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The Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JC NERR) in southeastern New Jersey, is part of a system of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRS) that are designed to protect vital estuarine ecosystems where fresh and saltwater meet. Estuaries are critical for both land and marine life, and the JC NERR covers the approximately 116,000 acres of diverse habitats within the Mullica River-Great Bay estuary, one of the least disturbed estuaries in the densely populated Northeast. Our mission is to improve management of New Jersey coastal environments through science, education, and stewardship.
From students, educators, researchers, and community members, the JC NERR has something for everyone! Check out the drop down lists below to learn more.
Jacques Cousteau Reserve & Rutgers University Marine Field Station Open House Event!
For more than 50 years, researchers have been sampling and sensing the marine and estuarine environments of Little Egg Harbor and the Great Bay. These long-term data sets add hard numbers to the description of a shifting and changing system, helping us understand how our coastal environment functions and is changing. Data collected from the Great Bay-Mullica River estuary helps inform natural resource managers and local communities in their decision-making around the changes happening in these coastal waters.
Celebrate the work of the Rutgers University Marine Field Station (RUMFS) and Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JC NERR) at our most popular event of the year on Saturday, September 12th from 10am-3pm! This year’s Open House will feature three locations, each offering a unique experience:
- RUMFS: You asked; we listened! This year, the RUMFS location will feature (free) ticketed, seminar-style talks highlighting the field station’s history, current research, and some time at our touch tank.
- Pre-reserved tickets are required for this location. Ticket link coming soon.
- Rather than self-guided exploration, attendees will follow an assigned group itinerary with timed rotations between the seminars.
- Dr. Kenneth W. Able, author, distinguished professor emeritus at Rutgers University, and past Director of RUMFS will be signing books, including his brand-new publication on the history of Sheepshead Meadow and Seven Bridges Road.
- All other interactive booths about RUMFS work will be stationed at the JC NERR Coastal Center.
- JC NERR Coastal Center: Stop by anytime from 10am-3pm for interactive booths, hands-on activities, kids’ crafts and games, guided Grassle Marsh trail walks, and more!
- No pre-registration is needed.
- New this year: Play a life-sized crab trap game, where you can step into the fins/flippers of an aquatic critter!
- Life on the Edge Exhibit: Located at the Tuckerton Seaport, we invite you to stop by between 10am-3pm to check out our interactive exhibit and learn more about the research, people, and places that make our estuary unique.
- No pre-registration is needed.
For Researchers
For the Community
There are many ways you can get involved! From volunteering and community science programs, to attending our programs and events, hiking our Grassle Marsh Trail, and more, there is something for everyone to enjoy! And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube! You can also visit our LinkTree for links to the latest and greatest from the JC NERR!
The Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a result of the Coastal Zone Management Act and is administered through Rutgers University. NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management provides funding, national guidance, and technical assistance