About Extension

With 127 miles of shoreline and more than 80% of its counties bordering on salt water, New Jersey is truly a "Coastal State". The nearly $50 billion coastal economy that results from the states shore based assets is vested in:

Ports Commerce $30 + billion
Coastal Tourism $16 + billion
Fisheries & Aquaculture $3 + billion

The New Jersey Sea Grant Extension program (NJSGEP) is the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium's primary vehicle to disseminate the results of scientific inquiry and effect technology transfer of research results to practical uses. The NJSGEP makes a strong commitment to information transfer, service to users, and focuses on outcomes that make meaningful contributions to the public interest. Collectively, Sea Grant Extension is defined as activities that extend relevant coastal and marine information to people. Sea Grant Extension in New Jersey takes many forms. Among them is providing broad and unbiased information to third parties and the public in several venues:

Providing a focal point to bring together the public, industry and the scientific community on marine affairs and to effect technology transfer;

Serving as a forum platform to help air issues and resolve conflicts concerning coastal resources and human development of the coastal zone; and

Facilitating the integration of diverse sets of environmental, social and economic data to support science-based policy formulation and decision-making.

The overreaching goal of the NJSGEP is to impart useful information to people currently employed or interested in fields related to the development and wise use of marine resources - fishermen, coastal engineers, maritime industry personnel, resource managers, decision makers, and the general public. Extension personnel all share education, experience and training. Their expertise include biology, sociology, economics, public policy, and engineering. The ability to get science-based information synthesized and disseminated to users is the core of extension activities. With the advent of ecosystem and integrated approaches to natural resource management, solutions to coastal problems are increasingly complex and often require resolving multiple conflicts. Each professional in the NJSGEP network works directly with coastal communities and their business professionals. Extension staff members are schooled in approaches that can facilitate information transfer and effect change by having individuals, groups and institutions use science-based information in their daily decision-making.

Any questions, please contact Dr. Peter Rowe , Dir, NJSG Ext Program & Associate Director, NJSG College Program.

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