States / New Jersey
New Jersey
Coastal Management
The focus is on managing coastal areas to increase resilience, with an emphasis on balancing environmental, economic, and human wellbeing. Mandated by the Coastal Zone Management Act, the two federal programs designed for this task are the National Coastal Zone Management Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Programs are administered, on the federal side, by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, in partnership with the coastal states.
State Programs
Coastal Zone Management
New Jersey Coastal Management Program. Established in 1978, the program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. An important aspect of the program is ensuring that coastal resources and ecosystems are conserved as a vital part of local, state, and federal efforts to enhance sustainable coastal communities. New Jersey's coastal zone encompasses tidal and non-tidal waters, waterfronts, and inland areas.
National Estuarine Research Reserves
Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve. Designated in 1998 and protecting 116,116 acres, this reserve is the only one in the system to be named after an individual. The site is a concentrated patchwork of federal and state lands that include a great variety of terrestrial, wetland, and aquatic habitats. With little more than one percent of the reserve subjected to human development, this area is regarded as one of the least disturbed estuaries in the densely populated urban corridor of the Northeastern United States. (See handout)
Impact Stories
Stories that showcase the recent work of this state's coastal management efforts.
- Advancing Oyster Restoration with Shellfish Growers in New England, Mid-Atlantic and West Coast
- Designing Coastal Habitat Enhancements for Community and Habitat Resilience
- Planning for Nature-Based Forest and Wetland Restoration along the Delaware River
- Building a Climate Ready New Jersey
- Restore Oyster Reef Habitat in the Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary through Expanded Atlantic City Shell Recycling Program
- Building Community Capacity for Restoration in the Arthur Kill-Upper Bay Watershed
- Beach Restoration to Create Habitat and Protect Tidal Salt Marsh Buffers within the Bay Point Area of Lawrence Township
- Wade into Estuary Recreation at a Research Reserve
- NOAA Cheers Citizen Scientists
- Befriending Coastal Birds
Additional Resources
*Fast Fact Sources:
People: American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates
Beaches and Estuaries: Shoreline Mileage of the United States
Employment and Economy:
Marine Economy for the Coastal U.S. States
Marine Economy for the U.S. Territories