In a changing climate, sea-level rise, storm surge and erosion all threaten our coasts’ sandy beaches. Teams of volunteer citizen scientists from New Hampshire, Maine and California Sea Grant programs are helping researchers keep a finger on the pulse of the shifting sands.

Georgia Sea Grant, in partnership with 12 other Sea Grant programs, was awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study human displacement and relocation caused by climate change, and the societal and economic implications of such population shifts.

Sea Grant is excited to share its research, education and extension work from across the nation at the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020. The gathering of ocean scientists and other professionals will take place in San Diego, CA from February 16-21, 2020.

Large-scale offshore aquaculture may have much less environmental impact from nutrient pollution than people suspect, according to a recent study funded by Florida Sea Grant and NOAA Fisheries.
Offshore aquaculture is poised to grow in the coming years to help offset the U.S. seafood trade deficit, but concerns have been raised about the potential for fish waste to pollute surrounding waters by introducing unnaturally high nutrient levels. In this new study, researchers found little evidence of nutrient pollution from a commercial cobia aquaculture farm located offshore the Republic of Panama. 

New year, same great Sea Grant work! Here’s a look back at some of Sea Grant highlights you may have missed from January.