NY Coastlines—New York Sea Grant (NYSG)'s flagship publication—and its news archive, Currents, highlight news, events and other activities from our coastal program's various research, extension and education endeavors throughout New York's marine and Great Lakes waters
Spring 2021
NY Coastlines / Currents; Vol. 49, No. 2 / Vol. 9, No. 2
NYSG Director's Letter: Becky Shuford
Welcome Spring! It is that time of year again when trees and flowers come back to life, wildlife is celebrating, and we at New York Sea Grant (NYSG) have the opportunity to share with you annual highlights of our diverse stakeholder-driven programming across the State. This of course has been a year unlike any other, in so many ways. NYSG staff, program partners, and funded researchers persevered, innovated, and achieved so much. Summaries of many of the collaborative accomplishments working with and for New York’s coastal communities are shared here.
Of note, last summer’s nine-week #BEachSAFEly social media campaign just received a Folio Award for best “Social Media Public Awareness Campaign” from the Fair Media Council. Congratulations to NYSG Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist Kathleen Fallon and Communications Manager Paul Focazio, as well as our colleagues at the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and graphic artist Joel Davenport who partnered with us in this project.
Also in this volume are several exciting opportunities that we think will be of interest:
• NYSG has just posted a position for an Ocean and Coastal Resource Specialist – please see the announcement and share far and wide with candidates you think would be interested. Applications are due by May 21st!
• The Northeast Sea Grant Consortium, the regional network of state Sea Grant programs in the NE including NY, in partnership with NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the U.S. Department of Energy, have released an exciting RFP focused on supporting social science and technology research projects that will help understand the intersections of offshore renewable energy with fishing and coastal communities. Pre-proposals are due May 14th.
• A new, free, shellfish farming e-course developed in cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County and NOAA is now available! See below to learn more, and for guidance on how to register.
As always, many other items of interest are within – the above are just some teasers! Read on and enjoy.
— Becky Shuford, NYSG's Director
What’s Trending
Sea Grant's COVID-19-Inspired #BEachSAFEly Wins "Best Public Awareness Campaign" Folio Award
#BEachSAFEly, a summer-long campaign focused on standard “ocean hazards” tips as well as general safety and health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, marks the third time in eight years that the Fair Media Council has bestowed the honor to Sea Grant in this social media category.
In 2020, Sea Grant was recognized for its "Currents Clips" limited video series and in 2014 it was applauded for its collection of science-based social media posts released before, during, and after Superstorm Sandy. Read on >>
Job Announcement
NYSG's Ocean and Coastal Resource Specialist will serve as a primary resource on human impacts on ocean and coastal ecosystems, developing programming related to offshore renewable energy development (primary) as well as ocean acidification, marine debris, water quality and/or other issues as appropriate. Apply by May 21st.
Shellfish E-Course
Interested in learning the steps involved with establishing a shellfish farming business venture in New York?
NYSG, along with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, invite you to enroll in a free e-course highlighting leasing options, permitting, basic farm operations/management. | PDF
LI Fishermen Survey
Suffolk County Commercial Fishermen: Help us develop an updated profile of the industry by completing an anonymous fishing survey.
Info will be used to draft an annual fisheries report highlighting the needs of local fishermen and characterizing the harvesting and processing capacity of the industry, support businesses, and people engaged in this livelihood. Learn More >>
Research: Long Island Sound Study
Eight research projects were recently funded under the EPA-supported Long Island Sound Study Research Grant Program. Over $2.8 million of federal funding was awarded to study various facets of the Sound's water chemistry, habitat quality and other topics.
Findings for these two year projects, which are now underway, may potentially yield more effective management decisions. Read on >>
How Sea Grant Benefits You
This year marks 50 years of New York Sea Grant (NYSG) working with coastal residents, communities, businesses and teachers, among others, along New York's marine, Great Lakes and Hudson River coasts.
Throughout the spring and summer we've shared with you our annual review of impactful NYSG programming and research. Included were over two dozen summaries of select work conducted by our program's extension specialists and funded researchers to develop and provide stakeholder-driven, science-based information, tools, and other resources to support local communities, businesses, and individuals achieve objectives related to coastal community, environmental, and economic resilience and sustainability. Read on >>
Also, check out our visually-driven story map version of this past year’s successes.
On the national front, check out the by-the-numbers one-pager "Sea Grant: A Smart Investment in Our Economy" or search impacts of Sea Grant's work, browse current projects, and explore any of the Sea Grant Colleges at seagrant.noaa.gov/About-Sea-Grant.
Research: 2020 Results & Impacts
View summaries for several recently-completed NYSG-funded investigations that address a variety of action-oriented, stakeholder-driven research topics including: coastal ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal communities. Read on >>
Extension
Aquaculture Specialist
NYSG welcomes its first Aquaculture Specialist to develop an extension program in support of the aquaculture industry. Read on >>
Seafood Marketing
NYSG has drafted 12 novel resource guides to help seafood producers navigate the regulatory framework surrounding NYS seafood production, processing, and sales. Read on >>
Boating Industry
NYSG developed new Clean & Safe boating resources for the for-hire boating industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on >>
#BEachSAFEly
NYSG partnered with New Jersey Sea Grant to develop a successful social media campaign to encourage beachgoers to be safe and observe COVID-19 regulations. Read on >>
Seafood Summit
Active communication and synergistic collaborations can enhance resilience and growth in the seafood sector through identification and collective pursuit of common goals. Read on >>
Law & Policy Fellows
NYSG led the creation of a NY Coastal Resilience Law and Policy Program, providing communities with legal info to help increase local resilience while enhancing the educational experience of law students. Read on >>
Great Lakes Small Grants
NYSG manages the New York Great Lakes Basin Small Grants Program to the benefit of diverse coastal communities. Read on >>
Marine Small Grants
NYSG's administrative capabilities deliver marine conservation education, public awareness, and professional development to coastal communities. Read on >>
Virtual Shoreline Visits
NYSG responds to shoreline erosion during a pandemic by designing and implementing an online advisory service. Read on >>
Lake Ontario Mapping
The interactive NYSG Lake Ontario Flood Risk Mapping Tool empowers local leaders’ flood contingency planning. Read on >>
Environmental Justice
NYSG has developed an online mapping tools guide that will provide data-driven support for community interest in environmental justice. Read on >>
NYC Flood Watch
There is no substitute for first-hand stories and on-the-ground experiences for understanding the impacts of coastal flooding. Read on >>
Harmful Algal Blooms
Public input can help waterfront managers to improve their marine harmful algal blooms response and better leverage resources. Read on >>
Rip Currents
NYSG partnered with MARACOOS to create a Long Island-based network for rip current science and safety professionals. Read on >>
Education
Great Lakes Educators
NYSG launched virtual professional development opportunities for teachers in the Great Lakes region in 2020. Read on >>
Coastal Habitat Priorities
NYSG and partners gathered experts from New York and Connecticut to inform Long Island Sound watershed conservation action planning for the next five years. Read on >>
Coastal Marshes
NYSG adapted to the virtual environment to provide research-based educational resources on climate change. Read on >>
Other NYSG Program News
NYC Community Flood Watch Story Map
In New York City, residents and scientists are working together to understand risk, capture flooding impacts, and brainstorm solutions. The Community Flood Watch Project, aka "Flood Watch," began as a way to gather and share standardized information about street-level flooding in New York City.
Flood Watch is coordinated by NYSG in partnership with the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, with support from the Mayor's Office of Resiliency. Work is done in partnership with community-based organizations throughout Jamaica Bay, Coney Island and the Bronx. Learn More >>
Sea Grant Shares "Freedom Seekers" Curriculum with Great Lakes Teachers
New lessons draw important connections among the Great Lakes, environmental literacy, and the Freedom Seekers who used their skills as environmentalists and naturalists to navigate the Underground Railroad.
These justice-oriented curriculum materials were developed collaboratively by NYSG, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Michigan Sea Grant and the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant/Water Resources Institutes. Read on >>
Partner News
Long Island Sound Futures Fund
The Long Island Sound Futures Fund is seeking proposals (deadline: Thursday, May 27th, 11:59 pm ET) to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound with potential funding of $5 million or more for grants in 2021. The program is managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Long Island Sound Study, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
This year, the Futures Fund marks 15 years of successful grant-making to restore and protect Long Island Sound.
Request for Bids — LISS Strategic Communications Plan
Long Island Sound Study (LISS) is seeking bids for a Strategic Communications Plan (deadline: May 7th, 12 pm ET). Established in 1985, LISS is a federally authorized and funded partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the states of Connecticut and New York, and multiple federal, state and local agencies, academic institutions, environmental groups, and businesses.
On YouTube: "The Living Shoreline"
Creating a "living shoreline" is critical to stabilizing erosion of our beaches and waterfront, an all-too-common occurrence due to the impact of climate change.
Watch the NYSG-moderated webinar to hear from experts (Peconic Estuary Partnership; Cornell Cooperative Extension; Peconic Land Trust) who share their stories of successful partnership to secure several local beaches. Read on >>
GLRC Celebrates 35 Years of Great Lakes Science
Highlights of Great Lakes Research Consortium's report include a handful of small grants — on topics such as contaminants of emerging concern and harmful algal blooms — that have had big impacts. Read on >>
NYSDEC's New Great Lakes Progress Report
People and communities are benefiting from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s collaborative projects to restore New York's Great Lakes resources, including a number of them with NYSG on topics such as coastal resiliency, stewardship, and education. Read on >>
Regional News
Apply: Northeast Sea Grant Consortium Offshore Renewable Energy RFP
The Northeast Sea Grant Consortium, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office and Water Power Technologies Office, is investing $1M+ for research to explore the co-existence of ocean renewable energy with fishing and coastal communities. Pre-proposals due May 14th by 5pm ET; Full Proposals due July 16th by 5pm ET, both via MIT Sea Grant portal, eSeaGrant. Read on >>
Join In: Great Lakes Bioblitz
Minnesota Sea Grant and the Center for Great Lakes Literacy are hosting the 2021 Sea Grant Great Lakes BioBlitz, which runs from April 22nd — May 20th. A BioBlitz is about recognizing and recording as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. Learn More >>
American Lobster Research Story Map
Researchers participating in the National Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative pulled together the latest science explaining how warming waters in the Gulf of Maine impact lobsters at all life stages — from egg to adult.
The Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative aims to increase the American lobster industry’s resilience to the biological, economic, and social impacts of ecosystem change in the Northeast. Learn More >>
National News
New "State of Sea Grant" Report
Just as it has done in response to hurricanes, oil spills, and other environmental and economic challenges, Sea Grant in 2020 learned how to draw from past experiences to use its strengths to support its constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on >>
NOAA’s Hurricane Outlook 2021
Based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's most recent 30-year climate record, an ‘average’ Atlantic hurricane season will reflect more storms.
Starting with this year’s hurricane season outlooks, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center will use 1991-2020 as the new 30-year period of record. As seen in the graphic above, the updated averages for the Atlantic hurricane season have increased with 14 named storms and 7 hurricanes. The average for major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5) remains unchanged at 3. The previous Atlantic storm averages, based on the period from 1981 to 2010, were 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.
NOAA will issue its initial seasonal outlook for the 2021 hurricane season in late May. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. Learn More >>
NOAA NWS’s Spring Safety Campaign
Be prepared for seasonal weather hazards with tips from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. National Weather Service's Spring Safety campaign. This season’s theme is “Know Your Safe Place.” English | Spanish
Community Resilience from Start to Finish
Sea Grant programs are helping coastal communities increase their resilience to impacts of changing conditions at every step of the way. One example included are NYSG's online, interactive Lake Ontario Inundation Mapping Tools, which overlay different water levels to bring awareness to Lake Ontario community leaders, waterfront residents and business owners about infrastructure and services that may be at risk. Users can see potential flood risk predictions at the parcel-level for Lake Ontario and its embayments, enhancing local flood preparedness planning and response. Learn More >>
Also, check out National Sea Grant's visually-driven story map version. Learn More >>
NYSG's Currents News Archives (Vol. 9, No. 2)
Keep tabs on NYSG's news in between issues of NY Coastlines / Currents via our Web site (www.nyseagrant.org) and blog (www.nyseagrant.org/blog).
Here's a sampling of other stories that have made waves these past few months on our social media platforms (www.facebook.com/nyseagrant, www.twitter.com/nyseagrant, www.instagram.com/newyorkseagrant, www.youtube.com/nyseagrant) and via our site's News (www.nyseagrant.org/currents) and topic-based News Archives (www.nyseagrant.org/currentsarchive) sections ...
NYSG Projects > Research
Stories in this section focus on NYSG-funded research and other related work by supported investigators.
On YouTube: SBU Doctoral Student Working to Restore Shellfish Population (March 2021) Read on >>
On YouTube: Kelp Could be Silver Bullet in Fighting Climate Change in Our Oceans (March 2021) Read on >>
LIS Research
In Media: Chris Gobler’s Long Island Sound Research Receives Federal Funding (February 2021) Read on >>
In Media: Over $2.8 Million in Funds for New Long Island Sound Research (February 2021) Read on >>
In Media: More Than $2.8 Million in Funds for New Long Island Sound Research (February 2021) Read on >>
In Media: 'To Protect and Restore the Sound' (February 2021) Read on >>
In Media: Grant-Funded Projects to Study Water Quality, Other Environmental Issues in Long Island Sound (February 2021) Read on >>
In Media: CT Sea Grant Awarded Major Federal Grant to Help Fledgling Domestic Kelp Industry (February 2021) Read on >>
NYSG Projects > Small Grants
In Media: Way to Go! Brentwood Students' STEM Research Recognized by Grant Program (April 2021) Read on >>
On YouTube: Engaging Youth in the Health and Fun of the Great Lakes (April 2021) Read on >>
On YouTube: New York Sea Grant Teaching Kids About the Environment (April 2021) Read on >>
On Air: $25,000 Available for Projects Engaging Youth to Address Local Watershed Challenges (April 2021) Read on >>
On Air: Next Round of Great Lakes Small Grants Must Involve Youth (April 2021) Read on >>
In Media: What's New for Genesee River Kayakers This Spring and Summer? New Signage Aids Adventures (April 2021) Read on >>
Projects Directly Involving Youth the Focus of $200,000 in Grants Available via the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and New York Sea Grant (March 2021) Read on >>
On YouTube: Science That — Pandemic Pivots for Brentwood's Student Research (February 2021) Read on >>
NYSG Extension and Education > Great Lakes Waters
On YouTube: BOAT NY — 2021 Boat Buying Season; Create Your Own Boat Show (April 2021) Read on >>
On Air: Beach Safety and Planning Ahead Top Priorities Through the Seasons (February 2021) Read on >>
On Air: It’s Time to Think Boating (January 2021) Read on >>
On YouTube: Create Your Own Boat Show, Prepare for the Upcoming Season (January 2021) Read on >>
On YouTube: What To Know About Summer Boating (January 2021) Read on >>
On YouTube: Discover Better Boating — Fall Boating Season Means Different Conditions on the Lakes (October 2020) Read on >>
NYSG Extension and Education > Marine Waters
NYC Mayor de Blasio Announces State of Climate Knowledge 2021 Report (April 2021) Read on >>
In Media: Long Island Commercial Fishing Survey Launched (April 2021) Read on >>
In Media: A Push to Boost Commercial Fishing, Post-COVID (April 2021) Read on >>
In Media: County Launches Commercial Fishing Survey for Industry Hit Hard By COVID-19 (April 2021) Read on >>
In Media: River Otters Stage Long Island Comeback, With A Little Human Help (April 2021) Read on >>
In Media: Neighbors Join Effort to Document Flooding (March 2021) Read on >>
In Media: Long Island Environmental Groups Launch Monthly Webinar Series (February 2021) Read on >>
In Media: New Web-Based Educational Series Launches for Long Island Community Scientists (February 2021) Read on >>
In Media: NYC Experts, Voters Address Environmental Threats (February 2021) Read on >>
NYSG Extension and Education > Publications and Media
In Media: Fair Media Council Folio Awards Recognizes Best in News and Social Media (April 2021) Read on >>
In Media: Fair Media Council Creates Capacity Building & Development Center (February 2021) Read on >>
In Media: NY's Annual Seafood Summit (Virtually) Spotlights COVID-19 Pandemic Challenges (February 2021) Read on >>
In Media: Report Shows Social Impacts of New York City’s "Sunny Day" Flooding (February 2021) Read on >>
