Nina Colagiovanni
Current Job: Fisheries Biologist, NJDEP Fish and Wildlife (Bureau of Marine Habitat and Shellfisheries)
Current Project: Developing SAV mapping efforts for 2024 in NJ northern coastal rivers; discussing future plans such as developing monitoring efforts for SAV and establishing an SAV outreach and education program. Other projects include the Delaware Bay Juvenile Finfish Trawl and Hard Clam Survey
State(s) working in: New Jersey
Where are you from: Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey
What do you think is the main reason we should protect SAV?
SAV provides many ecosystem services and is an important climate change mitigator!
How do you feel your research will make a difference in the SAV community?
I feel that my research will allow us to better understand the current status of SAV within the state of New Jersey and to help take important next steps in SAV conservation. SAV is the main focus of my job and why I was hired, and I appreciate the opportunity to grow and enhance work within the state. We just created a video for YouTube to teach the community about SAV and our efforts within New Jersey.
What is one of your best memories working with SAV?
Working on the 2023 mapping survey this past summer. We sampled a station near Barnegat Lighthouse where the water was crystal clear and we saw large, dense eelgrass beds (I've attached the image of me swimming there). It felt like I was in Florida and was absolutely breathtaking!
What keeps you motivated to keep caring about the future of SAV?
The opportunity to teach and talk about SAV to both the science and non-science community and share why they are so important. Being able to teach someone who has never heard of SAV before and get them to care about it is always a rewarding experience.
More about Nina’s story
I am from Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, where the ocean has been my backyard. I spent many summer days at the beach, swimming in the ocean and looking for seashells on the beach. From a very young age, I knew that I wanted to be a marine biologist someday. I was lucky enough to attend my dream school, the University of Miami, where I earned my Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology and Ecology. During that time, I wasn't sure what exactly I wanted to pursue. I worked in a coral and ocean acidification lab, was a part of the Marine Mammal Rescue Team, and interned my junior and senior year with the Shark Research & Conservation Program. So...how did I end up in the world of SAV?
Well, I thought that I might stay in Florida. The tropical climate and ecosystems were awe-inspiring to me. However, the longer that I was home, the more I wanted to stay home. As I searched for jobs, it became clear to me: being able to work to help conserve and protect NJ's important ecosystems and species so that it can be appreciated and enjoyed in the way that I have appreciated and enjoyed it throughout my life was something that I felt very strongly about. Landing my current role as a Fisheries Biologist, and working with SAV, has felt like a dream come true, and I couldn't be more appreciative. I am grateful for the opportunity to do what I love each and every day, and to know that the work that I am doing is benefiting such an important habitat like SAV.
