NJDEP Panel On Navesink River Fish Deaths Slated For Thursday

RED BANK, NJ - In partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Monmouth County-based nonprofit Clean Ocean Action (COA) will be hosting a virtual panel later this month to discuss the recent menhaden fish deaths in the two rivers region.

Hundreds of dead menhaden fish have been spotted floating in the Raritan Bay and Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers in recent months, with similar instances occurring in New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island since last fall. State environmental authorities, including the NJDEP, are currently working to identify a bacteria known as Vibrio that seems to be the likely culprit.

There is also no evidence that other fish, birth or shellfish are being impacted by Vibrio and it is safe to eat other species that prey on menhaden, the DEP said. It is always advised to properly cook all fish or shellfish before consumption. While fish kills will eventually clear up if left alone, residents and business owners can wear protective equipment and bag and discard fish with other refuse. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is working with local officials to establish larger scale cleanup operations.

Amid an influx of dead fish and the onset of hot summer weather, local Shore towns have witnessed upticks in residents’ complaints about the sight and stench of the fish washing up on beaches. The city of Long Branch has already vowed to assist with the cleanup effort. Read more: Long Branch To Begin Dead Fish Cleanup On Monday

On May 27 at 7 p.m., officials from the NJDEP and Oceanport Mayor John “Jay” Coffey II will be participating in the forum discussion, with panelists set to discuss what caused the die-off, present public and environmental health risks, fish carcass removal efforts and future measures should the event happen again.

While the state continues to investigate, it is recommended that bathers avoid swimming in areas of active fish kills (there are no recreational bathing beaches on the Navesink or Shrewsbury rivers, but there are recreational bathing beaches on Raritan Bay). Anyone entering the water in an affected area should wash exposed skin and clothing thoroughly with soap and water after contact with the water. Locals in the area also need not worry about affected drinking water quality in the region.

“Reluctantly, many of us witnessed with our eyes and noses the hundreds of thousands of dead Atlantic menhaden or ‘bunker’ that washed-up on shorelines and accumulated in floating masses in creeks and rivers,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action, in a statement.

“We received many calls and photos from concerned citizens with questions including, ‘Is it safe to swim, kayak, fish or crab and eat them? What do we do with all these dead fish? This virtual meeting is an opportunity for people to hear the facts and get their questions answered.”

The panel will be conducted via Zoom web conferencing. Pre-registration is required at www.CleanOceanAction.org; the link to join the Zoom webinar will be sent to those who register.
Questions can be submitted at the time of registration.

For more information, visit CleanOceanAction.org or (732) 872-0111. Locals can report fish die-off events through the WARN DEP Hotline: 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337).