'State Of The Bay' Report Released By Barnegat Bay Partnership

BARNEGAT BAY, NJ — The Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP) has released its latest State of the Bay Report. Every five years, Barnegat Bay scientists review data and report on the current conditions of the bay and the watershed area.

The 2021 report compares the bay's current condition with eight ecosystem targets outlined in the Barnegat Bay's 2021 conservation and management plan. These targets are used to describe the overall physical, chemical and biotic conditions of the bay, the BBP said.

Addressed in the report are public beach openings, hard clam restoration, approved shellfish harvesting areas, wetlands protection, water conservation and reuse, submerged aquatic vegetation extent, wetland and riparian buffer preservation and ecological water flows, the BBP said.

Recent and ongoing research by academic, government and private-sector scientists and engineers is used in the report to determine the status and trends of the targets, the BBP said.

The report has status and trend dials at the beginning for a quick summary of findings, which then go into more detail.

The report showed increases in public beach openings and closures, decreases in wetland protection and critical data gaps in some areas where more data is needed. The report also offers options for how readers can do their part to protect the Barnegat Bay.

“The Barnegat Bay Partnership will continue to use the best science available to protect and restore this unique ecosystem that we all treasure,” said Dr. Stan Hales, BBP Director, in a release. “We hope you will join us in these endeavors and help us build on the successes of the past five years.”

Visit the BBP website to view and/or download the 2021 State of the Bay Report. Email bbp@ocean.edu to request a print copy.