All Seaside Heights Ocean Beaches Closed To Swimming On Thursday

Seaside Heights beaches were open Thursday, but ocean bathing was not allowed because of negative water quality tests, according to borough officials.

The beaches have since reopened to swimming. Bathing was allowed all day at the bay beaches.

Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz said this is the first time in 20 years that the town has had to suspend ocean bathing because of water quality.

"Perplexingly, the ocean waters have been great the past few years right up to now, so this is a very unusual event that we expect to pass quickly,” Vaz said in a Facebook announcement.

The state Department of Environmental Protection had already closed two beaches to swimming in the borough because of bacteria found in human and animal waste. Twelve beaches across the state were closed to swimming on Wednesday. Read more: 12 NJ Beaches Closed Because Of Fecal Bacteria, DEP Says (UPDATE)

Additional tests were taken and the rest were shut down, officials said. Vaz stressed that the beaches are open. "We just cannot allow people in the water," he said.

"So you can come, enjoy the beach and our Classic American Boardwalk. And, as a thank you to everyone who comes during the closure, the beaches are free and they will be given a coupon for free beach admission on another day this season,” he said.

The mayor expected swimming to be allowed by Friday following additional water quality tests. “Of course, we will keep people informed. The negative tests are apparently a result of either the unusually heavy rains earlier this week or the extremely clean ocean waters drawing a lot of bait fish to along the beach, followed by enormous numbers of seagulls," he said.

"The health people are further analyzing the results and will keep us informed," the mayor concluded.

Photo via Shutterstock and Alexander Nguyen of Patch