Harvest The Bay Festival Coming Up At Island Beach State Park

Want to learn more about the importance of Barnegat Bay, both ecologically and economically?

Then come to the ”Harvest the Bay Festival” at Island Beach State Park on Saturday. The event is free with park admission and will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p. at the pavilion at Ocean Bathing Area 1.

A rain date of August 15 is set in the event of inclement weather.

“We are very eager to host Harvest the Bay again this year, especially after seeing how popular the event has become with our summer visitors,” said State Park Service Director Mark Texel. “This is a great chance for kids and families to participate in interactive events, while also learning about the importance of Barnegat Bay to our environment, and to our local communities.”

Harvest the Bay focuses on the bay’s natural environment and the recreational and commercial fishing industries that depend on the watershed. Park naturalists will demonstrate how to claim and sein and teach visitors about Barnegat Bays clams, crabs and fish and how they need a healthy bay to survive.

Visitors will also learn proper techniques for harvesting bay resources and will be able to sample locally caught seafood.