Four graduate students from the University of Georgia and Georgia Southern University have been selected to lead year-long coastal research projects through the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Research Traineeship. Now in its fifth year, this program has supported 30 students since 2019, providing undergraduate and graduate students with a unique opportunity to tackle real-world challenges facing Georgia’s coastal region. 

The independent projects must align with one or more of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s four focus areas: healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development.  

Under the guidance of university mentors and in collaboration with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant specialists, the students not only conduct independent research but also share their findings with coastal communities. 

“The traineeship is an invaluable experience for early-career professionals, giving them the chance to develop essential skills in project management, communication, and problem-solving,” says Mark Risse, director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “By addressing challenges identified by coastal communities, they build a strong foundation for their future careers in research, policy, and environmental management.” 

Jack Robider will graduate with an environmental engineering degree from UGA this fall and will continue for a graduate degree in civil and environmental engineering. His research focuses on developing a hydrodynamic flooding model for Glynn County and Brunswick, Georgia, a region highly susceptible to flooding due to its low elevation and proximity to the coast.  

The model Robider is building will estimate flood depths from storms and overlay them onto Brunswick’s communities, infrastructure, and Superfund sites to assess potential damage brought about by flooding and contamination. This work is important because it helps identify flood-prone areas, supports resilient infrastructure planning, and addresses compounded environmental threats like contamination from septic systems and Superfund sites.  

Mark Hoog is pursuing a Ph.D. in environmental science from Georgia Southern University. His research focuses on studying the genetic diversity and differentiation of American alligators in the Okefenokee Swamp using genetic markers to identify population structures.  

Understanding these genetic patterns is crucial for wildlife management, as it helps determine the overall health and resilience of the population. By combining genetic data with demographic information, the study will offer a comprehensive view of the population’s health, supporting better decision-making for ecosystem management and conservation efforts. 

Skyler Fox is a master’s student working toward a degree in biology at Georgia Southern University. She is studying the impact of human disturbance on restored coastal sand dunes on Tybee Island, Georgia.  

 Sand dunes provide critical ecosystem services like storm protection but are vulnerable to damage from high foot traffic, even on designated footpaths that traverse the dunes and connect parking lots to the beach. Fox is collecting sand movement and vegetation data to compare the health of the dunes at footpaths with undisturbed dune areas. The findings will help inform coastal cities on how to minimize human disturbance and protect dune ecosystems effectively.  

Zachary Gordon is a master’s student in biology at Georgia Southern University. His research investigates the threat of saltwater intrusion on Sapelo Island’s freshwater habitats, which is increasing due to climate change and coastal development.  

 The island’s history of channel modifications, which were dug to drain swamps for agriculture, has facilitated the movement of saltwater inland, impacting freshwater wetlands. Gordon will study these channels as well as freshwater wetlands that are disconnected from these channels using data loggers, leaf decomposition rates, and biological assessments to track water movement, habitat functionality, and ecosystem health. Findings will be shared with the local community experiencing these challenges in hopes of understanding how to address them.  

Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is excited to announce Georgia Tech student Spenser Wipperfurth as the 2025 finalist for the National Sea Grant College Program’s John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship.

This year-long prestigious fellowship matches current and recent graduate students with hosts in the legislative and executive branches of government. Since 1979, the Knauss Fellowship has supported more than 1,680 early career professionals who have significantly contributed to environmental policy and management and built lasting careers.

2025 Knauss finalist Spenser Wipperfurth.

Wipperfurth received her master’s degree in water resources engineering and an MBA from Georgia Tech, where she studied coastal processes, resilience, ecosystem damage mitigation and community response to climate change. She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

This past summer, Wipperfurth served as a summer scholar with the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program. The experience allowed her to apply science and policy in addressing ocean energy and shipping regulations on the U.S. East Coast with Department of Energy officials and policymakers

She also has five years of experience working as a water resources engineer, which helped shape her understanding of how water is modeled and managed by relevant authorities. She now hopes to apply her knowledge and experience by focusing on the future of resource management, opportunities for innovation, and how to best support coastal communities.

“I have spent most of my life and collected most of my important memories on or near the water, on the rivers and lakes of the Midwest, the waterfalls of Peru, and now the Georgia coast. As a community member, I consider safe access and generational protections of water resources for myself and my neighbors as a critical part of building and maintaining healthy and hopeful lives. Since most humans live near coastlines, protecting, understanding and managing those coastlines are critical for protecting their residents. The Knauss Fellowship will give me a space to dream with those already working on these solutions and help me to further develop a network of mentors and peers to work alongside and learn from.”

Wipperfurth will join a cohort of 88 early career professionals from 70 universities, representing all eligible Sea Grant programs. Knauss Fellowship finalists are chosen through a competitive process that includes several rounds of review at both the state Sea Grant program and national levels. Students finishing Master’s, Juris Doctor (J.D.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees with a focus or interest in marine and coastal science, policy or management apply to their state’s Sea Grant programs. If applicants are successful at the state level, their applications are then forwarded to a national panel of experts who select the finalists.

This fall, the finalists will participate in a placement week to get to know each other and interview with several executive offices to determine where they will spend their fellowship, which begins in February 2025.

On the Jekyll Island pier, Addison Simmons, a rising junior at the University of Georgia, hauls up her crab net, hoping to see a flash of blue. Her excitement builds with the realization that she’s caught a female blue crab.  

With help from Lisa Gentit, a marine resource specialist at UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, she learns how to carefully remove the crab from her net. Gentit points out some of the crab’s distinctive features, like the bright red pinchers that indicate it’s female, before releasing it back into the estuary.  

Addison Simmons takes part in catch-and-release crabbing as part of an immersive, hand-on field study on the coast.

Simmons is one of 11 UGA undergrads exploring the Lowcountry, documenting and celebrating the relationships between people and seafood as part of a service-learning domestic field study course at UGA entitled “Writing and Community at the Georgia Coast.”   

Domestic field studies integrate place-based learning across diverse U.S. locations, and service-learning courses address community needs through partnerships with local organizations and institutions. With these partnerships, students learn new topics through the lens of those who live and work in the community.   

This course was developed through a collaboration between the UGA Office of Instruction and UGA Public Service and Outreach, connecting the Office of Service-Learning, the Domestic Field Study program, and Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. Course instructor Elizabeth Davis spearheaded the initiative following her participation in the first Domestic Field Study Fellows cohort. 

“It’s been incredible. This is what I imagined—learning firsthand what goes on in these communities, what they’re like, what their concerns are,” says Davis, who coordinates the Interdisciplinary Writing Certificate program at UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “Concerns vary from place to place, yet they are all connected by some very strong threads.”  

Davis developed the concept after teaming up with faculty at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. The organization’s long history of working with Georgia’s fishing communities made it an ideal partner for connecting students with people whose lives revolve around safe, sustainable seafood.  

During the first half of the trip, the students stayed at South Carolina’s historic Penn Center, immersing themselves in the cultural tapestry of the Gullah Geechee community and gaining insights into its historical significance along the Georgia coast. 

Associate Director of Extension Bryan Fluech gives students a tour of a working waterfront in Brunswick.

The second half took them to various UGA coastal campuses, including Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s facilities on Skidaway Island and in Brunswick, as well as UGA’s Marine Institute on Sapelo Island. They explored the saltmarsh, which is vital to seafood like fish, crabs and shrimp. They participated in activities like crabbing and seining, where they learned how to identify marine life and experience seafood harvesting firsthand.  

The students also engaged with coastal residents with links to seafood—from harvesters and aquaculturists to chefs and conservationists—who shared their expertise and experiences.  

“These opportunities to immerse are key to service-learning,” says Davis. “Understanding what a community is asking you to help them with, as writers, you really need to be on the ground.”   

Students learned about Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s work to bring sustainable oyster aquaculture to Georgia and help commercial fishermen navigate changes to the industry.  

Laura and Perry Solomon, owners of Tybee Oyster Company, spoke with the class about challenges they faced launching the first floating cage oyster farm in the state. They credited Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Shellfish Research Lab, which produces and sells oyster seed and advises shellfish farmers on best practices for growing shellfish, with helping them navigate the oyster farming process.  

Bruce Collins talks with students during their visit to the City Market Dock.

The students also toured City Market Dock in Brunswick, a seafood business that operates one of the few remaining commercial fish houses where fishermen can offload their catch. Bruce Collins, fish house manager, discussed issues facing the commercial industry, including competition with imported shrimp, rising fuel costs and a diminishing workforce.  

In between activities, students spent time in reflective writing workshops, developing pieces inspired by their experiences. 

April Cerritos, a rising sophomore double majoring in English and comparative literature, had never been to the Georgia coast.  

“I didn’t expect to see so many local, smaller fishermen supporting themselves and their families, and smaller communities,” says Cerritos, who plans to go into book publishing.  

April Cerritos shows off the blue crab she caught at the Jekyll Island Pier.

By sharing her experience and what she learned through the course, Cerritos hopes that her writing encourages people to buy local seafood and research places before traveling.    

“One thing I’m going to do before I ever visit a place again as a tourist is research the communities there,” says Cerritos. “That’s what I really want to inspire people to do—learn more about the places they’re going.”  

By the end of the course, the students had crafted insightful texts illuminating the resilience and interconnectedness of coastal communities. Perhaps even more exciting for Davis was seeing the transformative impact of experiential learning on the students and the special bond they cultivated during the trip. 

“I hope they take away the community that they formed here as a group, and the realization that you form communities wherever you go throughout life,” says Davis. “That experience of bonding, as a community, with shared interests and concerns is really important.” 

Students participating in the course break for a photo with their instructor, Elizabeth Davis, and staff from Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.

Read pieces written by students Addie Simmons and Theron Camp on Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Student Blog at https://gacoast.uga.edu/studentblog.  

Rhonda Waller has two rain barrels behind her house in the Urbana-Perry Park neighborhood of Brunswick. The stormwater runoff they collect waters her yard and outdoor plants.

She got a third one at a recent rain barrel and rain garden workshop, and plans to use that one to provide water to a drip irrigation system for her rain garden, which stretches across the front of her one-story ranch house.

The rain garden, a mix of native plants resistant to heat and drought, is over a trench layered with rocks, sandy soil and mulch to filter any pollutants from the rainwater before it slowly seeps into the ground.

William Kitts, a resident in the Urbana-Perry Park neighborhood, tends to his rain garden.

Waller and five of her neighbors installed rain gardens as part of the Coastal Georgia Rain Garden program, created by University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. Collectively, the Urbana-Perry Park rain gardens infiltrate more than 200,000 gallons of stormwater annually.

“We did it as a community, we helped each other,” Waller said. “We have to do something.”

Since 2016, stormwater management experts from UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant have been working with coastal communities to address challenges caused by heavy rain events, exceptionally high tides and sea level rise. While large scale projects, such as replacing underground drainage systems with larger pipes, require extensive engineering and substantial funding, green infrastructure projects can be done “in-house” with city work crews, in partnership with UGA.

The city’s “Rethinking Runoff” plan, produced in 2022 by Jessica Brown, stormwater specialist with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, introduced opportunities for Brunswick to reduce flooding and improve water quality using green infrastructure, such as bioretention cells, rain gardens, permeable pavements, rain barrels, and cisterns.

Brown shared this concept of green infrastructure feasibility planning with all of Georgia’s coastal communities. Brunswick was among the first to respond.

Severe storms have become more frequent in recent years, and sea level rise is causing water from the rivers and marshes surrounding much of Brunswick to spill over into the city during high tide.

“When it starts to rain we know we have to go close roads,” said Garrow Alberson, Brunswick’s city engineer and public works director.

“We’re seeing streets flooding at high tide that weren’t flooding five to six years ago.”

The 2018 Stormwater Master Plan for the city of Brunswick included 15 priority projects at an estimated cost of $18.4 million. The projects required large scale construction, including replacing smaller drainage pipes that can no longer accommodate the volume of water, rerouting key roadways that regularly flood or installing tide control devices in areas affected by storm surge.

Those projects can take significant time to complete. The “Rethinking Runoff” projects can be done faster, for less money and can “work to take the demand off these systems,” Alberson said.

Garrow Alberson (left) talks with Jessica Brown (second from right) and City of Brunswick Public Works crew about plans for a green infrastructure project.

Working with consultants contracted by the city of Brunswick, Brown used online data to determine the soil suitability for infiltration in vulnerable areas, and looked at GIS data to calculate the amount of stormwater runoff from impervious ground cover. Through the analysis, they identified 28 sites suitable for green infrastructure improvements.

Students in a landscaping course through the Job Corps Center in Brunswick assist with planting the bioretention cell at Howard Coffin Park.

An earlier pilot project proved the effectiveness of green infrastructure. Brown worked with the city in 2018, long before the “Rethinking Runoff” plan, to install a bioretention cell at Howard Coffin Park. Two years later, Brown secured funding for a monitoring project adding equipment, wells and rain gauges, that show the bioretention cell is doing what it’s supposed to. Between August 2020 and December 2021, 83.6% of the runoff from the surrounding area was infiltrated by the cell.

The city is now working to implement green infrastructure projects at other sites identified in Brown’s “Rethinking Runoff” plan, including installing permeable pavement for parking at Goodyear Park, which previously had no dedicated parking; and replacing a concrete parking area with permeable material at Liberty Ship Park, next to the Sidney Lanier Bridge. The city plans to install two bioretention cells at Liberty Ship Park around existing storm drains. Also in the works is a plan to install permeable pavement at the vehicle parking lot next to Fire Station 1 downtown.

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant has been promoting the success of the demonstration projects as well as other stormwater initiatives, like the rain garden program, to spread awareness about the importance of green infrastructure. Brown partners with private sector, nonprofit, and state agencies to host workshops, and stays connected to the city’s Neighborhood Planning Assemblies. She attends local, statewide and even national meetings to share efforts underway on the Georgia coast to address stormwater challenges.

The green infrastructure projects are a good way to educate people about stormwater mitigation because they can see examples in their communities, and understand how they work, Brown said. Larger projects, like increasing the capacity of storm drains, are more difficult to understand.

“It’s hard to comprehend because all the pipe is underground,” she said.

Interest from Brunswick residents in green infrastructure has increased over the years. The topic has gained the attention of local civic, youth, and faith-based groups, such as Coastal Outreach Soccer, wanting to get involved.

Brown is also working with other departments at UGA. Earlier this year, she collaborated with UGA Professor Qiong Wang to engage landscape architecture students at the College of Environment and Design in developing green infrastructure feasibility plans for the city of Brunswick as part of their coursework. These students gain valuable skills and learn to incorporate stormwater management into future projects throughout Georgia.

State and federal grants fund many of the stormwater management projects along the Georgia coast, including the ones Brown has partnered with the city of Brunswick to implement.

“This is an unprecedented time for us,” said Brown, who has worked in water management for 15 years. “There is more federal money available than ever before. It’s great to see these dollars at work, reducing the burden for communities like Brunswick.”

See the Georgia coast anew in Waves of Wonder, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum’s new exhibition, which opens on Wednesday, June 5, with a cocktail party at 5:30 p.m. The party is free and open to the public. The exhibition showcases a variety of inspiring works funded by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Artists, Writers, and Scholars (AWS) Program.  

Visitors to Waves of Wonder will embark on a journey of discovery where art serves as a bridge connecting humanity to the enchanting world of Georgia’s coast. Captivating and evocative imagery portrays the essence of Georgia’s coast with vibrant colors and sounds, and intricate interpretations. Whether through the brushstroke of a painting, the graceful movement of a dancer, or documentation of Black maritime history, these artists and scholars invite viewers to pause, reflect, and marvel at our region’s natural wonders. 

A Family Day event featuring artist demonstrations and activities will take place on Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  

Josh Stutz, “Loggerhead Sea Turtle and Hatchling”, Watercolor

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in this celebration of Georgia’s coastal culture and natural environments,” said Molly Taylor, executive director of Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. “Waves of Wonder is a beautiful blending of art and science and is a must-see program for anyone living on or visiting Georgia’s coast, especially children and families.” 

Waves of Wonder features the work of current AWS grant recipients Autumn Eckman, Peter Van Zandt Lane, Jennifer Nolan, and Josh Stutz, as well as previous award-winners Kip Bradley, Julie de Chantal and Kurt Knoerl, Alan Harvey, Barbara Mann, Dana Montlack, and Casey Schachner. Many of these awardees collaborated with coastal scientists and students in creating their final projects. 

 “The artists and scholars featured in Waves of Wonder have created amazing, awe-inspiring interpretations about scientific and cultural ideas related to our region,” said Tania Sammons, curator of Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. “Displayed together their individual subjects magnify their coastal messages and are at once visually compelling and thought-provoking.”  

The works featured in Waves of Wonder encompass a diverse range of disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, illustration, sound, film, and dance. Each project offers a fresh perspective on the intricate relationships that define coastal life, from the interconnectedness of animal communities to the profound connections between humans and the natural world.  

Barbara Mann, “Plankton, Doliolid”, Copper, sterling silver, brass.

Mark Risse, director of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, expresses his enthusiasm for the program’s growth and impact. “The Artist, Writers, and Scholars program has flourished over the past two years, fostering meaningful collaborations between the art community and coastal advocates,” says Risse. “Through Waves of Wonder and similar outreach efforts, we aim to engage audiences in critical coastal issues while celebrating the creativity inspired by our marine environments.” 

Admission to the exhibit is included with general museum admission. For more information, please visit https://www.shipsofthesea.org/. 

To learn more about the Artists, Writers and Scholars program, visit https://gacoast.uga.edu/research/funding/aws-program/ 

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Media Contact: Emily Kenworthy
ekenworthy@uga.edu
c: 336.466.1520

About Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum 

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum was founded in 1966. The museum exhibits ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques, and interprets the rich story of Savannah’s illustrious maritime history. Ships of the Sea is housed in the William Scarbrough House, built in 1819, and is home to the largest private gardens in Savannah’s historic district. Many consider Ships of the Sea to be one of the best maritime museums in the country. Visit the website at https://www.shipsofthesea.org/. 

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum’s telephone for general inquiries is 912.232.1511.
The museum’s address is 41 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Savannah, GA 31401. 

The Youth Ocean Conservation Summit (YOCS) has been a driving force in educating students of all ages about environmental conservation. The main goal of YOCS is simple: to equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to protect our oceans. This is achieved through workshops and discussions led by marine scientists and conservationists, where participants collaborate to develop conservation projects for their communities. 

 Since its inception in 2011 at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, YOCS has expanded its reach, establishing satellite locations across the United States. In 2014, Sean Russell, the founder of YOCS, spent a year at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium in Savannah, Georgia, as part of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Marine Education Fellowship. During this time, Russell, with other Marine Education Fellows, laid the groundwork for Georgia’s first summit. Since then, the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium has been hosting the annual event, bringing new themes and workshops each year, tailored by the current cohort of Marine Education Fellows. 

YOCS participants get hands-on in an algae clay activity.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Georgia summit and was themed “Leaders in Coastal Resilience.”  The summit welcomes youth ranging from 5th grade through college. This year, 41 participants from all over Georgia gathered to learn from local marine scientists and conservation leaders.   

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund and The Webster Family provided financial support of this year’s summit. Together, with involved community professionals and educators, they have helped to create a platform that empowers young leaders to make a difference in their communities and contribute to the preservation of our oceans.  

The event was a uniquely special occasion as Russell, now serving as the Director of Youth Engagement at EarthEcho International, returned to deliver the keynote address, reflecting on his personal journey and the growth of the youth summit over the past decade. Hands-on workshops led by local experts covered topics such as marine debris and environmental justice, providing participants with practical knowledge to implement in the creation of conservation projects for their own communities.  

Sean Russell returned to this year’s summit as the keynote speaker.

When asked what inspired him to establish a Youth Ocean Conservation Summit in Savannah, Russell said that “bringing the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit to the Savannah area created a unique opportunity to customize the programming to connect youth in the region to the incredibly unique environments of the Georgia coast, the challenges they face, and the power of young people driving solutions to protect this area for the future. It has been incredible to see the continued growth and impact of the Savannah YOCS program over the past 10 years. Returning to the 2024 event was a reminder of the strong connections the community has to the coast, and the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge, tools, and connectivity to become community leaders in coastal resilience at an early age.” 

For many attendees, the summit has become an annual tradition, offering valuable learning experiences and opportunities to connect with peers who share their passion for conservation.  

 “The Savannah Youth Ocean Conservation Summit provides the space and time for students to meet professionals working in the field, to connect and brainstorm with their peers and to find inspiration on the coast,” said Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Associate Director of Marine Education Anne Lindsay. “It’s a great way for participants and planners alike to connect with the next generation of coastal and ocean stewards.” 

Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is investing $743,437 in five new research projects that address environmental and economic challenges and advance coastal science in Georgia.  

Projects range from looking at the impacts of seaweed diversification on aquaculture production, to quantifying the compound risks of coastal inundation and contamination in Glynn County, to studying neonicotinoid presence in coastal waters and impacts on oyster populations.  

The 2024-2026 research projects are part of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s request for proposals process, which occurs every two years to address research priorities identified in the program’s strategic plan.  

The projects are designed to improve understanding, management, and wise use of Georgia’s coastal and marine ecosystems. Experts conduct research in close collaboration with on-the-ground extension agents, community partners, educators and decision-makers.    

“I am pleased with this selection of projects as they address some critical topics identified in our strategic plan, including exploring sustainable aquaculture practices, engaging under-resourced communities in resilience efforts, and studying blue carbon,” said Mark Risse, director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “These projects will have substantial impacts in coastal Georgia.”   

The projects include:  

• Leveraging sediment properties to enhance blue carbon storage in beneficial use restoration projects
  Amanda Spivak, University of Georgia  
• Assessing the economic impact of compound risks in underserved communities: A Glynn County, GA, Case Study
  Susana Ferreira, University of Georgia 
• Exploring the potential for aquaculture product diversification with macroalgae
  John Carroll, Georgia Southern University 
• Neonicotinoid presence in coastal waters and potential impacts on the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica
  Risa Cohen, Georgia Southern University 
• A Sanctuary in Sound: Increasing Accessibility to Gray’s Reef Data through Auditory Displays
  Jessica Roberts, Georgia Tech 

Information about Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant research topics, funding and current opportunities can be found at https://gacoast.uga.edu/current-projects/ 

Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is managed through a unique partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Georgia that unites the resources of the federal government, the state of Georgia and universities across the state to create knowledge, tools, products and services that benefit the economy, the environment and the citizens of Georgia. The program’s mission is to improve the environmental, social and economic health of the Georgia coast through research, education and extension.  

University of Georgia alumna Gabriella Bliss Giordano has been awarded the John A. Knauss Marine Policy fellowship for 2024. Sponsored by the National Sea Grant College Program, the year-long fellowship matches current and recent graduate students with hosts in the legislative and executive branches of government. 

Giordano will spend one year working as a communications and engagement fellow in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR). STAR uses innovative science and applications to transform satellite observations of the earth into meaningful information essential to society’s evolving environmental, security and economic decision-making. She will work with STAR’s communications team to incorporate outreach, user engagement and the scientific community to spread awareness of the center’s work. 

Knauss finalists are chosen through a competitive process that includes comprehensive review at both the state Sea Grant program and national levels. Giordano is among 85 finalists selected from a competitive pool of nominees representing 30 of the 34 Sea Grant programs in the coastal and Great Lakes states and territories.  

Gabriella Giordano, 2024 Knauss fellow.

“I hope the Knauss Fellowship will help guide me to further develop my career goals,” said Giordano. “I know I want to blend my science background with community education and engagement. Policy is just one tool to do that with and may open doors to launch my career.”  

Giordano received her master’s degree in marine science from UGA in 2023. Her graduate thesis explored the influence of salinity-driven plant community changes in Satilla River marshes on the characteristics of soil carbon. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and geography from Villanova University.  

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Knauss fellowship. For information on applying, please visit https://gacoast.uga.edu/knauss-fellowship/  

A recent study by University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, funded by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division, sheds light on the economic contributions of saltwater recreational fishing to Georgia’s coastal economy. 

Saltwater recreational fishing is a popular activity that draws anglers to Georgia’s coastal water bodies, including its tidal creeks, sounds and open ocean. This industry encompasses a diverse group of amateur anglers and enthusiasts who cast their lines from personal boats and docks, public beaches and piers.  

The study, led by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Coastal Economist Eugene Frimpong, found that in 2022, over a quarter of a million recreational anglers spent $223.7 million on saltwater fishing activities in Georgia. These activities include purchasing fishing tackle, such as fishing rods, lines, and lures, while also incurring additional expenses related to transportation and food.  

According to Frimpong, money spent on saltwater recreational fishing circulates through Georgia’s economy, creating a multiplier effect where every dollar spent can have a significant impact as it moves across different sectors. Results of the study show that saltwater recreational fishing trips in Georgia supported 3,217 full-time or part-time jobs and contributed $310.6 million in sales in 2022.  

“The study reveals the significant economic contribution of this particular sector to Georgia’s coastal economy,” says Frimpong. “It also provides the state with baseline socioeconomic information to inform management practices that support the economic viability of saltwater recreational fishing and the overall health of our coastal resources.”

According to Carolyn Belcher, marine fisheries section chief at Georgia DNR’s Coastal Resources Division, most fishery management decisions are informed by the health of a fish population, which is determined through stock assessment models. Implementing fishing seasons as well size and catch limits are ways to maintain healthy populations.  

“The effects of these actions are easy to assess on the fish because of the availability of fishery-dependent data sources; however, without socioeconomic information like the data provided by this UGA study, it is difficult to assess how proposed management will affect the people involved in the fishery,” says Belcher.  

Frimpong gathered information for the study through a state-wide survey of recreational anglers. In addition to collecting expenditure data, the survey included demographic and geographic questions to gain insight into who engages in saltwater recreational fishing and where anglers fish.  

“Knowing the most popular destinations for recreational fishing and whether people are fishing by boat or from a pier helps us determine who and where to target educational resources and programs that help protect and conserve our fisheries resources,” says Bryan Fluech, associate director of extension at UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.  

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Guide to Coastal Fishing in Georgia map series feature a map of the inshore coastal waters within each county as well as tips on responsible harvesting practices. Knowing, through the study, that Glynn, Chatham and Camden counties are the top three fishing destinations in coastal Georgia enables extension professionals to make sure tackle shops and marinas in these counties are stocked with the guides and other resources.  

A Trawl to Trash bag hangs on a dock post as a resource for collecting debris along waterways.

This information will also allow UGA staff to target specific counties and sites with outreach programs, like Trawl to Trash, which is designed to educate boaters and beachgoers about the impacts of marine debris and encourage use of recycled trawl bags to collect and remove debris from Georgia’s waterways.  

“Trawl to Trash was launched with recreational anglers in mind, realizing they often need a way to collect and store debris while on the water,” says Fluech. “Knowing that most recreational fishing is happening by boat or from shore validates our efforts to target outreach efforts at marinas and public access points.”  

Georgia’s saltwater recreational fishing sector is intricately linked with multiple industries, including retail, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism. It not only generates government revenue through taxes and fees but also plays a crucial role in supporting conservation efforts. The economic significance and cultural popularity of the industry underscores the importance of adopting sustainable practices and effective management to ensure the industry’s sustainable growth and success in Georgia.

Writer: Emily Kenworthy, ekenworthy@uga.edu, 336-466-1520 
Contact: Eugene Frimpong, eugene.frimpong@uga.edu, 912-262-2379

“We Know Georgia” showcases how UGA is using its expertise and resources to spur economic prosperity across the state and uphold its commitment to serve Georgia. We are sharing stories of resiliency, entrepreneurship, sustainability and economic prosperity to show how UGA works with communities to make life better for Georgians. Learn more here.

Four college graduates will work with state, federal and non-governmental agencies over the next year as part of the UGA Marine Extension Georgia Sea Grant State Fellowship. The fellowship places recent graduate students in host offices where they gain hands-on experience in resource management, outreach, planning and policy implementation.

“We’re excited to collaborate with partners to facilitate these learning opportunities and nurture the professional growth and development of the next generation of leaders on the coast,” said Mark Risse, director of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.

This is the fifth year that Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant has offered the state fellowship, which is open to in and out-of-state graduate students. So far, 16 students have participated in the program.

The 2023-24 state fellows will work with the following partners: Georgia Conservancy, NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy – Georgia, and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve and Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society.

Nia Burnett has a bachelor’s in environmental studies from Allegheny College. She is currently completing her master’s in marine science at Savannah State University, where she is studying environmental toxicology, namely microplastics in benthic environments and how marine invertebrates interact with them. As a fellow working with Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve and Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, she will be developing recommendations for flood mitigation on Sapelo Island, home of the Hog Hammock Gullah Geechee community. These recommendations will be created with the idea of enhancing the resilience of the community to climate change and sea level rise.

“My career goals are to figure out a way to combine my love for, and experiences in, education and outreach with STEM, research, and community engagement. I truly want people to feel like they have all of the knowledge and power to make informed environmental decisions about their communities. With this fellowship, I hope to gain the experience that can give me a blueprint to move forward with,” Burnett said.

Daniel Harris completed his undergraduate studies in geology and zoology from the National University of Ireland, Galway. He went on to pursue a Ph.D. in ecology from UGA where he studied the interaction between Georgia’s salt marshes and oyster reefs along the coast. Harris will be working with The Nature Conservancy – Georgia. At The Nature Conservancy, Harris will be collaborating with underserved communities, aquaculture professionals, academics, and resource managers to develop an Integrated Oyster Resiliency Plan for the state of Georgia.

“I love oysters! For an invertebrate, oysters are amazing little ambassadors of resilient coastal ecosystems. I am excited about this fellowship, as it is a great opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders towards the common goal of promoting and protecting these amazing organisms,” Harris said.

Kathy Liu completed her undergraduate degree at Scripps College in Claremont, California, before pursuing a master’s from the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science in Miami, Florida. As part of her graduate degree, she studied bonnethead shark head morphology, sexual dimorphism and diet. As a fellow with Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Liu will help to advance the scientific research, policy, and planning projects of the sanctuary. She will also support outreach, education and internship programs.

“This fellowship allows me the opportunity to continue exploring my interests in marine science while being able to translate the work done by the sanctuary to the public. I am passionate about conducting research on marine organisms and ecosystems and the fellowship will give me the opportunity to learn about the connectivity of Georgia’s ecosystems and see the long-term monitoring work done by Gray’s Reef,” Liu said.

Monét Murphy graduated from Savannah State University with a bachelor’s in marine science and environmental science. As part of her undergrad, she studied benthic foraminifera in the Savannah River Estuary, which are tiny, single-celled organisms that can serve as bioindicators of environmental conditions in marine environments. Murphy is currently pursuing her master’s in marine science at Savannah State University. As a fellow with the Georgia Conservancy, Murphy will work with partners and regional stakeholders to advance the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI) in Georgia. SASMI is a multi-state coalition working to conserve the 1 million acres of salt marsh in the South Atlantic region. Murphy will also support efforts to raise awareness among recreational boaters about threats to North American right whales.

“My dedication to environmental justice drives my enthusiasm to engage in research, conservation, and restoration efforts that ensure equitable access to the benefits of a thriving ecosystem, particularly for marginalized communities. I am eager to contribute to the development of a sustainable and diversified local economy, responsible urban planning, and community engagement strategies that foster a deeper connection between residents and the coastal environment,” Murphy said.