The Spill Spotters Network is a program that educates community members on how they can help protect coastal wildlife and habitat when an oil spill or other pollution event hits our waters.
.After attending an interactive workshop, participants are better able to:
• Understand the impact of oil spills on wildlife, habitat, and water
• Prepare by monitoring and collecting data about vulnerable coastal areas
• Respond in ways that enhance New Jersey’s official response to spills
• Use the Marine Defenders App to report oil spills, pollution, algal blooms, and other problems in our water
The purpose of a ‘Spill Spotter’ is to be one of hundreds of people who create a vast ‘Network’ of coastal stewards. Once these volunteers adopt a region of a local waterbody, with the help of the Society, they can conduct continual biological assessments at that location to collect a database of all the species living in and around the waters, as well as any abnormalities that may occur at that location overtime. This collection of data coupled with all the other locations gives the Society a vast database of all the things living in our coastal ecosystems. In the unfortunate event of an environmental disaster (oil spill or hurricane), this data can act as the best defense mechanism to get the aid and funding needed to bring such documented species back.
You can see the New Jersey data here: spillspotters.gisnj.com/spillspotters/
• Understand the impact of oil spills on wildlife, habitat, and water
• Prepare by monitoring and collecting data about vulnerable coastal areas
• Respond in ways that enhance New Jersey’s official response to spills
• Use the Marine Defenders App to report oil spills, pollution, algal blooms, and other problems in our water
The purpose of a ‘Spill Spotter’ is to be one of hundreds of people who create a vast ‘Network’ of coastal stewards. Once these volunteers adopt a region of a local waterbody, with the help of the Society, they can conduct continual biological assessments at that location to collect a database of all the species living in and around the waters, as well as any abnormalities that may occur at that location overtime. This collection of data coupled with all the other locations gives the Society a vast database of all the things living in our coastal ecosystems. In the unfortunate event of an environmental disaster (oil spill or hurricane), this data can act as the best defense mechanism to get the aid and funding needed to bring such documented species back.
You can see the New Jersey data here: spillspotters.gisnj.com/spillspotters/
Step One
Attend a Spill Spotters Workshop. During this lecture, participants will learn about the different kinds of oils in our waters, how to properly document different environmental issues, and who to report to in case of emergency.
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Step TwoAdopt a coastal spot near you. This can be any coastal waterbody in close proximity to you. Members of the Littoral Society will help conduct a biological assessment three times a year and record all marine and terrestrial species seen and or found
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Step ThreeEnjoy the catch! Pull the seine net with the help of Littoral Society staff to find all the fun creatures living in your waters. Waders will be provided! Pictured above is a baby horseshoe crab found by the Society's summer intern, Danielle.
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