Keep Off The Dune Signs Now Available

November 30th, 2016

We’ve all seen them: big signs on the beach that warn not to step or walk onto the dunes. But why? This Keep Off Dunes sign, available from New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, seeks to go further than just warn the public to keep off the dunes by explaining the many important benefits of dunes.

While they play an important role in stabilizing beaches and protecting our homes and infrastructure, dunes provide an essential habitat for many plants and animals.  Walking on dunes can destroy the plants that hold them together. Without these plants, wind would erode the sand off the dune, diminishing its effectiveness as a natural barrier. This is why it is so important to stay off the dunes and always use designated dune walkways.

So now if you tell someone they should keep off the dunes, you’ll be empowered to explain why.

New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium also offers a Dune Manual. The Dune Manual answers a variety of questions and provides valuable resources for community groups or towns looking to build or restore the dunes along the beaches in your area.

Municipal officials interested in obtaining these signs can contact the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium at 732-872-1300 ext 10.

 

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New Climate Infographic and More in Coastodian Autumn 2016

October 17th, 2016

From Marine Science Day Camp at Sandy Hook to Pennsylvania Coast Day in Philadelphia, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium staff have been busy across the state and beyond. We hope you enjoy our recap of our action-packed summer and a fall preview in the Autumn 2016 edition of Coastodian.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit njseagrant.org to receive updates on everything exciting at the Consortium.

Not subscribed yet? Learn about our other publications and sign up for our quarterly newsletter here.

Coastal Resiliency at PA Coast Day

October 15th, 2016
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium staff ventured to Pennsylvania Coast Day. Dr. Michael Schwebel, NJSGC/Urban Coast Institute community resilience and climate adaptation specialist, taught visitors about resilience. Visitors utilized shells and other items to protect models of communities against storms in a wave tank. Dr. Peter Rowe, NJSGC’s director of research and extension, taught visitors about an extremely important species, the horseshoe crab.
Visitors used a wave tank and learned about horseshoe crabs. Photos by Michael Schwebel.

Infographic Illustrates Americans’ Opinions on Climate

August 30th, 2016
How do Americans feel about climate change?

A new infographic created by New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute visualizes the beliefs of Americans on this key topic.

Using data collected in a December 2015 Monmouth University poll, Dr. Michael Schwebel, community resilience and climate adaptation specialist for New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and Urban Coast Institute, developed this infographic to bring the data to life.

According to the poll, 7 in 10 Americans believe that the world’s climate is undergoing a change leading to more extreme weather patterns and sea level rise. A majority of participants were convinced that climate change would impact both coastal and inland communities but had differing opinions on the extent of the human impact of climate change.

The infographic also provides information on how New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is working to better understand and communicate the impacts of climate change in coastal and inland communities. The infographic, which was adapted from a template provided by Delaware Sea Grant, can be viewed and downloaded at njseagrant.org/climateinfograph.

To view the complete poll, visit www.monmouth.edu/2015climatepoll.

If you are interested in a receiving hard copies of the poster, please contact Dr. Michael Schwebel at [email protected]. Click here to download the PDF or the high resolution version here.

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Put Yourself in the Climate Hot Seat

May 31st, 2016

Take a spin at the Climate Hazards Game with Dr. Michael Schwebel on June 5. Learn firsthand about the decision processes that emergency planners and public officials now face.

Schwebel,  Community Resilience and Climate Adaptation Specialist at the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute, developed the game as a way to educate audiences of all ages about pressing threats coastal communities face and steps that can be taken to deal with them. Players spin wheels that show the likelihood of various coastal hazards taking place and are challenged to allocate a limited amount of funding to deal with each of them.

Dr. Schwebel’s presentation will take place  on June 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m at the Eatontown Community Center at 58 Broad Street, Eatontown, N.J.

Take this opportunity to learn the basics about climate change and coastal resiliency and answer the question of the difference between weather and climate. You will also learn what it means to choose eco or ego solutions.

No reservations are needed and the event is recommended for ages 10 and up. Light refreshments will be served.

The event is sponsored by the Eatontown Environmental Commission. For more information, email [email protected] or call Sara at 732-890-6772.

2016 State of the Shore Report

May 31st, 2016

Despite the winter storms that worked their way through New Jersey this year, the state’s beaches are ready for the summer influx of beachgoers.

Last week New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium hosted its 14th Annual State of the Shore media event. Each year, this press conference features Dr. Jon Miller’s State of the Shore report — an update on the condition of the state’s beaches. Dr. Miller is New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s coastal processes specialist and a research associate professor at Stevens Institute of Technology. This report has been an invaluable tool for those interested in the coast, especially in the years after Sandy.

While New Jersey was spared from a direct hit from a storm such as Sandy, the winter storms that impacted the state did leave their mark, leaving behind narrowed beaches. However, beaches are in a rebuilding mode and are expected to reach their typical width by mid to late summer. Read the full State of the Shore report here.

Miller reported that conditions beneath the waves are important as well. The sand that winter storms Jonas and Joaquin moved off the beaches in many areas have now taken the form of sand bars. The flow of water between these sand bars and the shore could result in rip currents. Dr. Miller cautioned that beachgoers should be extra alert this year for this beach hazard. Read more about rip currents here.

NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin shared the agenda with Miller and assured that the water quality in New Jersey is excellent and launched their new interactive public access map.

The Commissioner may have summed it up best when he said New Jersey would not be the same without the Jersey Shore. With more than 2900 access points, New Jerseyans have their pick of where they can enjoy the coast.

Check out NJDEP’s new public access map here.

2016 Fish and Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulation cards are in

May 25th, 2016

The 2016 Fish and Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulation cards are in. The cards are provided free of charge by New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The cards provide information on the correct minimum size, possession limits and season of catch. The laminated cards are convenient to bring on any fishing outing, complete with built-in ruler measure your catch and make sure they are above the minimum size. Cards are distributed to the public by New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium.

Fish are measured from tip of snout to tip of tail, with the exception of black sea bass and sharks. No species of fish with a minimum size limits listed on the card can be filleted or cleaned at sea.

The cards also serve as a reminder to register to fish. It is free and can be done at SaltwaterRegistry.nj.gov.

For more information on what catch is safe to eat, visit FishSmartEatSmartNJ.org.

Visit NJFishandWildlife.com or njseagrant.org for more resources.

Contact: Mike Danko[email protected]

New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium Awards Two Young Scientists at Monmouth Junior Science Symposium

May 5th, 2016

New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium presented awards to two students at the 54th Annual Monmouth Junior Science Symposium. The symposium took place March 17 and 18 at Monmouth University with the goal to promote research and experimentation in the sciences, engineering and mathematics at the high school level. Another important component is to recognize these students for outstanding achievement.

“I was highly  impressed with the caliber of research and the motivation of these young scientists,” notes Claire Antonucci, executive director of New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium.  It was an honor to recognize their hard work with these two awards.”

Claire Antonucci with winner of MJSS      Claire Antonucci with winner of MJSS

Read More …

New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium Announces Latest Round of Sea Grant-Funded Research Projects

May 3rd, 2016

New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium has announced its latest round of Sea Grant-funded research projects. Projects were selected from dozens of proposals received in response to a request for proposals (RFP) issued by NJSGC in December 2014.

The RFP specified research priorities that were determined through a collaborative process that received input from stakeholders, NJSGC’s advisory boards and partners, and the public. The final projects were selected based on relevancy and scientific rigor using a competitive, peer-reviewed process. As a result, funded projects 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 from communicating about flood risk to new species development for New Jersey’s shellfish farmers.

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.  NJSGC’s next research RFP will be issued in December 2016.

Descriptions of each project can be found at njseagrant.org/research/research-projects.

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