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Science Serving the Delaware Coast

Healthy environment

Leveraging community science to sustain coastal research and support the Delaware coast

 
 
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Water quality monitoring volunteers checking the water from a dock.

Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Program

Citizen scientists have been measuring Delaware's Inland Bays and tidal rivers for nutrients and harmful algae since 1991. This extensive record has enabled impactful research on algal blooms across Delaware's watersheds and played a key role in the safe implementation of oyster aquaculture in the Inland Bays. Learn more about the program

 
 

Derelict Crab Pot Removal

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is collaborating with the University of Delaware and Delaware Sea Grant to not only remove hundreds of derelict crab pots from Rehoboth Bay (one of Delaware’s three Inland Bays), but also to collect information on locally-relevant impacts, which will form the basis of outreach and education to Delaware’s recreational crabbers and boaters. Learn more about derelict crab pots

 
 
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Marine Plastics

Plastics make up the vast majority of all marine debris and have been detected on shorelines of all continents around the world. Although marine plastics are found in coastal and marine habitats, the main sources of marine plastics are land-based. This ever-present form of marine pollution is largely introduced into the environment through improper or ineffective waste management, dumping or littering (both intentional and accidental), and/or through storm-water runoff. Larger plastic products eventually degrade and break down into smaller and smaller pieces until they finally become microplastics (plastic pieces smaller than 5 mm in size). Click here to learn more about marine plastics

 

 
 
Water quality monitoring volunteers checking the water from a dock.

Invasive Species

Invasive species—whether plants, fish, mollusks, crustaceans or others—threaten local wildlife through outcompeting them for resources, outright predation, or altering habitat. In Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic, a variety of aquatic invasive species affect both freshwater and saltwater habitat, and terrestrial ecosystems face their own invasive challenges. Learn more about some of the invasive species in our area and what you can do to help on our invasive species page.