Anglers Advised Against Keeping Barnegat Bay Fish

Anglers who fish Barnegat Bay are being advised by the state Department of Environmental Protection against keeping fish they catch in the waterway.

Boaters are being warned against consuming crabs or fish caught between Barnegat Light and Brick due to potential contamination from pathogens – bacteria and viruses, specially, said a DEP spokesman.

Water sampling performed in the area has shown elevated levels of contaminants, likely due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, which knocked several waste water treatment facilities in the state off-line, resulting in the temporary runoff of effluents into certain waterways.

The warning also includes bay tributaries, including the Toms and Metedeconk rivers, as well as smaller creeks and streams that enter the bay.

Though the area of the bay south of Barnegat Light is not included in the advisory, officials are continuing to monitor pollutant levels, officials said.