Kickoff of COAST 2017!- Written by John Chiarella, COAST Intern

Summer is here and that means it's time to get outside and hit the beach! It's no different for us at Clean Ocean Action, and with the start of the season we're proud to announce the start of our annual COAST Campaign! This is one of our most extensive outreach and education programs, and this year we have BIG plans our campaign to reach the most people yet!

Before we get to that though, some explaining is in order: COAST stands for Clean Ocean Action Shore Tips. The campaign operates on a grassroots level and works to educate the public about environmental issues affecting the NY/NJ Bight (the ocean realm of the NY/NY shore) and what everyone can do to help. Historically, the campaign has consisted of setting up information tables staffed by COA volunteers at coastal businesses and the shore front. While we are definitely continuing in that tradition, this year we are also attempting to expand COAST's reach to those who may not frequent the beach as much but still live in its vicinity and are affected by it. This summer we are going to setup tables at various farmers markets in the area, giving us an entirely new audience of potential Ocean Defenders. Our other initiative is to combine COAST with our partnership program, “Jersey Shore Thing!” to give COAST even more opportunities to let citizens know how they can fight ocean pollution and industrialization.

This summer, in particular, is an important time for COAST. It has recently been announced that seismic blasting, the gateway to offshore oil drilling, is now back on the table for the Mid-Atlantic. This is a disaster waiting to happen for the entire Atlantic Coast. Fortunately, all of our congressional representatives signed a strong bipartisan letter condemning the move. However, much work remains to be done to get the word out that this is a terrible idea, for citizens and marine life alike. It is also a statewide election year, so we must inform the public about these issues before they cast their ballots.

You can help protect the ocean by joining COAST this summer! After our Beach Sweeps, this is one of the best and most flexible volunteer opportunities we have, and we'd love to get you on board!

If you are interested, or have any other questions, please email us at coast@cleanoceanaction.org so you can RSVP for a training session on June 21 (at the Carmen A. Biasi Community Center, 719 Main St., Bradley Beach NJ 07720) OR June 22 (at COA's Headquarters, 18 Hartshorne Dr, Highlands, NJ 07732). If you cannot make either of these dates, or are reading this after those days, please contact us anyway! We have lots of other opportunities in store for you!

Hats off to the C.O.A.S.T. Campaign

Summer is in full-swing, which means it is coasting time!  There’s nothing more refreshing than a beautiful beach day at the Jersey shore, which is where you’ll be seeing our volunteer advocates helping out to prevent ocean pollution.

This summer, COA will be hosting the 26^th annual Clean Ocean Action Shore Tips (C.O.A.S.T.) campaign to help educate citizens about current ocean pollution issues. As in previous years, you will find our volunteers at information tables on beaches, beach clubs, and festivals throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties on weekends in July and August.  If you are interested in having a C.O.A.S.T. table on your beach or at your festival, please feel free to contact Melissa. 

We know you’ve been waiting for them, so the C.O.A.S.T. campaign for 2015 will be featuring new merchandise: COA hats!  The hats will be available in multiple colors and will display our vibrant logo.  Stop by one of our tables to pick up one of your very own.

The (tentative) weekend table schedule is as follows:

June 27-28: Bradley Beach LobsterFest

July 4-5: Ship Ahoy Beach Club

July 11-12: Chapel Beach Club, Driftwood Beach Club, Sands Beach Club, Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club

July 18-19: Atlantic Highlands Film One Festival, Asbury Park Blues & Brews Festival, Promenade Beach Club

July 25-26: Sea Bright Public Beach, Edgewater Beach Club, Loch Arbor Public Beach, Bradley Beach Public Beach 3

August 1-2: Brick Public Beach 3, Long Branch Public Beach, Highlands Clam Festival, Seaside Park Boardwalk

August 7: Beach Ball-A-Palooza

August 9-10: Lavallette Public Beach, Elberon Bathing Club, Avon-by-the-Sea Public Beach, Allenhurst Public Beach

August 15-16: Jenkinson’s Pavilion, Ocean Grove, Island Beach State Park

August 29: Long Branch Jazz and Blues

To volunteer at a C.O.A.S.T. table, please call Melissa at (732) 872-0111 or email her at Coast@CleanOceanAction.org.  We hope to see many supporters on the beaches and at festivals this summer! Stop by a C.O.A.S.T. table to learn about ocean pollution issues, sign important petitions, donate to our cause, buy popular environmentally-themed merchandise and learn how to become more involved with Clean Ocean Action! Together we can achieve a cleaner ocean.

Shark Bite Trivia Night

Who is Clean Ocean Action?

How can I get involved with COA today?

How can I help to keep the ocean clean?

What are major threats to the ocean's health?

What species of shark are found on the NJ coast?

Come find out the answers and celebrate Discovery Channel's Shark Week with a shark themed, COA trivia night! Test your knowledge about COA history, current programs, ocean pollution and SHARKS! Prizes will be awarded and food will be served. This event is free and open to all ages. Don't miss a night of food, fun, 

and friends!

Contact Abby  

(intern@cleanoceanaction.org)

or Heather (coast@cleanoceanaction.org) at 

732-872-0111 for more information.

Turn The Tide On Sea Level Rise

Grassroots Campaign Focuses on 

Tackling Sea Level Rise Awareness

Including Study on Perceptions and Opinions

Today, environmental advocates gathered at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach to wrap up this year’s C.O.A.S.T. (Clean Ocean Action Shore Tips) Campaign, highlighting the launch of a sea-level rise survey, tip-card for citizens, and a new national initiative called US Strong. 

C.O.A.S.T. is an annual summer outreach campaign that raises awareness among beachgoers and coastal citizens about current ocean pollution and industrialization issues.  The C.O.A.S.T. campaign organizes volunteers to set up and staff information and action tables at beach locations in Monmouth and Ocean Counties on weekend in July and August. This summer, additional tables were set up at festivals as several beaches could not accommodate the campaign due to complications from Superstorm Sandy. Despite the setbacks from the storm, the volunteers were able to reach hundreds of citizens at dozens of locations. Volunteers also sold campaign merchandise to raise funds for Clean Ocean Action’s efforts to stop ocean pollution.

It has been nearly ten months since Superstorm Sandy devastated the Jersey Shore. What Sandy destroyed in 36 hours will take years to restore. This summer’s C.O.A.S.T. campaign focused on educating the public about the imminent threat of sea level rise in an effort to prevent the same kind of destruction from occurring again. At each table a new card from Clean Ocean Action’s “10 Tips” series were given out that outlines what steps the public can take to protect themselves from such devastation in the future.

“Until recently, many New Jerseyans were unaware of what climate change meant to them; it was a vague term that had no face,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action. “Superstorm Sandy gave us a harsh devastating glimpse of the threats and realities of sea level rise, but we now have a window of opportunity to help inform citizens about what is at stake and how they can prepare and respond to keep them safe from future storms,” Zipf added.

Yesterday, Governor Christie and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan called for creating more resilient communities through long term planning. This year’s C.O.A.S.T. campaign got to the grassroots of that endeavor. The campaign provided coastal citizens with the tools to become more aware of the pressing issues related to sea level rise.

“Clean Ocean Action's work to educate the public about the threat and reality of sea level rise is vital," said Lauren Townsend, New Jersey Director of US Strong. "Between sea level rise and extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy, we need real protections and disaster relief to protect our communities. Establishing a federal extreme weather relief and protection fund will help vulnerable communities respond to sea level rise and extreme weather events that are becoming common place across the nation.  Acting now will save money and, more importantly, save lives."

The C.O.A.S.T. campaign also launched Clean Ocean Action’s new citizen’s survey on sea level rise. The survey will gauge public perception on what should be done to prevent sea level-related devastation, and whose responsibility it is.

“The Jersey Shore bounced back from the storm with the kind of resilience and determination that you would expect from New Jerseyans,” said Macailagh McCue, Clean Ocean Action’s C.O.A.S.T. Intern, “however there is a great deal of rebuilding and planning that still needs to be done. The citizen’s survey will help Clean Ocean Action to determine what the best actions are moving forward, and who should be responsible for protecting our homes and communities from this kind of catastrophe in the future.”

To fill out the survey and voice your opinion on this important issue, click here or call Clean Ocean Action at (732) 872-0111 for more information.

Help Turn the Tide on Sea Level Rise with COA

Next week Clean Ocean Action will host two “Pizza Parties with a Purpose”.

The purpose? – To discuss seal level rise and how it is impacting the Jersey Shore and your community.

Seal level rise is posing a greater threat to the Jersey Shore than ever before. Our homes, local businesses, and marine life are all more vulnerable than they were a hundred years ago. Super-storm Sandy devastated our communities and forever changed our landscape. Though the storm was extreme, scientists have made it clear that we need to prepare for ongoing sea level rise, storm surges, and more frequent and severe storms in the future. We need to take action now to address these impacts.

So where do you come in?

These pizza parties will allow you to learn about how sea level rise is impacting New Jersey and the world. Furthermore, you will learn what you can do to help educate and motivate people to reduce the impacts of sea level rise and climate change. Come enjoy a night of free pizza and meet COA staff and other volunteers. They will discuss how you can become more involved with Clean Ocean Action, and help turn the tide on sea level rise!

Come to one of the following events to find out more:

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Ocean County Vocational Technical School: Toms River Center
1299 Old Freehold Road
Toms River, NJ 08753

Thursday, June 27, 2013 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Monmouth Beach Cultural Center
128 Ocean Ave, Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750

To RSVP, please contact Macailagh McCue, COAST Coordinator at coast@cleanoceanaction.org