EXTENSION PROGRAMMING TO ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF NEW JERSEY’S MARINE RESOURCES
Natural Resources/Aquaculture
Douglas Zemeckis
Ocean, Atlantic and Monmouth Counties Ag and Resource Management Agent
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Toms River
Abstract
Zemeckis, D.*1
New Jersey has 130 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The marine ecosystems along this coastline and the inhabiting marine resources support very valuable tourism, aquaculture, and commercial and recreational fishing industries. The sustainability of New Jersey’s marine resources and the associated industries rely on the implementation of responsible stewardship practices by a diversity of stakeholders. Multiple extension programs through Rutgers Cooperative Extension educate stakeholders on the science and management of New Jersey’s marine resources to encourage responsible stewardship practices. The Coastal Stewardship course has been offered annually since 2019 to educate stakeholders about the ecology of local marine ecosystems and to promote responsible stewardship using shellfish biology, restoration, and aquaculture as the primary teaching tools. A total of 197 students participated in the course from 2019–2021, which was offered in a HyFlex format in 2019 and then via webinar during the pandemic. Short-term (n = 81 respondents) and long-term (n = 40 respondents) program evaluation data have documented statistically significant increases in knowledge gained, improved preparation to get involved with local issues, and use of what they learned to follow responsible stewardship practices such as volunteering with local non-profits. The Introductory Fisheries Science for Stakeholders (IFISSH) course has been offered annually from 2018–2022 to educate stakeholders on the science, management, and responsible stewardship of fishery resources to be better prepared to make progress on and get involved with issues impacting commercial and recreational fisheries. A total of 421 people have participated in the IFISSH course, either in-class or via webinar, to learn more about fisheries biology, oceanography, climate change, stock assessment, and fisheries management. Short-term (n = 223 respondents) and long-term (n = 59 respondents) program evaluation responses have documented statistically significant increases in knowledge gained, sharing of knowledge gained with others, and getting involved with fisheries science and management issues, including participation on fisheries management advisory panels. These courses and additional programming have been successfully educating stakeholders on the responsible stewardship of New Jersey’s marine resources to provide the knowledge needed to get involved with and make meaningful progress on local issues.
Authors: Douglas Zemeckis
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Douglas Zemeckis County Agent III (Assistant Professor), Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Jersey, 08755-1199