marinas and bait shops throughout the State, from over 24 different legislative districts.
  • Influenced more than 140 marinas to have operating pumpout stations (including eight pumpout boats) thanks to NJSGC’s involvement with the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Program.
  • Hosted major public outreach events, including: Ocean Fun DaysState of the Shore, NJSGC’s annual Favorite Beaches ceremony, and our popular “Jersey Shore” photo contest.
  • Created new professional development opportunities for both students and educators including Communications and Extension Internships, an Shellfish Aquaculture Student Apprenticeship Program, and Professional Development Workshops.

We remain steadfast in our dedication to serving as a source of unbiased coastal education, research, and outreach in New Jersey. Here are just a few goals that  your donations will help us reach:  

  • Education for a Sustainable Future: Equip our students with the tools to explore and understand the impact of microplastics on our oceans with the Microplastic Toolkit and unleash the wonders of microscopic exploration in our classrooms. Your contribution will empower the next generation of environmental stewards, fostering a deep connection to our planet. 
  • Innovative Research: Fund New Jersey’s scientists that supports clean water, resilient shorelines, healthy fisheries, and a climate-ready New Jersey;
  • Infrastructure Improvement Projects: Our historic office, standing for a century, is a symbol of resilience. However, time has taken its toll. Your support will breathe new life into this space, ensuring it remains a center of community engagement, collaboration, and growth for generations to come.
  • ​​New Picnic Tables for Meeting and Learning: We’re excited to embark on a project that will transform our outdoor spaces into dynamic hubs for meetings, workshops, and collaborative learning.

With your support, we can continue to work hard 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 2023, please scan the code below or visit our website. If mail is preferred, please mail your contribution 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.

2013 New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches Survey Sets Aside Competitive Focus to Support Beach Tourism

(Sandy Hook, NJ) — Despite the devastating blows Sandy dealt many beach communities last fall, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) is coordinating a cooperative effort among regional tourism leaders that will put a non-competitive focus on its popular, annual New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches project to help promote Shore tourism for the summer of 2013.

In 2008, the New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches Survey was created by NJSGC and the Richard Stockton College Coastal Research Center to encourage stewardship and pride in the state’s beaches while promoting a little healthy competition among New Jersey’s favorite beach towns. The voting traditionally opens up on the New Jersey Top Ten beaches web site in mid- to late February and continues through the end of April. The results of the survey are announced each year just before Memorial Day weekend at the NJSGC’s State of the Shore Media Event, a premier gathering of coastal experts, State officials, and members of the news media, to kick off the Jersey Shore summer.

Read More …

NJ’s 2017 ‘Favorite Beaches’ Announced at Awards Ceremony in Ocean City

In honor of the July 4th holiday weekend, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium announced the official winners of this year’s ‘Favorite Beaches’ poll during a gorgeous beachside ceremony held at Music Pier in Ocean City on Thursday, June 29.  This popular shore town remains defending overall champion, snagging more than half the votes (which totaled 7,200).

The survey was first created in 2008 and initially deemed “New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches,” to help encourage stewardship and pride in the state’s beaches while promoting a little healthy (and friendly) competition between NJ’s beloved beach towns. The contest has since become a highlight of the Garden State’s summer festivities.

But over the years we’ve come to realize something at NJSGC — New Jerseyans are passionate about visiting ALL different sand and surf hotspots throughout the state! So, in order to better recognize every part of our wonderful coastline, as of 2016 we picked individual victors from all  four coastal counties (while still naming a top overall winner).

Voting really started to heat-up in June 2017. So without further delay, here is the official breakdown!

Overall:

  1. Ocean City
  2. Brigantine
  3. Margate

Monmouth:

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

Ocean:

  1. Seaside Heights
  2. Beach Haven
  3. Point Pleasant Beach
  4. Island Beach State Park
  5. Ship Bottom

Atlantic:

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

Cape May:

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

Thank you again for your participation, and stay tuned for more details about next year! Please also visit NJSGC’s official Facebook and Instragram.

In The News:

nj.com

Cape May County Herald

94.3 ‘The Point’

Patch.com (Ocean City)

CBS Philadelphia

Press of Atlantic City

newsworks.org

OCNJ Daily

phillyvoice.com

2016 New Jersey’s Favorite Beach Poll Results Announced

If it is summertime, you can be pretty sure that most New Jersey residents have plans to make it to the beach. And with so many miles of wonderful coastline, why wouldn’t they? Whether it’s for a day trip or a whole week, New Jersey beaches are prime locations for summer fun in our great outdoors.

This poll was created in 2008 as the New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches Survey to encourage stewardship and pride in the state’s beaches while promoting a little healthy competition between New Jersey’s favorite beach towns. It is a way to celebrate everything there is to love about the Jersey Shore. We’ve conducted this poll since 2008 to call attention to New Jersey’s amazing beaches. Over time we’ve learned a thing or two — mostly that New Jerseyans are passionate about all the beaches up and down our coast. So, in order to better recognize every inch of our wonderful coastline, this year we will recognize a number one beach in each of New Jersey’s four coastal counties as well as a favorite beach overall.

This year after nearly 10,000 votes cast in a public poll, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium revealed the winners in Ocean City, the defending champion of the poll.

In the news

Read More …