The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is
given the authority to close (condemn) shellfish beds in waters that may render
the shellfish unfit for consumption.
This authority is granted at N.J.S.A. 58:24-2, and is carried out by the
Water Monitoring and Standards program.
There are 3 types of shellfish waters closures:
-
Emergency Closures – these closures usually result from unexpected spills or
unpermitted discharges
-
Temporary Closures for Permitted Discharges – these are planned closures (such as sewage treatment plant discharge pipe
repairs) that are designed to minimize shellfish-related water quality impacts
from the permitted discharge
-
Interim Closures Required during Regulation Development – these closures are put in place to prohibit shellfish harvesting in waters
that have recently been determined to have poor water quality while the
regulations are developed that will officially change their classification.
Re-openings (revocations) are issued for the first 2 types
of closures, when water quality has reached acceptable levels to, once again,
permit shellfish harvesting without endangering public health.
The following shellfish waters closures and/or reopenings are currently in
effect:
*Full Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest, effective Monday 4/15/2013 (including waters of the Raritan Bay)*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Barnegat Bay - Little Egg Harbor (all shellfish), effective Friday 4/12/2013*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Barnegat Bay - Waretown (all shellfish) and Little Egg Harbor (oysters only), effective Friday 4/4/2013*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Barnegat Bay - Barnegat Light to Beach Haven, effective Friday 3/29/2013*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Central Barnegat Bay, effective Tuesday 1/29/2013*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Northern Barnegat Bay, effective Friday 12/21/2012*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Sandy Hook Bay, effective Saturday 12/15/2012*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Navesink River and Shrewsbury River, effective Saturday 12/8/2012*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Atlantic & Cape May Counties, effective Thursday 11/15/2012*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Prohibited waters of the Atlantic Ocean for the harvest of surf clams under the Bait Program, effective 11/14/2012*
*Partial Re-Opening of Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Delaware Bay, effective 11/12/2012*
*Precautionary Closure of Shellfish Beds Statewide due to anticipated heavy rainfall from Hurricane Sandy, effective 10/29/2012*
Closures and Revocations from 2006-2011 are available by clicking here.
