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NYSG Posts Impact Statements for Research, Extension Projects in NY's Great Lakes, Hudson and Marine Waters

A sampling of results and impacts from recently completed New York Sea Grant's research, extension and education initiatives.

New York, NY, May 27, 2025 - In the late Spring 2025 issue of New York Coastlines, we share our annual review of impactful NYSG programming and research. Included are over 40 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.

The new profiles posted below provide a summary of how NYSG's extension specialists and funded researchers addressed a variety of marine, Hudson and Great Lakes concerns and opportunities in 2024, including the partners involved and any additional funding sources.

Also, check out our visually-driven story map version of this past year’s successes … www.nyseagrant.org/successstories2025.

For project profiles filed in previous years, complete with partners and funding sources, visit www.nyseagrant.org/highlights.

And for NYSG resource sites related to these and other topics below, see www.nyseagrant.org/resourcesites.

We also offer a "What is New York Sea Grant" one-pager, which was updated in February.

On the national front ...

Check out the by-the-numbers one-pager "Sea Grant: A Smart Investment in Our Coastal Economy" or search impacts of Sea Grant's work, browse current projects, and explore any of the Sea Grant Colleges at seagrant.noaa.gov/our-story/impacts/.


NYSG Research

Since 1971, New York Sea Grant (NYSG) has been supporting university-based research related to a variety of marine, Hudson estuary, and Great Lakes topics and issues. 

A sampling of ongoing research includes a $2.15M suite of 10 teams of researchers — from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Hofstra University,  Adelphi University, Stony Brook University, Cornell University, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County — that are exploring a range of stakeholder-driven topics that are addressing multiple high priority community, economic, and environmental objectives to benefit residents in the state’s coastal region. Read on >>

Some recently-completed investigations address topics including: Impacts of microplastics in the aquatic environment, including the species that reside there; Flood risk planning for Lake Ontario's coastal communities; Aquaculture and/or restoration of several species (e.g., oysters, seaweed); Detection of aquatic invasive species; Optimizing existing control strategies for food borne pathogens; Providing a cost efficient and reliable tool in the Great Lakes for ID-ing hatchery vs. wild Chinook Salmon Read on >>


NYSG Extension

Coastal Ecosystems, Fisheries

Stormwater Debris Reduction Program Piloted in Rochester Will Expand to Other Cities (pdf)
NYSG applies cutting-edge technology and community engagement to create actionable solutions to protect Great Lakes’ ecosystems and urban communities.

Helping to Build Resiliency in Northeast American Lobster Fishing Communities (pdf)
NYSG provided extension support to the American Lobster Research Initiative.

Women in Fisheries Mentorship Program (pdf)
NYSG encourages participation and representation by women in New York’s professional fisheries community.

Great Lakes Charter Captains Conference (pdf)
The charter fishing industry is a vitally important part of the economy and natural and cultural heritage of New York’s Great Lakes coastal communities.

Microplastics Awareness Outreach in New York (pdf)
A NYSG-Columbia University collaboration is addressing microplastic pollution from textiles with diverse audiences. 

Coastal Communities, Climate Resilience

Wayne County Shoreline Steering Committee: Building Coastal Resilience and Economic Opportunity (pdf)
This initiative provides environmental, economic, and community benefits in Wayne County and serves as a model for regional collaboration.

Strengthening Local Government Capacity for Resilient Waterfront Planning Along Lakes Erie & Ontario (pdf)
NYSG equips local governments with tools and knowledge to protect coastal resources, enhance resilience, and support sustainable waterfront development.

Innovative Resilience Planning and Grant Support Initiatives in the Long Island Sound Region (pdf)
NYSG is successfully implementing responsive programming to address complex challenges in coastal communities.

New York City Neighborhood Flood Reports & Website (pdf)
NYSG has responded to Queens’ community residents’ requests by launching neighborhood-level flood reporting and a related website.

Jamaica Bay Community Flood Fellowship Program (pdf)
NYSG has launched a flood risk training and networking program in response to requests by Jamaica Bay community members.

Empowering Communities Through Local Plan Implementation (pdf)
Small grants projects converted eight local community plans into action, utilizing ecosystem-based management principles to advance NY’s Great Lakes Action Agenda.

Great Lakes Education Council Recommendations Lead to Workshops on Climate Change Impacts & Adaptations (pdf)
NYSG and NYS DEC partnered with Great Lakes teachers to develop and design professional development workshops on an environmental topic important to students.

Engaging Communities to Document Floods and Storm Damage With MyCoast NY (pdf)
NYSG coordinates a statewide community science program enabling the public to document and share their experiences with floods, storm damage, and coastal change through photos.

Training Cornell Climate Stewards (pdf)
NYSG-trained extension educators in turn train volunteer cohorts to lead projects that will increase climate resilience and adaptation capacity in their NY counties. 

Coastal Processes, Recreation

Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Designation (pdf)
National Marine Sanctuary status will increase tourism and spur economic growth in New York State’s eastern Lake Ontario region,

Natural and Nature-Based Features in New York (pdf)
NYSG is identifying and filling knowledge gaps surrounding natural and nature-based features in New York State to inform and advance resilient shoreline practices.

Providing Shoreline Erosion Assistance to Great Lakes Residents (pdf)
NYSG expertise with coastal processes and hazards is assisting residents, groups, and communities with responding to shoreline erosion impact.

Evaluating the Extent of Ghost Dams and Dam Safety Programming in New York (pdf)
NYSG is partnering with state and federal agencies to advance safety awareness around New York’s dams.

Sustainable Seafood & Aquaculture

Building a Network of Seafood Professionals Across NY (pdf)
NYSG Hosts 8th Annual New York Seafood Summit, where active cross-sector communication and collaboration is crucial to enhancing and supporting growth in aquatic foods production and processing in New York.

New York Aquaculture Producer Survey Results (pdf)
A new survey illustrates status and production levels of NY’s aquaculture industry and allows for tracking industry changes over time. 


NYSG Education

Marine Camp Helps to Connect Youths to the Outdoor (pdf)
NYSG organizes a marine camp for youths from communities in New York’s Nassau County.

Great Lakes Plankton Workshop (pdf)
NYSG organized a two-day professional development workshop for teachers to meet researchers and learn about the microscopic world of Great Lakes plankton.

Providing Student Training Opportunities (pdf)
NYSG programs provide undergraduate and law students with hands-on opportunities to address coastal issues.

Engaging STEM and Place-Based Environmental Literacy (pdf)
Professional development for teachers and outdoor education programming are successfully reaching K-12 youth in NY’s Long Island Sound region.


More Info: New York Sea Grant

Established in 1966, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Sea Grant College Program promotes the informed stewardship of coastal resources in 34 joint federal/state university-based programs in every U.S. coastal state (marine and Great Lakes) and Puerto Rico. The Sea Grant model has also inspired similar projects in the Pacific region, Korea and Indonesia.

Since 1971, New York Sea Grant (NYSG) has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.

NYSG historically leverages on average a 3 to 6-fold return on each invested federal dollar, annually. We benefit from this, as these resources are invested in Sea Grant staff and their work in communities right here in New York.

Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.

New York Sea Grant, one of the largest of the state Sea Grant programs, is a cooperative program of the State University of New York (SUNY) and Cornell University. The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Oswego, the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark, and in Watertown. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County on Long Island, in Queens, at Brooklyn College, with Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC, in Bronx, with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County in Kingston, and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County in Elmsford.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org, follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and YouTube). NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which it publishes 2-3 times a year.