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Ocean County
Little Egg Harbor (all shellfish)
Little Egg Harbor - all shellfish
Waretown
Waretown ReOpening
Little Egg Harbor (oyster harvesting only)
Little Egg Harbor Oyster ReOpening
Barnegat Light to Beach Haven
March 29, 2013 Reopening
Central Barnegat Bay
Central Barnegat Bay ReOpening 1/29/13
Northern Barnegat Bay
Northern Barnegat Bay Reopening
 
Ocean County Stations
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Partial Re-Opening Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Barnegat Bay - Little Egg Harbor (all shellfish) (4/11/13 update)

Effective sunrise (6:24am) on April 12, 2013 all of the New Jersey State waters within Barnegat Bay are re-opened to their prior classification for all shellfish harvest; this includes the section of Little Egg Habor that was re-opened for 'oyster harvest only' on April 5, 2013, see adjacent map.

The Department has determined through monitoring of water quality and shellfish tissue that these waters are now safe for the harvesting of shellfish in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:12 et seq. Coliphage is an indicator of the possible presence of viruses in shellfish tissue; shellfish tissue samples were taken on 4/10/13. The results of hard clam tissue coliphage analysis done around Little Egg Harbor met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see the table near the end of the page for coliphage results). To view the Administrative Order, click here.

Also note: Effective sunrise (6:10am) on April 15, 2013, all of New Jersey’s shellfish beds that were once closed as a result of Superstorm Sandy will return to the classifications they had before Superstorm Sandy hit in October (this includes Raritan Bay).

 

Partial Re-Opening Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Barnegat Bay - Waretown (all shellfish) and Little Egg Harbor (oysters only) (4/4/13 update)

Waretown: Effective sunrise (6:35am) on April 5, 2013 all of the New Jersey State waters within Barnegat Bay south of a line crossing the bay starting at the mouth of the Oyster Creek (-74°10’13.06W 39°48’40.00N) to a point on Island Beach State Park (-74°05’48.66W 39°48’40.00N) to a line crossing the bay starting at the end of Tuscarora Ave (74°11'29.69"W / 39°46'01.68"N) to a point at Barnegat Inlet (lighthouse) (74°06'16.51"W / 39°45'52.60"N) are reopened to their prior classification for all shellfish harvesting.  See the adjacent map, or click herepdf icon.

Little Egg Harbor: Effective sunrise (6:35am) on April 5, 2013 all of the New Jersey State waters within Barnegat Bay south of a line crossing the bay starting at the southern point  of the mouth of Thompsons Creek (74°18'40.42"W / 39°35'46.02"N) to a point on Long Beach Island at the end of 5th St in Beach Haven (74°14'29.70"W / 39°34'04.70"N) to Little Egg Harbor Inlet are reopened to their prior classification for oyster harvesting only, see lower adjacent map, or click herepdf icon.

The Department has determined through monitoring of water quality and shellfish tissue that these areas are now safe for the harvesting of hard clams and/or oysters in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:12 et seq. Coliphage is an indicator of the possible presence of viruses in shellfish tissue; shellfish tissue samples were taken on 4/3/13. The results of hard clam tissue coliphage analysis done around Waretown and oyster tissue coliphage analysis done around Little Egg Harbor met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see the table near the end of the page for coliphage results). However, hard clam tissue coliphage analysis done around Little Egg Harbor did not meet the NSSP criteria. Therefore, Little Egg Harbor is only reopened for oyster harvesting, hard clam tissue coliphage analysis will be repeated in Little Egg Harbor next week. To view the Administrative Order, click here.

Raritan Bay remains closed for shellfish harvesting. 

 

Partial Re-Opening Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Barnegat Bay - Barnegat Light to Beach Haven (3/28/13 update)

Effective sunrise (6:46am) on March 29, 2013 all of the New Jersey State waters within Barnegat Bay south of a line crossing the bay, starting at the end of Tuscarora Ave (74°11'29.69"W / 39°46'01.68"N) to a point at Barnegat Inlet (lighthouse) (74°06'16.51"W / 39°45'52.60"N) to a line crossing the bay starting at the southern point of the mouth of Thompsons Creek (74°18'40.42"W / 39°35'46.02"N) to a point on Long Beach Island at the end of 5th St in Beach Haven (74°14'29.70"W / 39°34'04.70"N) (see adjacent map) are open to their prior shellfish classification. The Department has determined through monitoring of water quality and shellfish tissue that these areas are now safe for the harvesting of shellfish in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:12 et seq. Coliphage is an indicator of the possible presence of viruses in shellfish tissue; shellfish tissue samples were taken on 3/27/13. The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see the table near the end of the page for coliphage results). To view the Administrative Order, click here. Portions of the Barnegat Bay and Raritan Bay remain closed for shellfish harvesting. 

 

Ocean County Stations

Once water conditions returned to background levels post-Sandy (mid-Nov), the Department resumed National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) sampling throughout the state. The below table links to fecal coliform (mTec) data results from NSSP assignment runs in the Barnegat Bay; this table will be updated periodically as more NSSP assignment runs are collected and analyzed for fecal coliform (3/20/13 update). In addition, tissue coliphage analysis is being run on shellfish from those areas of Barnegat Bay that remain closed to shellfish harvesting (see the table near the end of the page for coliphage results).

Date Assignment Run General Description
1/3/13 77 Metedeconk River to Mantoloking Bridge
1/9/13 87 Mantoloking Bridge to Silver Bay
1/9/13 108 Silver Bay to Berkeley Shores
1/11/13 117 Forked River to Double Creek
1/15/13 102 Potter Creek to Sunrise Beach
2/6/13 77 Metedeconk River to Mantoloking Bridge
2/11/13 114 High Bar Harbor to Causeway Bridge
2/12/13 117 Forked River to Double Creek
2/13/13 131 North Beach Haven to Beach Haven Inlet
2/14/13 107 Island Beach State Park / Barnegat Inlet
2/15/13 102 Holly Park to Barnegat Inlet
2/22/13 97 Toms River
2/22/13 132 Little Egg Harbor / Tuckerton Creek
2/25/13 87 Mantoloking Bridge to Silver Bay
2/25/13 121 Causeway Bridge to North Beach Haven
2/26/13 122 Manahawkin Bay to Westecunk Creek
2/27/13 114 High Bar Harbor to Causeway Bridge
2/28/13 108 Silver Bay to Berkeley Shores
2/28/13 131 North Beach Haven to Beach Haven Inlet
3/1/13 132 Little Egg Harbor / Tuckerton Creek
3/11/13 117 Forked River to Double Creek
3/12/13 131 North Beach Haven to Beach Haven Inlet
3/18/13 87 Mantoloking Bridge to Silver Bay
3/18/13 114 High Bar Harbor to Causeway Bridge

 

Partial Re-Opening Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Central Barnegat Bay (1/29/13 update)

Effective sunrise (7:08am) on January 29, 2013 all of the New Jersey State waters within Barnegat Bay south of the Route 37 bridge to a line crossing the bay starting at the mouth of the Oyster Creek (-74°10’13.06W 39°48’40.00N) to a point on Island Beach State Park (-74°05’48.66W 39°48’40.00N), see adjacent map, are open to their prior shellfish classification. The Department has determined through monitoring of water quality and shellfish tissue that these areas are now safe for the harvesting of shellfish in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:12 et seq. Coliphage is an indicator of the possible presence of viruses in shellfish tissue; shellfish tissue samples were taken in the Central Barnegat Bay on 1/24/13. The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Central Barnegat Bay met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see table below). To view the Administrative Order, click here.

 

Ocean County Stations (1/11/13 update) Barnegat Bay North

The Department conducted additional water quality testing in northern Barnegat Bay to assure that Hurricane Sandy infrastructure damage is no longer impacting the waters.  This was done because residents are being allowed to return to coastal communities, such as Ortley Beach, Seaside Heights, and Lavallette.  Results indicate that the water does not have elevated levels of pathogens and suggests that there are no discharges from the sanitary sewer system into Barnegat Bay. To view the results of the fecal coliform water testing, please click here.

 

Ocean County Stations (12/28/12 update) Barnegat Bay South

Results indicate that there is no significant difference between hatchery and wild clams or clams and oysters.  They are all reacting similarly to the environmental conditions and stresses. Water samples continue to show excellent water quality and indicate no ongoing bacterial contamination in southern Barnegat Bay.  Samples 132, 133, and 134 were specifically selected because of their close proximity to a debris pile questioned by Industry as a potential source.

We strongly concur with FDA’s hypothesis that the shellfish were subjected to a slug of fecal contamination immediately after Superstorm Sandy and continue to sequester the virus within their tissue due to their inability to purge with water temps below 50 degrees F.  Shellfish will likely recover once water temperatures rise in the spring.  We may not be able to do much more than wait and continue to monitor the situation with weekly tissue sampling.  We are scheduled to sample tissue again on Thursday 1/3/13.

 

Partial Re-Opening Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Northern Barnegat Bay (12/21/12 update)

Effective sunrise (7:15am) on December 21, 2012 all of the New Jersey waters within Barnegat Bay north of the Route 37 bridge (view adjacent map) are open to their prior shellfish classification. The Department has determined through monitoring of water quality and shellfish tissue that these areas are now safe for the harvesting of shellfish in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:12 et seq. Coliphage is an indicator of the possible presence of viruses in shellfish tissue; shellfish tissue samples were taken in the Northern Barnegat Bay on 12/19/12. The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Northern Barnegat Bay met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see table below). To view the Administrative Order, click here.

 

Ocean County Stations (12/21/12 update) Barnegat Bay South

Shellfish tissue samples from Sites F & Q were sent to the Food and Drug Administration’s lab at Dauphin Island, Alabama, for independent coliphage testing on 12/18/12. The verification testing results from each of these sites were greater than 3,000 PFU/100 grams.

Ocean County Utilities Authority conducted a dye test on 12/19/12 of their effluent line which runs through Barnegat Bay at the approximate location of the Rt. 72 bridge; no leaks were found.

 

Ocean County Stations (12/19/12 update) Barnegat Bay South

The 12/18/12 results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from the Barnegat Bay (Sites, D, E, F, and Q) failed to meet the NSSP criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see below table). As a result, the Department is not going to be able to re-open the Barnegat Bay area to shellfish harvest at this time. Shellfish tissue samples were sent to the Food and Drug Administration’s lab at Dauphin Island, Alabama, for independent coliphage testing yesterday. Shellfish tissue samples were taken from the Northern Barnegat Bay today. Due to the Christmas holiday, resampling of shellfish tissue for coliphage in the Southern Barnegat Bay will resume next Thursday.


Ocean County Stations (12/13/12 update) Barnegat Bay North

The 12/12/12 results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from the Forked River area (Sites R & S) met the NSSP criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see below table). Results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Swan Point (Site T) failed to meet the NSSP criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams. As a result, the Department is not going to be able to re-open the Northern Barnegat Bay area to shellfish harvest at this time. The Department will resample shellfish tissue for coliphage in the Northern Barnegat Bay next week.




Sampling Stations
(please refer to adjacent map/s for station locations)		 Water Quality: Fecal Coliform Analysis

Fecal Coliform (CFU's/100mL)
11/1/12 11/2 11/3 11/5 11/6 11/9 11/10 11/14 11/15

12/13

 12/17 12/27 3/21/13
11 430 260 60 20 430 20 10 30 10 NS NS NS <3**
12 580 180 100 70 20 30 30 <10 10 NS NS NS <3**
13 260 150 70 50 10 40 40 <10 <10 NS NS NS <3**
14 180 60 30 <10 40 20 10 <10 <10 NS NS NS <3**
15 30 20 10 <10 <10 <10 10 <10 10 NS NS NS <3**
16 20 <10 <10 <10 <10 30 10 NS <10 NS NS NS 3**
17 10 30 60 20 <10 <10 10 NS <10 NS NS NS <3**
18 30 10 <10 <10 <10 10 30 NS <10 <10 <10 NS <3**
19 10 40 10 <10 NS <10 <10 NS <10 NS NS NS <3**
20 10 30 <10 10 NS 10 <10 NS 10 NS <10 NS <3**
97 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
98 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
99 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
100 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 10 NS NS
101 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
102 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
103 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 10 NS NS
104 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 10 <10 NS NS
105 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 10 <10 NS NS
106 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 30 10 NS NS
107 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
108 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 10 <10 NS NS
109 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 10 10 NS NS
110 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
111 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 10 NS NS
112 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
113 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 10 <10 NS NS
114 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
115 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
116 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 10 <10 NS NS
117 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
118 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 10 10 NS NS
119 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
120 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 10 NS NS
121 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 10 NS NS
122 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
123 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
124 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
125 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 20 <10 NS NS
126 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
127 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
128 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 40 NS NS
129 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 20 NS NS
130 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 20 NS NS
131 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 <10 NS NS
132 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 10 NS
133 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 NS
134 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <10 NS
Notes: NS = No Sample Collected

Fecal Coliform Criteria: Approved < 14 CFU's/100mL
Special Restricted < 88 CFU's/100mL
**Enterococcus Result, Enterococcus Bathing Beach Standard 104 CFU's/100mL

 
 
   
mantolokinginlet barnegatbay
Mantoloking Inlet Barnegat Bay
Manahawkin Bay Temp v Date Chart
Southern Barnegat Bay Stations


Shellfish Tissue Sample Area
(please refer to adjacent map for sites)		 Shellfish Tissue Quality: Coliphage Analysis (PFU/100grams)
11/13 11/19 11/27 12/4 12/11 12/12 12/18 12/19 12/27 1/2 1/3 1/9 1/10 1/16 1/17 1/23 1/24 1/30 2/4 2/6 2/13 2/21 2/26 3/5 3/13 3/19 3/27 4/3 4/10
A, B, & C 640                                                        
B   337                                                      
C   404                                                      
C & F     212                                                    
D & E     742 364 506                                                
F & Q       220 3950                                                
R & S           <10                                              
T*           73   <10                                          
D             263       1526   613 1128   394   213   599 138 490 308 114 89 160 102 <9  
E             445       10   10                                
F (3)             5407   3710       1690 1166   595     470   867 486 502 1351 543 806 611 182 < 9
F (2)*                 3089             248                 142   128 <9  
F (1)                 2075                                        
Q             4283       610   597 1614     672   456   174 488 353 305 131 843 28    
S & V               112                                          
R                   97   75     237   <10                        
V                   293   920     588   42                        
W                     283                                    
Coliphage Criteria: < 50 PFU/100 grams
* Oyster Tissue

Ocean County Stations (12/12/12 update) Barnegat Bay South – SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

The results of the 12/11/12 sampling of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis show that the samples taken from Barnegat Inlet to Beach Haven Inlet again failed to meet the NSSP criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see table below). Most disturbing is the trend of increasing viral counts.  Due to this trend, the Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring has launched a Special Investigation to identify any sources of bacteria and/or viruses that may be affecting shellfish tissue. 

The investigation includes the following:

  1. Exploration of possible unreported sanitary and stormwater infrastructure issues with municipalities bordering Barnegat Bay;
  2. Intensive water quality monitoring of fecal coliform bacteria (37 samples) and virus (4 samples) levels in the water column from Surf City to Holgate along the eastern shore of Barnegat Bay and from Manahawkin to Tuckerton along the western shore of Barnegat Bay.  The sampling will occur on 12/13/12 and results will be available the next day (see below map and table);
  3. Ocean County Utilities Authority has been contacted by the Department and has agreed to voluntarily test their effluent line which runs through Barnegat Bay at the approximate location of the Rt. 72 bridge.  Dye testing is tentatively scheduled for next week.  This testing will let us know if the line’s integrity was compromised by flood tides during Hurricane Sandy;
  4. If any results from the bacteria monitoring are found to be above normal levels, a sanitary survey will be performed to determine the probable source;
  5. Shellfish tissue samples will be taken again in 7 days.  Each aliquot of shellfish will be analyzed independently to determine the extent of the viral contamination.  In addition, shellfish will be composited to ensure results are representative of the area to be re-opened; and
  6. Shellfish tissue will be sent to the Food and Drug Administration’s lab at Dauphin Island, Alabama, for independent coliphage testing and genotyping for identification of specific viruses (Note: FDA recommended not genotyping for specific viruses and will not be performing genotyping at this time).

The Department will also continue to monitor water temperature.  After a short spike in temperatures over the weekend, water temperatures are again consistently below 50 degrees F, slowing the metabolism and purging of the shellfish.

We understand the economic hardship many hard-working Baymen are currently facing, especially with the holiday season rapidly approaching. The Department is very concerned with the delay in re-opening the waters within Barnegat Bay and will continue to work to monitor water quality and investigate potential sources of contamination.

Ocean County Stations (12/5/12 update)
The 12/4/12 results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Barnegat Inlet to Beach Haven Inlet failed to meet the NSSP criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams. As a result, the Department is not going to be able to re-open the area to shellfish harvest at this time.  As noted in the previous update, the initial contamination is likely the result of failed sanitary infrastructure in hard hit towns of LBI and Tuckerton and the delay in purification is likely due to the water temperatures being consistently below 50 degrees F since Hurricane Sandy,  as the below chart shows.  Shellfish would have been pumping (above 50 degrees) during the storm and up to 3 days after, then would have slowed the pumping due to the temperature  drop, which significantly slows metabolism and purging in shellfish (see http://barnegatshellfish.org/clams02.htm for more information) .  The Department will continue to monitor water temperature in addition to regular water quality and shellfish tissue sampling.

Ocean County Stations (11/20/12 update)
The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Barnegat Inlet to Beach Haven Inlet failed to meet the NSSP criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams.  As a result, the Department is not going to be able to re-open the area to shellfish harvest at this time.  The initial contamination is likely the result of failed sanitary infrastructure in hard hit towns of LBI and Tuckerton.  The delay in purification is due to the water temperatures being consistently below 50 degrees F since Hurricane Sandy, which significantly slows metabolism in shellfish.  Results from 11/19/12 were below results from 11/13/12, but still above standards.  Water quality remains good in the area and the Department will resample tissue next week.

Ocean County Stations (11/9/12 update)
Ocean County Stations are located within Barnegat Bay from Mantoloking to the Great Egg Harbor.  Water monitoring began on November 1, 2012.  Results show a marked distinction in water quality between the northern and southern portions of Barnegat Bay with the demarcation line being at Barnegat Inlet. 

Those areas north of Barnegat Inlet (stations 11, 12, 13 & 14) show a general trend of water quality improvement with the exception of station 11.  On November 6, 2012 station 11 had a fecal coliform result of 430 cfu/100ml, which is above the recreational bathing criteria and above current shellfish water classification criteria.  This may be in part due to the significant damage dealt to the immediate areas infrastructure from Hurricane Sandy, including pump station discharges in Lavallette (which have now been ceased).  In addition, OCUA Central Wastewater Treatment Plant discharge pipe flows through Barnegat Bay to the ultimate discharge in the Atlantic Ocean.  As part of routine dye testing OCUA discovered a hole in their discharge pipe within Barnegat Bay.  Secondary treated effluent is discharging at an unknown rate from this hole into Barnegat Bay around the area of Bayville/Seaside Park.  This effluent is chlorinated, but still may contain human viruses.  OCUA is actively working on repairing this hole, however NJDEP cannot re-open the northern portion of Barnegat bay to shellfish harvest until bacteria levels reach acceptable numbers and OCUA repairs their discharge pipe.  Monitoring will continue today through the weekend.

Those areas south of Barnegat Inlet (Stations 15-20) indicate bacteria levels have returned to normal.  The NJDEP is sampling those stations again today (11/9/12) to ensure that the Nor’easter did not degrade water quality.  If today’s sample results show levels below 14 cfu/100ml than the Department, with assistance of the Atlantic Coast Shellfish Council, will collect tissue samples on November 13, 2012.  The tissue will be analyzed for both viruses and bacteria.  If results meet the criteria in the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP), then it is likely that the shellfish harvest will be re-opened for the area from Barnegat Inlet south to Little Egg harbor on November 15, 2012.
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Last Updated: April 11, 2013

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