James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook

New Jersey Laboratory of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. The primary mission of the Howard Laboratory is to conduct research in ecology, leading to a better understanding of both coastal and estuarine organisms and the effects of human activities.

Our Location

The James J. Howard Marine Sciences Lab is located within the Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area. Our proximity to both major urban waterways and the pristine estuaries of southern New Jersey allows our staff to investigate a range of habitats and human effects on ecosystems.

Directions to James J. Howard Lab

In July 2023, NOAA took ownership of the James J. Howard Laboratory in New Jersey. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, NOAA celebrated the agency's commitment to a long-term presence in the mid-Atlantic.

Learn more about the event

What We Do


 

The primary mission of the Howard Laboratory is to conduct research in ecology, leading to a better understanding of both coastal and estuarine organisms and the effects of human activities on nearshore marine populations and their habitats.

Northeast U.S. Shelf Regional Ecosystem

People

To conduct our work, we partner with a diverse group of international, governmental, and academic scientists and students. The laboratory may provide space and other research support to these partners and visiting scientists. More than a dozen scientists are located at the Howard Laboratory. Current federal research staff include contractors and employees from NOAA Fisheries, including:

We also have federal staff from NOAA's National Ocean Service and National Weather Service.

The lab also supports non-federal scientists from:

Our Facilities

Dedicated in 1993, the Howard Laboratory is a purpose built research facility, with organic and inorganic chemistry labs, controlled temperature rooms, and multifunction wetlabs. The wetlabs are serviced by a flowthrough seawater system, where water is drawn from Sandy Hook Bay, screened, and then pumped through the building before returning to the bay. Several wetlabs are currently implementing recirculating aquaculture systems designed for different types of experiments. These systems can control for water temperature, salinity, and pH to accommodate a variety of research.

Chemistry Labs

There are a number of flexible chemistry spaces within the Howard Laboratory, with most currently configured to support organic and inorganic applications. Major instrumentation includes, but is not limited to, two gas chromatograph/mass spectrometers, a high performance liquid chromatograph, a direct mercury analyzer, and an Iatroscan.

Seawater Labs

Four 2-foot by 4-foot rectangular fiberglass fish tanks containing seagrass arranged in a concrete block room.
A small wetlab setup to support a seagrass mesocosm experiment. Credit NOAA Fisheries/James Vasslides

The Howard Lab has 5 small (18ft by 28ft) and 5 large (28ft by 38ft) wetlabs. These multipurpose spaces are all serviced by flowthrough seawater, hot/cold freshwater, centralized DI water, and a centralized bubbler system. The labs can accommodate tanks of various shapes and sizes, and can host a wide variety of experimental designs.

A concrete block room containing seven circular blue fiberglass tanks of different diameters and assorted scientific and aquaria equipment.
One of the Howard Laboratory large wetlabs, with fiberglass tanks of various sizes and a storage loft. Credit NOAA Fisheries.

Recirculating Aquaculture System

In 2021, the Howard Lab built a recirculating aquaculture system to advance research in sustainable fish farming. The system consists of 3 culture tanks of 1900 gallons each, biofiltration, ultraviolet sterilization, and has the ability to maintain water temperature between 4C and 26C.

Three large light blue cylindrical fiberglass tanks in a well light concrete block room, with a dark blue resin coated floor.
The culture tanks of the Howard Lab’s commercial-grade recirculating aquaculture system. The mechanical components of the system are located in an adjacent room. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Ehren Habeck

Research Aquarium

In a large white room, ceiling to wall with adjustable lights, two scientists sit behind the Howard Lab’s 32,000-gallon research aquarium. The scientists look at a computer screen, reviewing data from the transducer in the aquarium.
Researchers (left) review data from a submerged transducer (pole in center) in the Howard Lab’s 32,000-gallon research aquarium. Credit NOAA Fisheries

The Howard Lab also has a two-story 32,000-gallon research aquarium. The aquarium has multiple viewports at the ground level for observation, and is in a soundproof room with an adjustable lighting system. 

Marine Development Ecology Lab

This laboratory has been recently redesigned with unique infrastructure for marine noise and fish hearing studies. Specifically, this space has a capacity for temperature and oxygen controlled flow-through and/or recirculating aquaculture fish husbandry systems, a Tucker Davis System III Electrophysiology hardware-software neurophysiology system for fish hearing studies, and a two room Audiology Suite in which computer-controlled behavioral and physiological experiments can be conducted in near-silent and reduced-echo conditions. Other modifications to the lab include general sound absorption infrastructure along walls and tanks used to maintain research fish populations. Collectively, this provides the Howard lab with highly specialized, regionally-unique acoustic infrastructure to conduct a variety of projects.

The lab is currently researching:

A clear pipe, suspended from a wooden ceiling, has many outlets for water going down the pipe. Two scientists on either end of the suspended pipe track the CO2 values and gauges for an Ocean Acidification experiment.
Howard Lab staff using instrumentation to track pH during ocean acidification studies. Filtered sea water and carbon dioxide move through the pipe, creating a pH gradient. Credit:NOAA Fisheries/ Veronica Malabanan Lucchese

More Information

Contact Us

Our Leadership

Smiling male scientist with brown hair wearing coral shirt

James Vasslides, Ph.D.

Lab Director - Howard Lab at Sandy Hook, Fisheries & Habitat Ecology, Chief

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Management Team

Ecosystems & Aquaculture Division

Lisa Milke, Ph.D.

Director, Ecosystems & Aquaculture Division
    • Fisheries & Habitat Ecology
      James Vasslides, Ph.D., Lab Director - Howard Lab at Sandy Hook, Fisheries & Habitat Ecology, Chief

Our History

In 1961, following passage of the 1959 Marine Game Fish Act, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife established a laboratory focused on sportfish at Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook in New Jersey. The laboratory originally operated out of a former military hospital. In 1971, the laboratory became part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service (now NOAA Fisheries). Research expanded to include studies of ecosystem responses to toxins and other environmental degradation, focusing on the highly impacted areas like the New York Bight. In 1985, the Sandy Hook Laboratory was destroyed by arson. Most equipment, and a 33,000 volume fisheries library were lost. After the fire, the staff moved into trailers and old former army barracks to carry out modest experiments in limited space. Reconstruction began in the late 1980s, near the former laboratory site. At the groundbreaking ceremony in 1989, the new lab was named the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory after the late James Howard, U.S. Representative of New Jersey's 3rd District, who led the lab rebuilding effort. Today, the laboratory continues to conduct valuable research to understand human impacts on marine ecosystems.