A new partnership between Rutgers University, Stockton University, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and marine technology company Ocean Power Technologies Inc. holds the hope of bringing new life to a historic ocean research program off the Jersey Shore.
The collaboration is expected to deliver significant economic and innovation benefits for New Jersey. By combining cutting-edge marine technology with academic research, the project will create opportunities for workforce training, attract investment in ocean science and position the state as a leader in sustainable marine innovation. It will provide infrastructure and support for startups and inventors driving the ocean economy, fostering an environment where innovators can develop solutions that advance marine sustainability and growth.
The first step in the effort will be the deployment of a high-tech research buoy in early 2026 about three miles off the coast of the Rutgers Marine Field Station in Tuckerton.
The buoy, called the PowerBuoy, will be anchored at the Long-Term Ecosystem observatory (LEO) site. Once in place, it will begin collecting real-time data on ocean conditions and provide additional ports for scientists and educators to connect their own instruments.
Josh Kohut, a marine scientist and dean of research for the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, said the new technology will enable New Jersey-based coastal research and innovation.
“The PowerBuoy is set to usher in a new era of marine and coastal research,” said Kohut, who also is the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station director of research. “And it will be a critical element in the rebirth of LEO.”
The LEO program, once known as LEO-15, was started in 1996 as a pioneering ocean observatory that delivered real-time data from its two cabled seafloor platforms, or nodes, and supported studies on storms, sediment transport, phytoplankton and fish ecology, and coastal dynamics. The number 15 referred to the fact that the research station was in waters 15 meters (about 50 feet) deep. It was among the first systems in the world to integrate cabled observatories with autonomous underwater vehicles for data collection.
As technology advanced in the mid-2000s, LEO-15 underwent upgrades, and its legacy continued through Rutgers’ leadership in ocean observation by integrating multiple technologies to tackle pressing challenges facing coastal communities. Deployment of this new monitoring system will revitalize the ocean site, ensuring it remains a cornerstone for innovation in coastal science.
Stockton University’s Marine Field Station is a critical partner in the revitalization effort. Steve Evert, director of the station, said the project will provide experiential learning and new insights into near-shore ocean conditions.
The Stockton Marine Field Station is located on a tributary of the Mullica River about 7 miles from Little Egg Inlet and a short drive from the university’s Galloway and Atlantic City campuses.
