Welcome Jay Gerner

Jay Gerner recently joined us as a seasonal environmental planner working with the Tributary Action Teams.  A native of the Philadelphia area, he has been a lifelong summer visitor and resident of Rehoboth Beach and a permanent Rehoboth resident since 1988.   Jay earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Delaware in 1989 and a master’s degree in marine policy from the UD Graduate College of Marine Studies in 2004.

Jay’s interest in the natural world, specifically the coastal and marine world, dates back to his childhood, when he learned about fishing, crabbing, clamming and other ways to enjoy the local wildlife.  He grew up with a strong appreciation for the natural beauty of Delaware’s coastal areas and came to understand the value and importance of maintaining the health of these resources.  He learned to sail on Rehoboth Bay as a young boy and went on to become an avid surf fisherman, boater and waterfowler.  Jay has witnessed the rapid growth of coastal Sussex County and the impacts of development and increased use on the local waters, marshes and the surrounding watershed.

During graduate school, Jay worked on a project in the Inland Bays as part of the effort to restore submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) that has been lost due to nutrient pollution.  He then worked on two projects with the University of Delaware Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service. The first was the Maryland Coastal Bays Water-Use Assessment Study, which surveyed recreational boaters and studied the uses and impacts of boating and other activities on Maryland’s coastal bays.  The second was the Sussex County Quality of Life Study, which studied the growth trends of population and housing in Sussex County and surveyed county residents for their attitudes, perceptions and input regarding growth and development issues.   Jay co-authored and published summary reports for each of these projects.

After changing careers from the mortgage, title insurance and corporate employee relocation fields, Jay is glad to now be combining his personal interests and higher education into a role in which he can help improve the health of our waters and ensure the sustainability of our natural resources.