Growing up in the suburbs of northeastern New Jersey, I always had a passion for marine biology. The closest I came to the ocean as a kid was the occasional fishing trip with my father. The spark was there, but it wasn’t until I started studying at Stockton University in 2020 that I truly began to explore and embrace that passion. Fast forward to today, and I’m lucky enough to work as a part-time Field & Lab Technician II at the Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP), where I’ve immersed myself in research and monitoring of marine life and ecosystems.
From the moment I stepped into the world of marine biology at Stockton University, I knew I was in the right place. I dove straight into research, first working with Dr. Christine Thompson on her oyster projects and assisting Mrs. Jocelyn Toth-Sullivan with harbor seal scat otolith extractions. I spent hours in Stockton’s Animal Lab, taking care of a variety of animals, and was actively involved in four student clubs, including the Marine Technology Society, Marine Science Club, Aquarium & Aquaculture Club, and Stockton Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE). The experience helped me develop- not only my academic knowledge, but also a network of professionals and peers who shared my love for marine life.
In my sophomore year, I also started the opportunity to work with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) through their Access Point Angler Interceptor Surveys. This position allowed me to gather valuable data from recreational anglers, helping assess fish populations and improve stock management. All of these experiences laid the groundwork for my current role at BBP, where I’ve had the privilege to contribute to some truly fascinating projects.
Joining BBP at the end of my senior year was a dream come true. The work they do here is not just about collecting data, but rather about making real-world impacts on the health of Barnegat Bay and its surrounding ecosystem. One of the most exciting projects I’m involved in is the Long-term Juvenile Fish Monitoring Survey, which has been ongoing since 2011. As part of this effort, we deploy a 50-foot seine net across various locations in the Barnegat Bay Watershed and Ocean County. The purpose? To monitor juvenile fish populations and assess biodiversity, which is critical for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The more diverse the fish populations, the more resilient the ecosystem is to things like hurricanes, droughts, and floods.
It’s not just about counting fish, though. We’re looking at species that are key to both recreational and commercial fishing. Tracking these populations helps ensure their long-term survival and supports the health of the entire bay.
Another cool project I’ve worked on is related to the presence of gelatinous zooplankton (jellyfish) in Barnegat Bay. Jellyfish- and specifically, bay nettles, have been a rising concern in the area, particularly for beach-goers who are wary of being stung. In 2024, our team launched a study to measure jellyfish abundance and track how often people might encounter them during the summer months. Using a 50×50-foot netted sampling area, we take turns walking randomly through the plot with a body-width net and count jellyfish encounters within a 5-minute window.
It’s an exciting (and occasionally slimy) process, and the data we’re collecting will contribute to a scientific publication about the jellyfish population in the bay. The goal is to better understand the ecological factors that may be driving jellyfish numbers and, importantly, to inform the public about how likely they are to encounter jellyfish while swimming or boating.
BBP’s work goes far beyond fish populations in the bay. I’m also involved in diadromous fish monitoring, focusing on species like the American eel and river herring. These species are fascinating because they are “diadromous,” meaning they migrate between freshwater and saltwater environments at different stages of their lives.
American eels, for instance, are catadromous, meaning they are born in the Sargasso Sea- an area within the Atlantic Ocean- migrate to freshwater rivers and lakes to mature, and then head back to the sea to spawn. At BBP, we help track their migration by using eel mops. These are simple, yet effective tools made of ripped-up polyethylene rope and string placed along creek beds. Eels use these mops as refuge as they travel upstream, and we monitor them from January through April.
River herring, on the other hand, follow the opposite migratory pattern; they spawn in freshwater and move to the ocean to mature. Historically, Barnegat Bay was home to large populations of river herring, but their numbers have declined significantly over the years. To address this, BBP is working with partners like Ocean County, NJDEP, and Stevens Institute of Technology to restore access to creek habitats by altering and widening a creek outflow. The aim is to allow river herring to return to their spawning grounds and help rebuild their populations in the bay.
What’s really exciting about working at BBP is that every project feels like a step forward in preserving and enhancing the natural world. Whether it’s tracking fish populations, understanding jellyfish dynamics, or helping migratory species like eels and river herring, the research we’re doing is having a tangible impact. Barnegat Bay is a precious ecosystem, and BBP is dedicated to protecting and restoring it for future generations.
Being part of the BBP team has been a career highlight for me, and it has deepened my passion for marine biology in ways I never imagined. I feel lucky to work alongside such a dedicated group of scientists, researchers, and conservationists who are all committed to making a difference. The cool stuff we’re doing here isn’t just science for the sake of science, it’s science with a purpose.
