by Nina Sassano
June 25, 2025
Spanning over 160 small islands in Barnegat, Little Egg, Great, and Absecon Bays, New Jersey’s bay islands form a vital yet often overlooked coastal system teeming with wildlife, buffering storms, and anchoring communities. Together, partners including the Barnegat Bay Partnership, NJ Fish and Wildlife Service, the Jacques Cousteau NERR, Ocean County Soil Conservation District, Long Beach Township Marine Education Field Station, and many others are working towards educating and restoring these vital habitats through the NJ Bay Islands Initiative.