 We're getting ready to make some waves! Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated fish tagging members, the American Littoral Society Fish Tagging Program is about to reach a truly incredible milestone!
For 60 years, our diligent volunteer taggers have been passionately tagging saltwater fish along the Eastern Seaboard. Now, the countdown is officially ON: we're just a few thousand tags away from hitting our astonishing one millionth tagged fish! We're so close to hitting this incredible number we can almost taste it, like a striper on a grill. But we need your help to get there! We're seeking to raise $2,500 to directly support our Fish Tagging Program, which brings together seasoned anglers, citizen scientists and researchers to better understand the remarkable species inhabiting our coastal waters.  Each summer, the American Littoral Society provides young people aged 16-25 with a paid opportunity for employment and learning through our Restoration Corps (R-Corps) program.
R-Corps is more than just a summer job; it's a hands-on green jobs training and service program that equips participants with real-world skills in conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education. In the past, these jobs were based out of our offices in Millville (Cumberland County, NJ) and in the heart of Jamaica Bay, Queens, in NYC. This summer, we're thrilled to expand the program to include positions at our headquarters on Sandy Hook (Monmouth County, NJ). The expansion of the program to Sandy Hook was funded by a generous donor. Our dedicated R-Corps teams don't just sit in classrooms; they get their hands dirty through hands-on work on our projects in local communities. How the Endangered Species Act Brought Wildlife Back to NY & NJ And Why It Needs Our Help5/20/2025
 A bald eagle soaring, a whale breaching just off the beach, and seals sunning on sandbars are a thrilling and fairly common sight along the coast of New York and New Jersey.
If you've joined us for a Littoral Society walk on Sandy Hook or a Seastreak Seal and Bird Ecology cruise, you've likely seen these majestic creatures and more. During our Seastreak outings this year we were excited by the rare sight of a grey seal chilling like a boss on the rocks near the West Bank Lighthouse (they are far less common in these parts than their harbor seal cousins). We also got to witness a spectacular Gannet feeding frenzy, with hundreds of birds diving into the sea at speeds up to 70 mph to catch fish. But not too long ago they were seldom seen in this area. As a result of pollution, pesticides, human development and hunting, those and other wildlife had virtually disappeared. In 1974, Osprey were listed as endangered in New Jersey, with only a few dozen nesting pairs remaining. In that same time frame, only one Bald Eagle nest could be found in the state. Whales and seals disappeared for nearly a century, returning around 2010. That return wasn't just happenstance. These amazing animals are living testaments to the power of dedicated conservation; a success story in which the Endangered Species Act (ESA) played a pivotal role. Yet despite that evident success, the ESA is currently facing significant challenges.  As we approach the American Littoral Society's 40th anniversary of our New York State Beach Cleanup (NYSBC) program in 2026, we’re proud to reflect on another year of extraordinary impact made possible by our dedicated volunteers.
During the 2024 beach cleanup season, our statewide efforts rallied over 800 volunteers who removed more than 6,000 pounds of trash from shorelines across New York — from upstate lakes to Long Island’s coastline. This annual effort, led by our Northeast Chapter since 1985, is part of the International Coastal Cleanup and highlights the power of grassroots action. This year’s Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday, September 20, and we invite volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to join us again in protecting our shores. |
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