Boating, Fishing Can Resume In Barnegat and Sandy Hook Bays

Boating, fishing and crabbing are now allowed in the upper Barnegat Bay and Sandy Hook Bay.

The Department of Environmental Protection is lifting the public health advisory for recreational use in these bays, as well as the Hudson River, Passaic River, Hackensack River, Newark Bay, Kill Van Kull and Arthur Kill.

Recreational and commercial shellfish harvest, however, remains prohibited in these waters, the DEP says.

The wastewater treatment facilities that had been damaged by Hurricane Sandy have now been restored, and testing has indicated that these bodies of water meet the recreational water quality standards, the DEP says.

The DEP encourages all anglers, crabbers and boaters to visit the Hurricane Sandy webpage at http://www.nj.gov/dep/special/hurricane-sandy/ for updates on lifting the advisory in the Raritan River/Raritan Bay area.

In addition, people are encouraged to visit fishsmarteatsmartnj.org for current fish consumption advisories.