Delaware Sea Grant

DESG intern Alexandra Dugan instructing students on the anatomy of a horseshoe crab

Environmental education

Intern Alexandra Dugan fine-tunes outreach skills

Exploring seagrass beds throughout Delaware

Seagrass beds in Delaware

DESG intern conducts hands-on research on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)

Year in Review

Discover the impacts of our programs across the state

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Delaware Sea Grant

OUR MISSION

SCIENCE SERVING DELAWARE

Delaware Sea Grant helps Delaware communities wisely use, manage, and conserve our state's valuable coastal resources by fostering sustainable coastal economies, developing resilience to coastal hazards, and preparing the next generation of coastal leaders.

WHAT WE DO

FOCUS AREAS

A group of researchers from CEOE and COE are working on a project looking at how installing living shorelines--specifically, oyster reef habitat--in the Delaware Bay can protect shoreline against sea level rise and more intense storm surge events. The project is called Developing Engineering practices using Ecosystem Design Solutions for Future Army (Military DEEDS Project): Building Coastal Community Resilience with Nature-based Shoreline Solutions. It is funded through an appropriation and is a collaboration among the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), 91原创 and Louisiana State University. The project is led at 91原创 by Jack Puleo and looks to inform the Army on land-use management designs to enhance the resilience of military missions and operations in present and future terrains by using ecosystem services to address threats posed by climate and coastal hazards. The project is being managed by Ed Hale and graduate students Brendan Campbell, a postdoctoral researcher in Hale鈥檚 lab, and Rileigh Huddock, a master鈥檚 level student in CEOE. They have installed a living shoreline test site in the Delaware Bay near the Hugh R. Sharp campus. [91原创aily]

Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

Paving the way for a thriving and sustainable ecosystem and maritime economy from ocean to table

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Resilient Communities and Economies

Preserving Delaware鈥檚 coastal heritage through adaptive community development

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Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development

Engaging students and teachers in innovative marine science learning programs

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Graduate students, faculty, and staff with the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment and Delaware Sea Grant working in Rehoboth Bay to clean up to clean up "ghost" (derelict and abandoned) crab pots which litter the floor of the Bay. A previous survey found over 300 pots which have been lost or abandoned that can nevertheless still trap and kill wildlife that come across them, as well as pose a risk to boaters and swimmers. Once the pots have been removed from the bottom they are cleaned up and made available for repair and reuse or broken up and recycled.

Healthy Coastal Ecosystems

Leveraging community science to sustain coastal research and support the Delaware coast

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Professional Mariner Training Program

The Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) is a U.S. Coast Guard license to work aboard tugboats, ferries, cargo ships, research vessels, fishing boats, and offshore rigs. Delaware Sea Grant provides step-by-step assistance throughout the application process, including individual assessment, career orientation, vessel tours and training videos, introductions to industry partners, and employment support.听

Looking for more information? E-mail DESG Maritime Industry Specialist Rosemary Carroll at rosemary@udel.edu.听

NEWS & EVENTS

Engaging Communities with Delaware Sea Grant

September 16, 2026 | Written by Adam Thomas

Natalie Kurek spent her summer as the Community Engaged Internship (CEI) program intern, working on urban watershed outreach and educational programming on topics such as stormwater management and urban heat with Delaware Sea Grant.
Gaining environmental education experience

August 31, 2026 | Written by Adam Thomas

Alexandra Dugan has always been passionate about environmental education and outreach, so when the opportunity arose to spend a summer with 91原创鈥檚 Delaware Sea Grant learning about those topics and fine-tuning her skills, she jumped at the chance.
Exploring seagrass beds throughout Delaware

August 28, 2026 | Written by Adam Thomas

Adrian Ring's summer with 91原创鈥檚 Delaware Sea Grant gave them the opportunity to work in the field, conducting hands-on research on Delaware鈥檚 submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV).