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  Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring



Shellfish Growing Area BB3 is located in Ocean County and consists of all the back bay waters from Westecunk Creek in Little Egg Harbor to Sunrise Beach in southern Barnegat Bay. In total, there are 40,062 shellfish growing water acres in BB3. There are many tributaries that feed into the Barnegat Bay, such as Westecunk Creek, Dinner Point Creek, Mill Creek, Big Flat Creek, Double Creek, Oyster Creek and Forked River. This growing area is bordered by the following municipalities: Eagleswood, Stafford, Barnegat Ocean Township, Forked River, Long Beach Township, Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City and Ship Bottom.

Status: Currently, 82.7% of this growing area is Approved for shellfish harvest year round, 11.4% is classified as Conditionally Approved (Nov.); open for shellfish harvest November through April, 3.7% is classified as Restricted; no harvesting for direct market is allowed in Restricted waters and in 2.2% of this growing area shellfish harvest is Prohibited.

Most recent Reappraisal Report

Most recent Sanitary Survey Report

Barnegat Inlet Area Shellfish Classification

Click map to enlarge


Barnegat Inlet Area Photo Barnegat Inlet Area Photo Barnegat Inlet Area Photo Barnegat Inlet Area Photo

Photo Credit: NJDEP