UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

The 2026 South Atlantic Release Rodeo is officially halfway complete, meaning you have a little over a month remaining to win free giveaway entries by sharing data from your released fish!

We’ve already given out some amazing gear this summer, but the best is yet to come, so get those SAFMC Release submissions (with photos) uploaded for a chance to win our remaining monthly and grand prize gear packages provided by our wonderful 2026 donors!

Visit the link below for more information on the South Atlantic Release Rodeo and start earning giveaway entries:
https://gulfseagrant.org/reef-fish-extension/safmc-release-rodeo

The UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium will be closed Friday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

Please join us in welcoming our incredible summer interns! ☀️They have already started off their season supporting us in a variety of projects at both our Skidaway and Brunswick locations.

Learn more about our interns and what they'll be working on this summer at https://bit.ly/4uJXuz7

These internships are made possible through the generous support of private donors.

Be prepared this hurricane season. Join Liberty County in partnership with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant on Friday, June 26 for the Liberty County Hurricane Prep Rally.

This free, open‑house–style community event is designed to help residents prepare for and respond to disasters. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with local emergency managers, first responders, and preparedness experts and learn steps they can take before, during, and after an emergency.

Applications are now open for our 2027 Coastal Awareness and Responsible Ecotourism (CARE) certification program!

This professional development course is designed for water- based interpreters and tour operators working along Georgia’s coast. Build your knowledge, strengthen your credibility, and join a community committed to responsible coastal tourism.

Learn more and apply at gacoast.uga.edu/care

Applications are open for the 2026 Gray's Reef Research and Resource Management Fellowship. This 12-month opportunity is a partnership between UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

Based in Savannah, the selected fellow will receive a $45,000 stipend to gain hands-on experience in marine resource management, policy and monitoring. Graduate students who are near completion of their degree or who graduated within the past year are eligible to apply. The application deadline is July 13, 2026.

Learn more about the position and how to apply at gacoast.uga.edu/state-fellowship

We had an amazing turnout this past Saturday for World Ocean Day, with close to 1,000 visitors joining us at the UGA Aquarium for a full day of hands-on science, games, and ocean-themed activities! 🌊

Guests explored our new interactive sand table built by our partners at Georgia Tech to see how coastal dunes change over time. They also crafted unique sea-level data friendship bracelets, and learned how NASA data helps scientists plan for the future. We loved seeing so many of you connect with community partners and take a pledge to protect our blue planet!

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us and to the NASA Science Activation Program for making this free event possible. Let’s continue taking those small actions that make an impact on ocean health and coastal ecosystems!

Missed the fun? Don't worry, our exciting summer lineup of public programs is officially underway! Check out what we have coming up next at gacoast.uga.edu/events

The 2026 South Atlantic Release Rodeo has been off to a hot start these past few weeks! We wanted to share a helpful reminder that SAFMC Release submissions that contain photos eligible for length-validation will receive DOUBLE the entries into Sea Grant gear giveaways. This allows participants to gain up to eight giveaway entries per month for items like rod and reel combos, lures, jigs, weights, and more!

Visit https://bit.ly/434lEt5 to learn more and create a SAFMC Release account to get started.