Majority of Shellfish Beds in New Jersey Reopened Following Hurricane Irene

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reopened yesterday the vast majority of shellfish beds in the state after tissue samples collected over the weekend met federal health standards. The beds were closed Aug. 27 as Hurricane Irene approached New Jersey.

DEP Commissioner Bob Martin signed an order reopening shellfish beds in the ocean from Sandy Hook to Cape May Point and estuarine shellfish beds from the Metedeconk River to Cape May Point. The order returns the beds to the harvest classification status in effect prior to Hurricane Irene.

"The shellfish industry is very important to New Jersey's economy," Martin said. "The DEP is continuing to monitor and test shellfish beds and expects remaining beds to be reopened soon."

As Irene approached, the DEP issued a statewide ban on the harvest of clams, oysters and mussels due to concerns about degradation of water quality from large volumes of storm water. Clams, oysters and mussels are filter feeders that can accumulate harmful bacteria carried into waterways by storm water.

Personnel with the DEP's Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring collected tissue samples on Sunday. Several clam boat operators helped out by taking DEP staff out to many of the beds, enabling staff to conduct a comprehensive sampling of ocean and estuarine waters. These tissue samples met federal health standards for safe consumption.

Earlier this week the DEP collected tissue samples from shellfish beds in northern estuaries and was expected to collect samples from Delaware Bay today. A decision on reopening these other beds is expected after results are analyzed.

Harvesters and the public are advised that clams, oysters and mussels are not to be taken from waters in which they were restricted prior to storm. A map of reopened shellfish beds is available at www.nj.gov/dep/bmw.

Source: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection