ASBURY PARK, N.J. — May 24, 2014 — Jersey Shore beaches are in fine shape overall and beachwater quality is outstanding heading into Memorial Day weekend, New Jersey's top environmental official said Thursday.
"The water quality is excellent," said Bob Martin, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. "Our beaches are in great shape. Virtually all our beaches are open throughout the state…. Please come down to the Jersey Shore, create some great new memories overall."
Meanwhile, officials have removed 301 tons of dead fish — almost all of them menhaden, or bunker — from the Shark River since a fish kill that began last week, according to DEP officials. It's one of the largest fish kills the DEP has ever seen.
An estimated 500,000 to 600,000 fish died after they swam into the river and "there was not enough oxygen" in the water, Martin said at the 12th Annual New Jersey State of the Shore media event at McLoone's Asbury Grille. "It's a natural occurrence," and 80 to 90 percent of the massive cleanup will be completed by Thursday, he said.
Event organizers also announced New Jersey's Top 10 Beaches, an annual project of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and the Coastal Research Center at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in Galloway.
Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press