Northern Barnegat Bay Shellfish Beds Reopened

Shellfishing in northern Barnegat Bay can now resume.

Shellfish beds throughout the state were closed Oct. 29, the day Superstorm Sandy struck, as a precaution, but were reopened Friday according to an order signed by Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert Martin.

The reopening in norther Barnegat Bay – defined as the area north of the Route 37 bridge – follows rounds of water monitoring and tissue sampling that found no issues with contamination from bacteria or viruses as a result of the storm

Beds in other area of the state, mainly south of Ocean County, reopened in the weeks following the storm.

Northern Barnegat Bay, mainly Brick and Toms River, includes approved shellfishing areas as well as seasonal areas open only in November, according to DEP maps.

There are also specially restricted areas open to only limited permit holders, as well as prohibited shellfishing grounds in several areas, including almost the entire Metedeconk River and much of the Toms River.

With the reopening of the Barnegat Bay grounds, only beds in Raritan Bay remain closed until further notice due to intermittent bypasses of temporary pumps at the Sayreville pump station in the Raritan River, the DEP said.