Lighthouses in New Jersey

Twin Lights Lighthouse, Highlands

New Jersey has 11 lighthouses open to the public and several others that aren't accessible. 

The most notable ones are probably Absecon Lighthouse - Atlantic City, Barnegat Lighthouse - Barnegat Light, Cape May Lighthouse - Cape May Point, and Sandy Hook Lighthouse - Highlands.

Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest working lighthouse in the United States, having been lit in 1764. The lighthouse was funded by a lottery organized by 43 prominent New York merchants who petitioned the Colonial Assembly of New York to build it. The purpose was to guide ships safely into New York Harbor.

The octagonal lighthouse stands 103 feet tall and was designed by Isaac Conro. It originally stood closer to the tip of Sandy Hook but has since moved inland due to natural changes.

During the American Revolution, the lighthouse was a strategic target for British forces. Despite attempts to destroy it, the lighthouse survived and continued to operate.

In 1790, the lighthouse was transferred to federal authority under George Washington's directive. Today, the Sandy Hook Lighthouse is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area and is maintained by the National Park Service. It is a popular tourist destination and offers tours during the summer months

Ascend the 228 steps of the Absecon Lighthouse and you'll see breathtaking views of the Atlantic City skyline and up top you'll come face-to-face with the original first-order Fresnel Lens, first lit in 1857. The lighthouse's multi-million dollar restoration also includes a stunning replica of the Lightkeeper's dwelling, an educational museum, gift shop, a Fresnel Lens exhibit in the original Oil House and expansive grounds.

The site of Barnegat Lighthouse on the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County was regarded as one of the most crucial "change of course" points for coastal vessels. Vessels bound to and from New York along the New Jersey coastline depended on Barnegat Lighthouse to avoid the shoals extending from the shoreline. The swift currents, shifting sandbars and the offshore shoals challenged the skills of even the most experienced sailor. The park is included as a maritime site on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail.

Built in 1859, the Cape May Lighthouse is still an aid to navigation. Visitors who climb the 199 steps to the top of the lighthouse are rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. Climbing the lighthouse has become an annual tradition for thousands of visitors. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible visitors' orientation center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and memorabilia. A little further down Sunset Boulevard is the World War II Lookout Tower, which was part of the immense Delaware Bay harbor defense system known as Fort Miles. Features include a Wall of Honor recognizing area veterans. 

About NJ lighthouses  visitnj.org/...lighthouses

Fishing Education Instructor Training March 16

Are you an angler who wants to share your passion for fishing by learning how to assist our education staff at workshops, events, and programs? 

The NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's R3 Fishing Program is offering a Fishing Education Instructor Training on Sunday, March 16, 2025. The training will cover an overview of fishing programs and volunteer opportunities, the standards and best practices used, knot tying, casting, regulations and more!

As a fishing education instructor, you will help teach parts of the workshops and keep the event running smoothly. Participants must be 18 years or older and willing to volunteer at more than one fishing education program. You don’t need to be an expert angler to help others learn basic fishing skills, and you don’t need any teaching experience. This training will provide you with what you need to help get people fishing.

This free  4-hour training will cover an overview of fishing programs, volunteer opportunities, the standards and best practices used, knot tying, casting, regulations, and more.

When:  Sunday, March 16, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
Where:  Assunpink Wildlife Conservation Center, Eldridge Rd.; Robbinsville Twp., NJ 08691

REGISTRATION AT https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx

Blue Crabs Are In Decline

 

Crabbing at the Jersey Shore is a summer thing for most of us, but New Jersey’s Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus, is important to the New Jersey economy and the species is in a general decline.

Blue crabs are one of the most economically significant species in New Jersey's commercial fishing industry. The annual dockside value of blue crab harvests averages around $5.7 million. The blue crab fishery supports jobs in both commercial and recreational fishing sectors, contributing to local economies, especially in coastal communities.

An article from the Sierrra Club, Blue Crabs Are In Decline Up and Down the Atlantic Seaboard, is about how someone in South Carolina native is helping conservation efforts by connecting people to water.

I remember crabbing on the bay in Seaside Park and on LBI as a kid and now with grandchildren. Though we do catch and release, the recreational harvest of blue crabs may be equal to or even exceed the commercial harvest1.

Blue crabs play a crucial role in the ecosystem, helping to maintain the balance of marine life in New Jersey's waters

Callinectes sapidus, commonly known as the blue crab, is a species of crab native to the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. They are named for their blue-colored claws and olive-green carapace. Males have bright blue claws, while females have red-tipped claws. They can grow to a carapace width of about 9 inches (23 cm).

They are found from Nova Scotia to Argentina, with a significant population along the eastern coast of the United States, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay and Gulf of Mexico. They inhabit estuarine and coastal waters, preferring muddy or sandy bottoms.

Anyone who has been crabbing can tell you that these crabs are omnivores and scavengers, feeding on a wide variety of foods, including small fish, plants, mollusks, and detritus.

Females carry fertilized eggs in a sponge-like mass on their abdomen until they hatch. Each female can produce millions of eggs in a single spawning event. They go through several larval stages before reaching adulthood.

Blue crabs play a significant role in the marine ecosystem as both predators and prey. They help control populations of various species and serve as food for larger animals, including fish and birds. They eat mollusks, fishes, and other crabs.

More
https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/dsr/blue-crab-survey-rps.pdf 

Thermonasty for Winter Protection

 

Rhododendron thermonasty

During particularly frigid days, the evergreen leaves of Rhododendron maximum display a unique trait known as thermonasty. In essence, the leaves are a type of natural thermometer. When temperatures dip below freezing, leaf margins curl inward causing the leaf to roll up and droop. Leaves are most tightly curled when temperatures are below 20 degrees.

Thermonasty is a useful adaptation that provides several important benefits. Rhododendron leaves are particularly susceptible to damage from desiccating winter winds—tightly curled leaves ensure surface area is reduced, thereby mitigating this threat. Additionally, during periods of extreme cold leaves are more prone to damage from the sun. Again, a reduced surface area helps to protect the leaves. 

Broad leaves positioned in a way to maximize sunlight collection is a liability when it comes to snow. Narrow, drooping, needle-like leaves help shed snow that could otherwise accumulate and break branches.

Even in late spring, some species of tulips close their flowers in response to cold temperatures at night and open them during warmer days. Similar to tulips, certain crocus species also exhibit thermonastic movements, closing their flowers in cold temperatures and opening them when it is warmer.