We are dedicated to educating people about the preservation and protection of coastal wildlife along the Jersey Shore.
Our Beginning
In 2017, a handful of local residents of the Jersey Shore realized there was an urgent need to create a new environmental wildlife nonprofit organization that would seek ways to educate an ever-growing and diverse group of seaside residents and tourists about the biodiversity and protection of coastal animals, plants, and ecosystems. In addition, there was a need to increase opportunities for people to get involved in citizen-science research/monitoring projects about coastal species and related ecosystems, and create programs for the public to help restore estuarine-marine habitat.
“The critical importance of people to understand better the biology and ecology of the our coast is vital as we move forward into the twenty-first century, but to know the raw facts is not enough. Every person needs to get involved and to know they have an important role to play, big or small, to protect and preserve our natural heritage.”
— Joseph reynolds, FOUNDER
The Problem
Coastal areas of New Jersey are exhibiting signs of stress from over-population and coastal development. The coast is often seeing stagnant or declining populations of horseshoe crabs, nesting and migratory shorebirds, such as piping plovers and red knots, and fish populations, including menhaden and river herring. A number of whales and sea turtles are also colliding with boats or getting tangled up in fishing gear. Every year we lose more acres of tidal wetlands and coastal habitat in New Jersey from poorly planned projects for a variety of species to spawn, nest, rest or feed. We hope by sharing information and getting people involved in hands-on activities, the public will be inspired to learn more about the coastal environment and help protect it.
Over 15
animals are federally or NJ State threatened or endangered along the Jersey Shore including several species of whales, sea turtles, and coastal birds.
Over 70%
of seabird populations have declined in the past 50 years as they compete with people for food and space to rest and feed during migration.
Over 600%
is the percentage of tidal flood events that have increased in the past 60 years along the Jersey Shore due to sea level rise and global warming.
Our Mission
Save Coastal Wildlife is a 501(c)(3) non-profit wildlife preservation organization that is dedicated to educating people about the protection and conservation of marine wildlife that live, migrate, spawn, or feed in or near the coastal zone, with a particular focus on the Jersey Shore (from Raritan Bay down to Delaware Bay).
From our citizen science research and restoration projects, and educational outreach activities, members of Save Coastal Wildlife work to educate people for the need to protect the ospreys, horseshoe crabs, diamondback terrapin turtles, whales, dolphins, seals, seahorses, sea turtles, sea stars, seabirds, shorebirds, sharks, shellfish, menhaden, blue crabs, bluefish, blackfish, baitfish, weakfish, striped bass, winter flounder, and the other unique coastal marine wildlife.
On Saturday, June 15, 2019, volunteers with Save Coastal Wildlife found a male horseshoe crab entangled in fishing line along Raritan Bay, NJ.
Get Involved
Are you ready to help? We cannot save coastal wildlife alone. We need you!