“Save Sea Grant!”

The cry arose in mid-March from concerned citizens all around the country. The national Sea Grant program, which funds 33 coastal research and education programs at colleges, universities, and institutes is on the chopping block, part of massive cuts proposed by the Trump administration to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In the metropolitan region, Sea Grant supports dozens of projects via New York Sea Grant (NYSG) and the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. Projects range from coastal resilience work and sustainable fishing techniques to workshops for educators and community outreach to promote science literacy.

Sea Grant helps to fund the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, where it provides funding for projects such as research on horseshoe crabs on Plumb Beach, shellfish functionality and algal blooms in Jamaica Bay and Long Island Sound, and nutrient cycling on Long Island.

Adam Parris, the Institute’s executive director, wrote to his colleagues, “Eliminating NOAA Sea Grant will severely affect the research and efforts to bring tangible science-based benefits to coastal communities around Jamaica Bay, and all around the country.”

Mr. Parris suggests people contact their local Congressperson and Senator and convey their support of Sea Grant.

“Regardless of what the President may propose in a budget, it is the Congress that ultimately disposes in setting the financial appropriations for federal agencies and programs,” Mr. Parris wrote. “Congress has been a staunch friend of Sea Grant. NYSG program leaders are in Washington speaking directly with members of Congress, but hearing from individual stakeholders such as you will likely carry even more weight with these elected officials.”