Karl Vilacoba
@kvilacoba.bsky.social
Communications director, Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (@monmouthuci.bsky.social). Project manager, Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal (@marcoportal.bsky.social). Jersey Shore lifer. Opinions mine.
I love this 🦞 The article doesn’t say, but it would be even better if these were pots recovered by marine debris programs.
What began as a quaint and unique nod to New England’s seafaring heritage is proliferating in Hallmarkian proportions: the lobster trap Christmas tree. At least 20 of the structures dot the coastline from Connecticut to Maine.
Christmas Trappings: New England Swoons Over Lobster Pot Trees
The trees have become a sought-after backdrop for social media posts, holiday cards and even marriage proposals.
nyti.ms
December 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I love this 🦞 The article doesn’t say, but it would be even better if these were pots recovered by marine debris programs.
Hold on, was Frank Miller’s iconic Wolverine #1 cover modeled on Sinatra?
December 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Hold on, was Frank Miller’s iconic Wolverine #1 cover modeled on Sinatra?
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Karl Vilacoba
Tomorrow at 11: Join the UCI's Jay Odell and @kvilacoba.bsky.social for a tour of the @marcoportal.bsky.social's #fishing maps. Come find out what's new and in the works: portal.midatlanticocean.org/calendar/nov...
November 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Tomorrow at 11: Join the UCI's Jay Odell and @kvilacoba.bsky.social for a tour of the @marcoportal.bsky.social's #fishing maps. Come find out what's new and in the works: portal.midatlanticocean.org/calendar/nov...
How did he do it? Mamdani must be the most gifted politician alive.
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM
How did he do it? Mamdani must be the most gifted politician alive.
Reposted by Karl Vilacoba
This is what premiums spike to for a man with cancer who is a taxi driver in AZ (met his son). This is Ambetter, operated by private health insurer Centene. It's why we need to extend the ACA credits & fight for Medicare for All.
November 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
This is what premiums spike to for a man with cancer who is a taxi driver in AZ (met his son). This is Ambetter, operated by private health insurer Centene. It's why we need to extend the ACA credits & fight for Medicare for All.
Reposted by Karl Vilacoba
Navigating the Portal's deep collection of commercial #fishing maps just got easier. Read about our data reorganization and Nov. 25 #howtu tour of the Fishing theme here 🔗 portal.midatlanticocean.org/news/introdu...
November 3, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Navigating the Portal's deep collection of commercial #fishing maps just got easier. Read about our data reorganization and Nov. 25 #howtu tour of the Fishing theme here 🔗 portal.midatlanticocean.org/news/introdu...
Love a fall lake walk 🍁
October 26, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Love a fall lake walk 🍁
This was unexpected … Look closely and you’ll see a Yellowjacket devouring this spotted lanternfly from the inside. They’re on a maple that’s sweating out sap, which the lanterflies are eating. I wonder if the 🐝 got crazed by the smells on and in it and went on the attack.
October 21, 2025 at 3:35 AM
This was unexpected … Look closely and you’ll see a Yellowjacket devouring this spotted lanternfly from the inside. They’re on a maple that’s sweating out sap, which the lanterflies are eating. I wonder if the 🐝 got crazed by the smells on and in it and went on the attack.
Reposted by Karl Vilacoba
The #CoastGuard adjusted its Coastal Buoy Modernization Proposal for waters in the Northeast District based on nearly 3,000 public comments. See what changed and share your input by 11/15.
ℹ️ Details: portal.midatlanticocean.org/news/coastal...
📍 Map: portal.midatlanticocean.org/url_shortene...
ℹ️ Details: portal.midatlanticocean.org/news/coastal...
📍 Map: portal.midatlanticocean.org/url_shortene...
October 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The #CoastGuard adjusted its Coastal Buoy Modernization Proposal for waters in the Northeast District based on nearly 3,000 public comments. See what changed and share your input by 11/15.
ℹ️ Details: portal.midatlanticocean.org/news/coastal...
📍 Map: portal.midatlanticocean.org/url_shortene...
ℹ️ Details: portal.midatlanticocean.org/news/coastal...
📍 Map: portal.midatlanticocean.org/url_shortene...
For the amount of money Tylenol is about to sue us for we could’ve just had universal healthcare.
September 22, 2025 at 10:16 PM
For the amount of money Tylenol is about to sue us for we could’ve just had universal healthcare.
The thrill that so many mediocre CFB coaches are going to get from beating the great Bill Belichek
September 2, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The thrill that so many mediocre CFB coaches are going to get from beating the great Bill Belichek
“Try to escape the rip current by getting caught in the undertow.” 😄 Nothing like some old-fashioned rip current humor. 🌊
July 29, 2025 at 11:41 PM
“Try to escape the rip current by getting caught in the undertow.” 😄 Nothing like some old-fashioned rip current humor. 🌊
Reposted by Karl Vilacoba
🦈 Watch #MonmouthU Prof. Keith Dunton teach TODAY's Kaylee Hartung how to tag #sharks in a Barnegat Bay salt marsh.
#sharkweek #sharkweek2025 🧪
youtu.be/pzRLhmbQstk?...
#sharkweek #sharkweek2025 🧪
youtu.be/pzRLhmbQstk?...
Why Scientists Are Studying Baby Sharks in Marshlands
YouTube video by TODAY
youtu.be
July 25, 2025 at 8:39 PM
🦈 Watch #MonmouthU Prof. Keith Dunton teach TODAY's Kaylee Hartung how to tag #sharks in a Barnegat Bay salt marsh.
#sharkweek #sharkweek2025 🧪
youtu.be/pzRLhmbQstk?...
#sharkweek #sharkweek2025 🧪
youtu.be/pzRLhmbQstk?...
My little guy is in the back row. Sounds like this was a nice experience.
Enjoyed the legislative agenda presentations at our Youth Advisory Council's final meeting in Piscataway. Their insights are a valuable resource for the work I do in Washington.
Thank you to all the YAC members for your hard work throughout this past year and to the panelists!
Thank you to all the YAC members for your hard work throughout this past year and to the panelists!
July 26, 2025 at 8:51 PM
My little guy is in the back row. Sounds like this was a nice experience.
How gorgeous is the eggplant flower? 🍆
July 26, 2025 at 4:16 AM
How gorgeous is the eggplant flower? 🍆
If you’ve ever been interested in learning about the MARCO Portal, stop by tomorrow at noon with your lunch and questions.
TOMORROW: Take a guided tour of the Portal's tools and thousands of maps showing #marinelife, #fishing, vessel traffic patterns, ocean recreation, offshore infrastructure, and much more in our free #HowTuesday webinar. 🧪🌊
🔗Details & registration: portal.midatlanticocean.org/calendar/how...
🔗Details & registration: portal.midatlanticocean.org/calendar/how...
June 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
If you’ve ever been interested in learning about the MARCO Portal, stop by tomorrow at noon with your lunch and questions.
A beach day at last
June 22, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A beach day at last
Reposted by Karl Vilacoba
We live in a world where the Pope takes part in a White Sox chant at the Vatican
June 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
We live in a world where the Pope takes part in a White Sox chant at the Vatican
Come take a tour of the Portal guided by your truly. Bring your questions and stories about how you’re using our data and tools. See you 6/24! 🌊
Are you a newcomer interested in a Portal 101 tutorial or a returning user who could use a refresher? Join us June 24 at noon for a #HowTuesday lesson on our data, tools and features. 🌊🧪 Details/registration: portal.midatlanticocean.org/calendar/how...
June 13, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Come take a tour of the Portal guided by your truly. Bring your questions and stories about how you’re using our data and tools. See you 6/24! 🌊
Reposted by Karl Vilacoba
Artists and scientists at #MonmouthU are experimenting with 3D-printed sculptures that mimic the shapes of #reefs in Mid-Atlantic waters to learn whether #oyster larvae are any more likely to colonize them than block-shaped oyster castles or other materials. 🌊🧪
www.monmouth.edu/uci/2025/04/...
www.monmouth.edu/uci/2025/04/...
Sculptures of Natural Reef Shapes to Be Tested for Oyster Recruitment | Urban Coast Institute
When art imitates life, will it breed more life? An experimental collaboration between the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) and Department of Art and Design aims to find out. On Earth D...
www.monmouth.edu
April 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Artists and scientists at #MonmouthU are experimenting with 3D-printed sculptures that mimic the shapes of #reefs in Mid-Atlantic waters to learn whether #oyster larvae are any more likely to colonize them than block-shaped oyster castles or other materials. 🌊🧪
www.monmouth.edu/uci/2025/04/...
www.monmouth.edu/uci/2025/04/...
🍎tv’s baseball presentation is too intense for its own good
May 31, 2025 at 3:41 AM
🍎tv’s baseball presentation is too intense for its own good