Delaware Sea Grant earns Friends of the Bays Partner Award

Delaware Sea Grant (DESG) was the 2022 recipient of the Friends of the Bays Partner Award, an annual distinction given by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) to recognize and honor partners of the CIB that have aided in implementing their Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.

The plan documents CIB’s goals and aspirations for protecting and improving Delaware’s Inland Bays.

CIB Deputy Director Anna Fagan defines the winner of the award as a group that is selfless, believes in teamwork and cares for the betterment of the environment

DESG and the CIB have worked together closely for decades. Through their collaborations, they have worked on community resilience and tourism projects, water quality monitoring and environmental education programs, as well as derelict crab pot removal.

“The award recognizes work over the past year, but we are particularly honored as DESG has been involved with work with the CIB for significantly longer,” said Joanna York, director of DESG.

Over the course of their partnership, they have discovered many ecological, economic and scientific successes.

“The Partner Award truly reflects a team effort, as much of DESG’s work occurs on the Inland Bays,” said Christopher Petrone, director of the DESG Marine Advisory Service.

Recently, DESG has had a number of notable collaborations with the CIB. Fagan noted that DESG has provided funding for both the construction of the CIB pilot oyster reefs and the CIB baygrass mapping effort.

With former CIB executive director Christopher Bason, DESG Associate Director Christian Hauser co-authored the Economic Value of the Delaware Inland Bays report, which was the first of its kind for the Inland Bays. The report demonstrated remarkable findings that proved the significance of the Bay as the foundation of a sustainable and resilient coastal economy in Delaware.

Fisheries & Aquaculture Extension Faculty Edward Hale, of DESG and the University of Delaware School of Marine Science and Policy, co-authored a publication on forage fish with Andrew McGowan, the CIB’s environmental science manager. Additionally, Hale was a speaker for the CIB’s November lecture series, which focused on oysters.

Finally, DESG became a partner on the CIB’s recently approved Inland Bays Public Education and Engagement Plan.

“Without DESG, we would not have realized so much success in restoring the water, wildlife and the way of life that the Inland Bays provide us and to which we are so dedicated,” said Fagan.

This partnership is one that both DESG and the CIB are incredibly proud of and hope to continue in the future for years to come.

“We have common interests and goals and look forward to working more with the CIB to achieve their mission to preserve, protect and restore the Delaware Inland Bays,” said York.

Article by Risha Inaganti