Delaware Sea Grant Recreation & Tourism Specialist


	Marine recreation and tourism specialist James Falk (left) and environmental scientist Ben Anderson from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control map out resource protection areas in the Inland Bays using a Global Positioning System.

Jim Falk
Marine Advisory Service Director,
Marine Recreation and Tourism Specialist
E-mail: jfalk@udel.edu
Phone: 302-645-4235


Reports now available in pdf format: "Sussex County Arts Study: Views and Opinions of Residents" "Quality of Life in Sussex County, Delaware: Understanding Coastal and Inland Residents' Preferences, Attitudes, and Opinions" Coastal Tourism Outreach Water-Use Planning and Management Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management

Coastal tourism is a major contributor to Delaware's economy. An estimated 6 million people visit Delaware's beaches each year. Thousands of others ply the state's waters — Delaware's Inland Bays represent the most popular boating destination in the state. Additionally, both inshore and offshore recreational fishing for more than 73 species of finfish and shellfish has steadily risen due to an increased tourism and resident population.

Delaware Sea Grant has developed a number of programs and publications to inform tourists about the state's marine and coastal resources, teach them how to reduce their impacts on the environment, and alert them on how to stay safe under the threat of natural hazards in the coastal zone, ranging from lighthing at the beach to rip currents.

Coastal Tourism Outreach

Delaware, like other areas, is experiencing tremendous tourism growth and development in its coastal zone. This growth is putting immense pressures on the natural resources that are the major draw. This growth also challenges small communities and chambers of commerce who have limited budgets and must try to compete in the "tourism marketplace".

Water-Use Planning and Management

Recreational and commercial uses of Delaware's waterways have increased over the past few years. In order to address the waterway use conflicts, boating safety and environmental concerns it is necessary to fully understand the nature of the activities causing the problems.

Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management

Human dimensions of natural resource management can be defined as an area of investigation which attempts to describe, predict, understand and affect human thought and action toward natural environments and to acquire such understanding for the primary purpose of improving stewardship of natural resources.