New Jersey beaches rated in great shape for holiday crowds

As the Memorial Day weekend begins, New Jersey tourism officials say the state’s beaches are once again ready for visitors.

In the 10th annual “State of the Shore” address, scientists and ocean experts rated water quality and beach conditions as better than ever.

Unseasonably warm weather had a lot to do with the ideal state of the beaches, says Kim Kosko of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium.

“Because of the mild winter, we had no weather that had a serious impact worse than a couple hurricanes and large storms,” she said Thursday. “But for the most part … the beaches in New Jersey are really in great shape.”

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

With beaches at their best, Kosko said she expects visitors will enjoy the unofficial start of the summer season.

“People are going to appreciate the fact that water quality is excellent, that the beaches are bigger and cleaner, and that the environment and climate are overall better,” she said. “It’s going to make for a more pleasant experience.”

The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium advances knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment.

New Jersey’s shore tourism industry is worth about $16 billion annually

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal