May 29, 2014 — As we approach the summer boating and tourism season, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is asking boaters to help our environment by using caution in ecologically sensitive areas while having fun boating on Barnegat Bay and other important ecological areas throughout the state.
One key facet of Gov. Chris Christie’s Comprehensive Barnegat Bay Restoration Plan calls for reducing impacts of boats and personal watercraft on the bay’s ecosystems including wetlands, aquatic vegetation, shellfish beds and fish habitat.
“The DEP identified these unique areas so that users of the estuary can minimize their impact on the plants and animals that reside there,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “Barnegat Bay is an environmental treasure that offers great recreational opportunities, but also is a sensitive estuarine system that contains important natural resources. We ask for your help in protecting these resources.”
An online interactive map for boaters is available, which can be accessed on mobile devices and computers, so boaters can easily learn the locations of 16 areas designated ecologically sensitive. Users also can find helpful services such as the locations of marinas, sewage pump-out facilities, bait-and-tackle shops, launches and ramps, restrooms, and places to dispose trash.