Delaware Sea Grant

08/21/2026

A combination of warm ocean waters, higher salt levels and no significant storms has "created a 'perfect storm' of conditions for the local jelly species to thrive," DESG Marine Advisory Service director Chris Petrone tells Capital Weather.

It's the peak of beach season and there is almost no one in the ocean.

08/19/2026

Via Delaware Public Media: As part of a pilot program, the city of Lewes has been working with experts from the University of Delaware, Delaware State Housing Authority, and Delaware Sea Grant on how to handle rebuilding homes after a natural disaster.

As part of a pilot program, the city has been working with experts on how to handle rebuilding homes after a natural disaster.

08/17/2026

DESG coastal hazards specialist Danielle Swallow has co-authored a paper in the recent issue of the Delaware Journal of Public Health, detailing lessons learned from the February 2026 blizzard. Read the full article (and others) at the link!

Delaware's overall population has increased by nearly 21% since 2006, and much of that growth occurred downstate - Sussex (increased 57%) and Kent (increased 30%) Counties have grown much more quickly than New Castle (12%) over the same period of time. Delaware now has the eighth-oldest population i...

08/14/2026

August is one of the hottest months of the year! Here's a (long) list of tips on how you can stay cool and safe, and avoid heat-related hazards (for more tips, visit ready.gov/heat):

🧊 Stay indoors in an air-conditioned building as much as possible.

🧊 Do not rely on fans as they do not lower your body temperature or prevent heat-related illnesses.

🧊 Cover your windows with shades or drapes.

🧊 Weather-strip your doors and windows.

🧊 Use a powered attic ventilator or attic fan to remove hot air and regulate your home temperature.

🧊 Drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated, even if you do not feel thirsty.

🧊 If air conditioning is not available in your house, find a cooling center.

🧊 Wear loose, light-colored, lightweight clothing.

🧊 Take cool showers or baths.

🧊 Avoid outdoor activities, and if you are outside, seek shade and wear a hat.

🧊 Check on your family, friends, and older adults.

🧊 Do not leave people or pets in a closed car.

🧊 If your pet is outside make sure they have a lot of cold water and shade and avoid dark-colored pavement as it may burn their feet.

08/12/2026

DESG's Cotie Alsbrooks, Rosemary Carroll and Chris Hauser (pictured) recently met with Moran Towing Corporation to explore ways for Delaware Sea Grant to expand its support for the maritime industries in Delaware and across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

DESG is offering a program to help interested individuals obtain their Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) and assist with job placement. The MMC is a U.S. Coast Guard license to work aboard tugboats, ferries, cargo ships, research vessels, fishing boats, and offshore rigs.

For more information, contact Rosemary Carroll at [email protected].

08/10/2026

DESG's Kathryn Lienhard, who provided staff support for the bipartisan Delaware Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force, tells Delaware Online that public buy-in on nuclear power and infrastructure can “make or break a project.”

A Delaware nuclear energy task force's final report largely calls for more more investigation into power generation. Here are a few takeaways.

08/07/2026

Via CoastTV News: Delaware Sea Grant hosted a heat education resource fair at the University of Delaware this week, helping visitors learn about energy efficiency and heat safety outdoors.

"We might think that on a beautiful summer day, being outside is is something we all want to do," says DESG energy resource associate Kathryn Lienhard. "But it's important to be prepared and to know what signs to watch for."

Delaware Sea Grant hosted a heat education resource fair at the University of Delaware on Aug. 3. The Beat the Heat resource fair taught visitors about energy efficiency and heat safety outdoors.

08/05/2026

Reminder: DESG and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program are hosting a two-day hands-on training and removal event in September focused on locating and retrieving derelict crab pots.

Learn more and register here: https://events.udel.edu/event/copy-of-crab-pot-round-up-volunteer-training-event

08/03/2026

There's still time to register for our Beat the Heat Resource Fair this Wednesday, August 5, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at UD's Lewes campus!

As record heat pummels the First State, it is important for Delaware residents to learn different ways to effectively stay cool as temperatures rise.

Learn more and register at the link!

Extreme heat preparedness inspired Delaware Sea Grant to host a Beat the Heat Resource Fair from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Wednesday, August 5, at the University of Delaware's Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes.

08/03/2026

Chris Petrone, head of Delaware Sea Grant's Marine Advisory Service, was interviewed by NBC10 Philadelphia about the unusually high number of jellyfish stings at Delaware beaches this summer.

"If we have warmer water, we are going to see those jellyfish move in and thrive earlier and more often and in bigger numbers," Petrone says.

Lifeguards and marine experts explain why jellyfish may be arriving earlier and how to reduce your chances of getting stung.