Shark River: The Dredge Debate

Ask anyone who has piloted a boat through Shark River and they will tell you how shallow and dangerous it can be, especially around low tide. For the last two decades, local, state, and federal officials, as well as concerned citizens, have been working on a feasible plan that will make Shark River navigable once again.

Everyone agrees that dredging is necessary. Where opinions differ is how much dredging should take place, where the dredged material will be dried out, and ultimately, where it will be managed. In such a densely populated area, how towns choose to handle dredge material has become the proverbial stick in the mud. However, there is finally some hope.

This past month the NJ Department of Transportation, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Towns of Neptune and Belmar have come together with local and state law makers to come up with a dredging plan for the 105,000 cubic yards of material clogging Shark River’s state-managed channels. One of the temporary management areas is on Seaview Island, which was a dredged material disposal area until 30 years ago. Understandably, some residents are concerned while others are supportive of the much-needed dredging project. The good news is that the material tested clean by meeting the residential direct contact standards. The material will be placed at the Monmouth County landfill to be used beneficially.

This has the potential to vastly improve navigability for boaters, while also minimizing impacts to the environment and the surrounding area. Clean Ocean Action has closely followed these developments and will continue to work closely with those involved to facilitate the successful completion of the project.

Join us in Belmar urging Governor Christie to keep fighting for the Ocean & stop ocean blasting!

Despite calls, emails, and letters, Rutgers University is still moving forward with blasting our ocean and could begin their seismic study this Monday June 1st! Tomorrow we need all hands on deck! Governor Christie will be in Belmar at 2:30 PM at Ocean Avenue and North Blvd. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Governor Christie for fighting ocean blasting and urge him to keep on fighting. The NJDEP has used its power under federal law to reject the study due to the negative impact on fisheries as well as marine mammals. Rutgers University has become deaf to these issues NJDEP, elected officials, and the public our raising regarding harm to marine life. 

We need Governor Christie to continue to stand strong and stop this seismic study! Will you join us? We need as many people in Belmar as possible. Rutgers could begin blasting our ocean as soon as June 1st and if allowed they can cause "any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance" to 18,547 marine mammals!

When: Friday May 29th at 2 PM

Where: Ocean Avenue & North Blvd, Belmar, NJ 

Thank you and please spread the word!

Shark Bite Trivia Night

Who is Clean Ocean Action?

How can I get involved with COA today?

How can I help to keep the ocean clean?

What are major threats to the ocean's health?

What species of shark are found on the NJ coast?

Come find out the answers and celebrate Discovery Channel's Shark Week with a shark themed, COA trivia night! Test your knowledge about COA history, current programs, ocean pollution and SHARKS! Prizes will be awarded and food will be served. This event is free and open to all ages. Don't miss a night of food, fun, 

and friends!

Contact Abby  

(intern@cleanoceanaction.org)

or Heather (coast@cleanoceanaction.org) at 

732-872-0111 for more information.

One Fish, Two Fish, Dead Fish, Blue Fish

On the morning of May 12, thousands of dead menhaden or “bunker” fish washed from the Shark River as the tide went out, and littered nearby beaches.  Throughout the day, fish continued to drift from the inlet and wash-up on the shore, primarily in Avon and Belmar.   Early in the day, fishermen and local businesses reported the event, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Monmouth County Health Department collected water quality and fish tissue samples for examination.   

Though it is challenging to diagnose an issue after it actually occurs, scientific consensus is that the kill was a naturally occurring event.  Some thought that the warming temperatures and heavy rains throughout the week stirred up nutrients in the water, causing small algae to bloom.  When the algae dies, bacteria break it down, and this uses up much of the oxygen in the water, which can stress fish and shellfish.  High levels of algae were not found in the water column hours after the event, so others focused on the large size of the bunker school, and how they were chased into the shallows of the Shark River, where oxygen was likely lower than out in the ocean. The sheer number of skittish bunker moving around in a small area could have used up much of the oxygen through the overnight hours. Both of these situations are plausible explanations for a late spring fish kill, and both focus on the fish not being able to survive low oxygen levels.  

The public is often on the front line for spotting and reporting environmental health issues, whether dead fish, discolored water, algae blooms, or debris and medical waste. If you see anything unusual along a river, bay, beach, or in the ocean, call the NJ DEP hotline at 1-888-WARN-DEP. You should write down the report number, take photos of what you observe, and note the day, time, and water conditions.