New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) has received its FY 2026 funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), supporting continued efforts to address New Jersey’s coastal challenges through research, education, workforce development, and community partnerships.
For more than 50 years, NJSGC has worked to connect science with the needs of New Jersey’s coastal communities. This federal investment will help advance projects and programs that strengthen coastal resilience, support marine industries, and promote healthy and sustainable coastal ecosystems.
Supporting New Jersey’s Coastal Communities
NJSGC’s work puts research and expertise into action to help communities across the state. FY 2026 funding will support efforts focused on:
Coastal resilience: Advancing strategies and solutions that help communities prepare for and respond to coastal hazards and changing conditions.
Living shorelines and green infrastructure: Supporting nature-based and cost-effective approaches to managing stormwater and protecting coastal areas.
Aquaculture and workforce development: Strengthening New Jersey’s marine industries and creating opportunities for workforce training and career development.
Clean Vessel Act pump-out programs: Supporting efforts to reduce marine pollution and protect New Jersey’s waterways.
Research and education: Connecting researchers, educators, students, and communities to advance understanding and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal resources.
Congressional Support for NJSGC
Following the announcement of NJSGC’s FY 2026 funding, members of New Jersey’s Congressional Delegation shared their support for the Consortium and its work.
U.S. Senator Cory Booker:
“For more than 50 years, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium has brought together researchers, educators, and community partners to successfully tackle our state’s coastal challenges, advance marine science, and enhance New Jerseyans’ scientific literacy. I’m proud to have helped secure funding that will support their impactful work to protect New Jersey’s shorelines and enhance coastal resiliency, grow our workforce, and create cost-effective green infrastructure for communities across the state.”
U.S. Senator Andy Kim:
“New Jersey’s coastal communities are on the frontlines of increasingly frequent and severe storms, making the need to strengthen our resilience more urgent than ever. Organizations like NJSGC continue to step up to protect the Jersey Shore and the families who call it home. This federal investment will build on that work, strengthening our coastline and making our communities more resilient for generations to come.”
U.S. Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01):
“I’m pleased to hear that the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium was able to secure federal funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Our coastlines and waterways serve not only as drivers of economic growth, but also as scenic spaces for recreation and to enjoy our state’s natural beauty. The work of the Sea Grant Consortium is critical in keeping these spaces safe and healthy for generations to come, and I look forward to standing alongside them in the future.”
U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-06):
“This is great news and I have been pushing for them to get their new funding for this fiscal year. This new federal funding through NOAA builds on the investments I fought to secure delivering resources to strengthen living shorelines, reduce marine debris, and prepare the Jersey Shore for the growing impacts of climate change. Through the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, this work takes shape in real ways: supporting clean vessel pump-out programs, strengthening aquaculture and shellfish workforce development, and advancing practical stormwater solutions like rain gardens and green infrastructure. I have long pushed for these investments because they support New Jersey’s coastal ecosystems, sustain our economy, and preserve our shore for generations to come.”
U.S. Representative Nellie Pou (NJ-09):
“This fresh federal funding will help the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium strengthen coastal resilience, support Clean Vessel Act pump-out programs, as well as expand workforce development, and implement cost effective stormwater management solutions. I am proud to support the work the NJSGC is doing and continue advocating for increased federal and state partnerships that protect our coasts and puts federal money back in our communities.”
U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver (NJ-10):
“The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium plays a vital role in protecting our coast, strengthening our marine ecosystems, and building a more resilient New Jersey. Investing in healthy oceans, disaster preparedness, sustainability, research, and education is an investment in the future of our state. I am thrilled that NJSCG has received the funding needed to continue this important work.”
U.S. Representative Analilia Mejia (NJ-11):
“The Shore is an integral part of our Jersey identity, environment, and economy. This federal funding gives the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium the resources it needs to protect our waterways, strengthen our coastline’s resilience, and support the communities and wildlife that depend on them. In Congress, I’ll keep pushing for federal investments that protect our state’s natural beauty and ensure generations of New Jerseyans can continue to enjoy it.”
Continuing Our Impact
NJSGC is thankful to New Jersey’s Congressional Delegation for their continued support and recognition of the importance of Sea Grant’s work.
This FY 2026 funding will help NJSGC continue putting science into action, working alongside researchers, educators, businesses, government leaders, and communities to build a stronger, more resilient coastal New Jersey.
The Jersey Shore never runs out of incredible views, and this year’s photo contest submissions proved it once again!
We were blown away by the talent, creativity, and variety of photos submitted to our annual Jersey Shore Photo Contest. From iconic shorelines to hidden gems, photographers captured the beauty and character of New Jersey’s coast in so many unique ways.
After narrowing down the entries to just 25 finalists, we turned it over to the public to select the 12 winning photographs. With more than 1,300 votes cast, the public helped choose the final 12 photos to be featured in NJSGC’s 2027 Photo Calendar!
The desktop version of the calendar will be available at njseagrant.org in the coming months. Until then, take a look at this year’s winning photographs below, presented in no particular order.
Milky Way Twilight LBI, Mike Carroll
Defender Of The Coast, Meghan Fisher
A Welcome Visitor, Emilee Carton
Fox Encounter, Francisco Mejias
Birds Eye View, Kate Watt
The Gathering Place, Agnes Knoll
Treasure Island, Edward Volpe
Sunset Flyover, Navin Bogg
Reaping the Fruits of Labor, Cooper Pollack
Can’t Stop the Rain, Caroline Behnke
Sunrise Glow, Thomas Doremus
Galactic Buoy, Ujjwal Datta
Congratulations to all 12 winners, and thank you to everyone who shared their view of the Jersey Shore with us!
The votes are in! New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is excited to announce the winners of this year’s Favorite Beaches Contest. Thank you to everyone who voted and showed love for their favorite shore spots. Here are your county-by-county winners, along with the overall champion:
On Wednesday, July 29, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium held its annual Favorite Beaches Contest Ceremony in Ocean City, New Jersey. Ocean City proudly accepted its awards for Overall Favorite Beach and Cape May County Winner.
A special thank you to the City of Ocean City for graciously hosting the event at its Music Pier!
From left to right: Patrick McMahon (President, Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce), Jay A. Gillian (City of Ocean City Mayor), Dr. Peter M. Rowe (NJSGC Executive Director), Martin and Mollie Mollusk (Ocean City Mascots), Michele Gillian (Executive Director, Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce), Karen Mahar (Director, Ocean City Free Public Library), Karolina Leleniewski (NJSGC Communications Intern), and Rory Joyce (NJSGC Graphic Specialist).
The submissions have been collected, and it is now time for YOU to decide the top photos to win the 2026 Jersey Shore Photo Contest. The winners will be featured in the NJSGC’s 2027 Desktop Calendar.
The Jersey Shore is calling, and your vote can help crown New Jersey’s Favorite Beach of 2026.
From the lively boardwalks of Cape May to the scenic stretches of Monmouth, Ocean, and Atlantic counties, every beach has its own unique charm. Now’s your chance to show some love for your favorite coastal destination and help decide which beach takes the top spot.
First launched in 2008 as New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches, the annual contest was created to celebrate the communities, culture, and natural beauty that make the Jersey Shore so special. Following Hurricane Sandy, the program evolved into Favorite Beaches, recognizing and highlighting the resilience, diversity, and appeal of beaches all along New Jersey’s coastline—from beloved family destinations to hidden coastal treasures.
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium will announce the winners in mid-July. Until then, every vote counts.
Help us celebrate the places that make summer at the Shore unforgettable. Share the poll with friends, family, neighbors, and fellow beach lovers, and encourage them to cast their votes, too.
The Jersey Shore is waking up as boardwalks fill with the scent of fries and funnel cake, lifeguard stands line the beach, and bikes roll through coastal towns. After a winter that brought only limited storm impacts to much of the coastline, New Jersey’s beaches are entering the 2026 season in strong shape, with beach nourishment and dune protection projects continuing to strengthen vulnerable areas. While forecasters predict a near-to-slightly below-average Atlantic hurricane season, coastal experts continue to stress the importance of staying informed and prepared throughout the summer months. Remember to swim safely; keep an eye out for rip currents and always follow lifeguard instructions. For now, though, the Shore is ready, and millions of residents and visitors are gearing up for another season of memories along New Jersey’s coast.
(From right to left) Nick Angarone (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection), Dr. Jon K. Miller (New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium & Stevens Institute of Technology), Dr. Peter M. Rowe (New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium), Dr. Josh Kohut (Rutgers University), Dr. Reza Marsooli (Stevens Institute of Technology), and Dr. Philip Orton (Stevens Institute of Technology).
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.
Sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the National Sea Grant College Program, this prestigious, paid one-year fellowship offers a unique opportunity for graduate and post-graduate students interested in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and the national policy decisions that impact them.
Selected fellows are placed in legislative or executive branch offices in the Washington, D.C. area, where they gain hands-on experience in federal policy, contribute scientific expertise to decision-making, and build professional skills in communication, leadership, and science policy. Alumni of the program have gone on to successful careers across government, academia, nonprofit organizations, and private industry.
Application Deadline: June 3, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)
To support prospective applicants, New Jersey Sea Grant will host a virtual Q&A session onApril 20 from 1:00–3:00 PM ET. This session will provide an overview of the application process, requirements, and tips for success. In the meantime, please refer to the attached materials for additional guidance.
If you are interested in attending the Q&A session, please email Digital Communications Associate Yazemin Yilmaz (yyilmaz@njseagrant.org) and CC Executive Director Dr. Peter Rowe (prowe@njseagrant.org) to reserve your spot.
For general questions about the application process, please contact Dr. Peter Rowe directly.
We encourage you to share this opportunity with eligible students and colleagues who may be interested in advancing their careers in marine policy.
Completed applications must be submitted by June 3, 2026 (5:00 PM ET) via email to Dr. Peter Rowe (prowe@njseagrant.org) and Kathy Elderhorst, Program Associate (kelderhorst@njseagrant.org).
In October, LauraGeronimo traveled in Florida. Her recent StoryMap, titled “Exploring Florida’s Resilience Networks,” provides an insightful look into how communities from the Keys to Tampa Bay are enhancing marine and coastal resilience.
The beginning of Laura’s StoryMap.
The StoryMap explores innovative initiatives such as living shorelines, mangrove restoration, and community-driven partnerships aimed at reducing the impacts of environmental change. Through interactive mapping and engaging visuals, Laura demonstrates how science, policy, and local action strengthen coastal ecosystems and communities.
Laura at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
This project represents the Knauss Fellowship: bridging science and policy to tackle urgent environmental challenges while fostering meaningful connections. Explore the full StoryMap here.
