Harvest the Bay Day!

Part 1, Monday, was an introduction to these exciting programs. Part 3, Wednesday, gave the “Insider’s Look” into the amazing outdoor programs, told through the words of the experts teaching the programs at Island Beach State Park. Part 4, Thursday, was a roundtable interview with the Island Beach State Park naturalists. And Part 5, Friday, will feature a personal account from one of CWF’s interns who works at Island Beach State Park. 

The rich ecological resources of Barnegat Bay and IBSP, coupled with high numbers of visiting park patrons serves as the perfect backdrop for our Harvest the Bay Festival. IBSP, has two extensive natural areas, coupled with two large points of recreational usage and a marine conservation zone, making it an easy link to demonstrate the function of healthy coastal ecosystem, the effects of human interaction and beneficial aspects of management. Each year, the park hosts over 1 million guests that that engage in boating, clamming, fishing, swimming, and hiking along the 10 miles of shoreline.
Barnegat Bay acts as an early life history nursery for many species of fish/invertebrates that are both recreationally and commercially significant in terms of harvest. The bay supports healthy aquatic flora including submerged aquatic vegetation and phytoplanktonic growth. Subsequently, early life history stages of coastal bivalves, crustaceans and forage fish occur along the bay because of high levels of primary productivity. However, some fisheries resources in Barnegat Bay have experienced a decline in recent years. Despite healthy levels of biological productivity in Barnegat Bay, anthropogenic effects do require monitoring and education to better promote coastal stewardship including coastal development along the watershed, increased nutrient loading, decreases in dissolved oxygen/pH, habitat loss, and the effects of over-harvesting marine resources.

The Harvest the Bay Festival was designed to promote the value of shellfish and finfish as food resources in Barnegat Bay by highlighting their ecological, economic and social importance. Vendors from governmental, non-profit and private organizations will be present to discuss with the public, the importance of Barnegat Bay to their mission. Also, local restaurant vendors will be present to display locally caught food selections of Barnegat Bay and the adjacent coastal ocean. Ultimately, the goal of the Harvest the Bay Day is to celebrate the importance of Barnegat Bay and educate the public about its significance, while promoting the following Harvest the Bay educational programs:

Harvest the Bay Clamming

Harvest the Bay-Clamming is one of the best ways to experience Barnegat Bay. Join park educators and learn about the anatomy of Quahog clams, their ecological importance in the bay, harvesting restrictions, and more.  The program provides clam rakes or you can use your feet!  Learn the skills and “clam-dance” of the baymen that still live in the area. While clamming, you are also likely to encounter some of the birds of Island Beach State Park such as the Osprey and Oyster Catcher.

Harvest the Bay Crabbing

Discover the fascinating life cycle of the Blue Claw Crab, its niche in the ecosystem, when and how to harvest them, and what you can do to assure their populations remain at a healthy level.

Harvest the Bay Fishing

Bluefish, Fluke, Black Drum – the bay is host to a variety of local fish. Explore the role of finfish in the bay’s ecosystem and discover techniques for successful fishing. Cast a line into the bay and reel in your catch of the day!