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.
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.
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:
Ocean City
Brigantine
Margate
Monmouth:
Asbury Park
Spring Lake
Sandy Hook – Gateway National Park
Belmar
Ocean Grove
Ocean:
Seaside Heights
Beach Haven
Point Pleasant Beach
Island Beach State Park
Ship Bottom
Atlantic:
Brigantine
Margate
Atlantic City
Longport
Ventnor
Cape May:
Ocean City
Sea Isle City
Wildwood Crest
Cape May
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.
