BACKGROUND: On May 10, 1996, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) reported that the Bahamian-flagged t/v Anitra spilled approximately 10,000 gallons of Nigerian light crude oil while the vessel was in the process of lightering more than 40 million gallons of oil. On May 19, 1996, the USCG reported that as much as 42,000 gallons of oil were released into Big Stone Anchorage, Delaware Bay, where the vessel was anchored. Cold and stormy weather during the spill caused the oil to mix into the water column, forming tarballs. The T/V Anitra was secured and boomed following the release and 12,000 gallons of oil were recovered in the vicinity of the vessel within the first 72 hours following the spill.
Over 50 miles of beaches were oiled as a result of the spill for over a 2-week period. Several State wildlife management areas, two State Parks and the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge were impacted. An estimated 3 miles of beach (Higbee and Sunset) were impacted with tarballs from May 12 – 16, 1996. On May 17, 1996, varying densities of tarballs washed up on 8 miles of Atlantic Ocean shoreline in Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle City, and Ocean City. The tarballs continued to drift northward and washed up on beaches in Longport, Margate, Ventnor, and Atlantic City later reaching Brigantine and later as far north as Holgate. (Click to see map)
Injured Resources
Most of the impacts from the Anitra spill occurred on bayshore and coastal barrier beaches. The beaches oiled by the 1996 Anitra oil spill in Cape May and Atlantic Counties provide foraging and nesting habitats to piping plovers (Charadruis melodus), a shorebird listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 884, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA) and as endangered under New Jersey’s Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act of 1973 (N.J.S.A. 23:24 et seq., as amended). Unfortunately, the spill occurred during a period when most piping plovers were involved in nesting activity. Piping plovers nest on the upper beach on the foredune, berm, dune blowouts, overwashes and tidal flats (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1996). Piping plovers primarily feed on a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. Oil exposure of these birds occurred as they foraged among stranded tarballs in the upper intertidal zone of the bayshore and coastal beaches.
The Anitra oil spill resulted in the oiling of at least 51 adult piping plovers and two chicks during the 1996 nesting season. The oiling directly or indirectly contributed to reduced nesting success and ultimately lowered productivity on affected beaches.
In addition to the piping plover, a number of other bird species were observed on the oiled beaches such as sanderlings (Calidris alba), semipalmated plover (Chanadrius semipalmatus), semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres), and short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) and breeding residents willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus), American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates), common tern (Sterna hirundo) and laughing, herring, and great black-backed gulls (Larus atricilla, L. argentatus, and L. marinus, respectively).
Restoration
Piping Plover Restoration Project
To help restore the population of piping plovers on the beaches that were affected by the May 1996 Anitra Oil spill, a 5-year restoration plan to increase ongoing monitoring and management of nesting areas was initiated and completed. New Jersey received $400,000.00 as part of the settlement allocated towards the implementation and management of the piping plover restoration project which involves coordination among the Office of Natural Resource Restoration, the Division of Fish Game and Wildlife Endangered Species Program, and Conserve Wildlife of New Jersey.
Migratory Shorebird Restoration (Thompson Beach)
LOCATION: Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, Delaware Bay
BACKGROUND: In May 1996, the Anitra oil spill on the Delaware resulted in the release of approximately 42,000 gallons of light crude oil into Delaware Bay, oiling beaches and injuring migratory and nesting shorebirds. In order to offset the number of migratory shorebirds lost, $500,000.00 of New Jersey’s share of the Anitra recovery received by New Jersey was allocated to restore habitat for migratory shorebirds. Thompson’s Beach, on the Delaware Bay in Maurice River Township, Cumberland County was heavily utilized by horseshoe crabs and migratory shorebirds before development and erosion reduced the suitability of the beach. This made it a prime location for restoration.
In the past, large numbers of horseshoe crabs came ashore each spring to lay their eggs on this beach. The eggs would feed thousands of shorebirds migrating to their Arctic nesting grounds. In the 1900’s, the beach was gradually developed with small houses and piers. The area experienced serious erosion and storms damaged most homes depositing debris on the beach. In an effort to protect the remaining homes and maintain the waterfront, cinder blocks and concrete rubble were intentionally placed on the beach. The rubble and wreckage from damaged homes drastically reduced the amount of beach available for horseshoe crabs to lay eggs and for shorebirds to feed. More recently, Maurice River Township, with assistance from the State, purchased the remaining homes and in 1998 removed them from Thompson’s Beach. However, the township’s budget did not allow for the removal of the 23,000 cubic yards of debris and rubble scattered over 5,000 feet of beach.
BENEFITS: To restore migratory shorebird habitat that also benefits horseshoe crabs while utilizing the removed material to fill in the severely eroded Thompson’s Beach Road.
PROJECT SUMMARY: The restoration of Thompson’s Beach commenced in fall 2013 and this phase was completed in late winter of 2014. Concrete rubble, timber and debris were removed from the beach east of Thompson’s Beach Road so that the beach could once again be used as egg laying habitat for horseshoe crabs, providing critical foraging habitat for migrating shorebirds. The concrete material was crushed and spread along Thompson’s Beach Road, improving the former eroded public access road to the beach.
PARTNERS: The project was a partnership between state, federal and local government including the NJDEP Office of Natural Resource Restoration and Office of Engineering and Construction, Maurice River Township, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS provided $325,000 toward the restoration.
Moore’s Beach Restoration
LOCATION: Maurice River Township on the Delaware Bay
PURPOSE: To remove rubble and grade sand in order to improve habitat for shorebirds and horseshoe crabs.
BACKGROUND: Moore’s Beach consisted of rubble left behind from houses that were previously located there. The State purchased the property from individual land owners. As a result of Super Storm Sandy 2012, there was extensive damage along this Delaware Bay beach primarily from sand and additional rubble transported from the intertidal areas into the marshes leaving the intertidal areas devoid of sand. This resulted in a net lowering of the beach elevation so that at high tide, water covered all sand to the vegetation line and/or exposed peat, preventing habitat for the horseshoe crabs to lay their eggs successfully.
PROJECT SUMMARY: The rubble, consisting of cinderblocks, glass, bricks, and pilings were removed from the beach. In 2014, sand in the marshes was graded towards the bay with additional sand brought in. The project was managed by the Office of Engineering and Construction and NJ Fish and Wildlife. The work was coordinated under the contract used for similar work being performed at the adjacent Thompson’s Beach.
Overall, the project greatly improved the habitat for horse shoe crabs and shore birds.
FUNDING: Funding for this project was from the Anitra Oil Spill.
rubble before restoration
beach after restoration
Check before and after videos of the beach to see how successful the project was!
Most of the impacts from the Anitra spill occurred on bayshore and coastal barrier beaches. The beaches oiled by the 1996 Anitra oil spill in Cape May and Atlantic Counties provide foraging and nesting habitats to piping plovers (Charadruis melodus), a shorebird listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 884, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA) and as endangered under New Jersey’s Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act of 1973 (N.J.S.A. 23:24 et seq., as amended). Unfortunately, the spill occurred during a period when most piping plovers were involved in nesting activity. Piping plovers nest on the upper beach on the foredune, berm, dune blowouts, overwashes and tidal flats (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1996). Piping plovers primarily feed on a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. Oil exposure of these birds occurred as they foraged among stranded tarballs in the upper intertidal zone of the bayshore and coastal beaches. 
To help restore the population of piping plovers on the beaches that were affected by the May 1996 Anitra Oil spill, a 5-year restoration plan to increase ongoing monitoring and management of nesting areas was initiated and completed. New Jersey received $400,000.00 as part of the settlement allocated towards the implementation and management of the piping plover restoration project which involves coordination among the Office of Natural Resource Restoration, the Division of Fish Game and Wildlife Endangered Species Program, and Conserve Wildlife of New Jersey. 
