Source: NJDEP News Release dated June 14, 2018
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is urging boaters and users of personal watercraft to exercise care to reduce damage to Barnegat Bay’s saltmarshes and seagrass beds this summer.
“Barnegat Bay is an ecological treasure that provides many opportunities for recreation and relaxation,” said DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “We remind boaters and users of personal watercraft to treat the bay with extra care so that everyone can enjoy the beauty of this special place and the amazing variety of wildlife it supports.”
The bay is extremely popular among boaters and users of personal watercraft, and also very popular for fishing, crabbing, clamming, kayaking and wildlife watching.
But Barnegat Bay is narrow and shallow, making it susceptible to ecological damage caused by boat wakes and propellers, as well as jet-wash from personal watercraft.
Operated at high speeds in ecologically sensitive areas, boats and personal watercraft can erode saltmarsh banks, damage shellfish beds, and harm habitats used by shore birds, such as herons, terns and oystercatchers. They also can damage seagrass beds that provide nursery, shelter and feeding areas for fish and wildlife.
“Now that the weather is warming up, it’s a great time to be out on the bay in a boat, whether you’re sailing, fishing, kayaking, or just enjoying the water and the scenery,” said Stan Hales, Director of the Barnegat Bay Partnership, the National Estuary Program for the bay. “With nearly one in three boaters statewide saying they use Barnegat Bay, we encourage everyone to be a safe and responsible boater.”
“The recreational boating industry depends heavily on clean water and a healthy boating environment,” said Melissa Danko, Executive Director of the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey. “Everyone who enjoys our beautiful waterways must work together to protect and preserve these natural resources. As an industry, we not only develop new technologies and clean boating practices, but we provide the information, resources and infrastructure to help boaters do their part to protect the environment and reduce impacts. Together, we can all protect our natural resources for this generation and generations to come.”
Ecologically Sensitive Areas in the Bay
The DEP has designated 16 Ecologically Sensitive Areas to protect natural resources, such as seagrass beds, wildlife habitats and shellfish areas. Boaters can access a map to locate these areas. In addition, a Barnegat Bay boater map provides locations for marinas, sewage pump-out facilities, bait-and-tackle shops, launches and ramps, restrooms and places to dispose trash.
Guidelines for Boating in Barnegat Bay
- Use marked navigational channels for travel.
- Stay out of restricted areas set aside for wildlife. Do not harass nesting birds and other animals.
- Use buoys for mooring chains and lines to avoid damage to seagrass and shellfish beds.
- Use pump-out boats and facilities. Do not discharge wastewater holding tanks into open water.
- Maintain a 100-foot distance from natural shorelines and ecologically sensitive areas.
- Minimize wakes in shallow areas to reduce erosion and harm to aquatic plants and animals.
- Appreciate wildlife from a distance.
- Reduce air pollution by cutting the engine and not idling in open water.
- Keep trash, recyclables, hooks and lures in secure containers and dispose of them properly.
- Recycle used monofilament fishing lines instead of throwing them away.
- Thoroughly clean boats, personal watercraft and equipment when transferring them between waterways to avoid the possibility of spreading invasive aquatic species.
- Keep engines leak-free and well-tuned to minimize the discharge of fuel and oil. Use a pillow or oil absorbent pad in the bilge to soak up any spilled oil.
