Life's a beach… a New Jersey beach!
State's beaches garner $50M+ in revenues
BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer
The wind blew and the rain came, but officials on Sandy Hook claimed a few weeks ago that the summer outlook for New Jersey's beaches is still good.

"We have a great outlook for the summer," said Jon Miller, a coastal processes specialist with the New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program. "We had a certain amount of smaller storms throughout the winter months and the forecast predicts an average season."

Miller was among the coastal and environmental specialists who met on Sandy Hook May 22 to discuss the condition of the state's beaches and unveil the list of the top 10 beaches.

The New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium, the New Jersey Sea Grant, the Richard Stockton College Coastal Research Center and the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism sponsored the event.

"New Jersey beaches bring in over $50 million in the state's revenues," said Peter Rowe, director of the N.J. Sea Grant Extension Program. "A healthy ecosystem means a healthy economy."

Miller cited factors, such as timing, used to determine the summer conditions for the coastline.

"I don't have any bad news for the most part,"Miller said. "The beaches have had time to grow in between the storms and we can enter into a period of more calm spring and summer weather; that's the good news."

As for summer tourism, that outlook looks good too, said Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.

"We have such beautiful diversity in our Shore towns," she said. "Already people are saying that traffic is increasing on the Garden State Parkway heading south."

When asked if the rising gas prices would affect beach tourism in the state, Byrne said she didn't think so.

"Agencies like AAA and other entities put it in context when comparing driving to the Shore versus buying an airline ticket for each member of the family. It is still cheaper," she said. "The spike in gas prices hasn't really hurt us and rentals in places like Long Beach Island are up 15 percent."

Secretary of Agriculture Charles Kuperus emphasized the importance of buying local seafood when at the Jersey Shore.

"Eighty-two percent of seafood consumed is imported," Kuperus said. "If you are coming to the Shore this summer, you should ask for the Jersey Seafood brand."

Kuperus also gave away two scholarships for the Stew Tweed Fisheries and Agriculture Scholarship Fund.

"It is so important for young people to be interested in fishing and aquaculture," he said.

Recipient Kristen Gallagher, a native of Middletown, received $1,000 from the fund. A senior at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Gallagher plans on attending the University of Delaware in the fall. Her senior project focused on the eastern oyster restoration.

"I really enjoy the water, I guess," Gallagher explained. "I like studying marine science so this is great. Growing up by the beach had a lot to do with my interest in marine sciences, too."

Nationally, New Jersey's beaches are considered by some to be on the top of the proverbial list.

"New Jersey's beaches are among the cleanest and safest in the nation," said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson. "New Jersey's DEP [staff] are doing some of the most cutting-edge testing out there. We are fortunate to live in a state with 127 miles of coastline."

Jackson listed the different agencies the DEP works with to monitor water and beach conditions.

"There are floatables coming up on the beaches and we are not going to tolerate it," she said. "We are constantly doing remote sensing of chlorophyll that leads to algae blooms and could be potentially toxic."

Jackson also addressed the current technology used to determine safe water conditions.

"We need to push science and that means we can be ready in an hour instead of two to three days," she said.

Current water measurements of bacteria levels can take up to four days for results, sometimes leaving beachgoers inadvertently exposed to pathogens or toxins.

"The DEP will remain vigilant and continue to do our job," Jackson reassured.

As for the annual naming of the top 10 beaches in the state, Wildwood captured the title, whileAsbury Park ranked sixth. Polling began in early February on njtoptenbeaches. org. The polls closed at the end of April with a total of 15,000 votes cast. Voters ranked their favorite beaches into categories such as "Best Beach for Family Vacation," which went to Wildwood Crest, and "Best Beach for Ecotourism," which was Island Beach State Park.

"I think this contest generates interest in our beaches," Byrne said. "It builds excitement and we want people excited about New Jersey beaches."