Jersey Shore Magazine

BEACHCOMBER RECLAM THE BAY, continued from page 11 is clean, sunlight reaches the bot- tom, which generates the regrowth of sea grass. That sea grass produces the dissolved oxygen that all marine life needs to survive. It also creates a habitat for fin fish, shrimp, eels, and other types of sea creatures. If there is no sun, sea grass cannot grow." Barnegat Bay's health has notably improved since the arrival of the 21st century due to awareness and con- servation efforts, and ReClam's living shoreline bags have contributed greatly to its cleaner water and better health. "Those oysters from the bay that were sent all over the world at the turn of the century are returning," Walsh said, "and now about twelve to fifteen shellfish farmers are once again making a living on the bay using the same processes from one hundred years ago. The cleaner the water, the more oysters and clams, and when the farmers do well, the shellfish do well. We love to see that." In 2023, ReClam the Bay raised and added more than two million oyster spat to Barnegat Bay. • • • •• NORTHERN OCEAN COUNTY Brick Township:•• • -• Mantoloking:•€ ‚ƒ South Seaside Park: I‚ ••„ ‚ Toms River:… •†‡• ƒˆ‰‰Š‹‚ SOUTHERN OCEAN COUNTY Barnegat:•Œ• Ž''‚ Tuckerton: " Waretown:""•‰‰' • LONG BEACH ISLAND Barnegat Light: ‚– •‚‰- ‚ Beach Haven:• Brant Beach:‚‚€ Š—‚ Long Beach Township: ˜ Ž--–‚ ‚ Surf City:€‹ †ˆ and water temperatures, and salinity. That data fosters an understanding of the environment at the different locations around the bay. The "Clam Trail" is a fun scavenger hunt where participants can uncov- er interesting facts about Barnegat Bay and the region, and those who finish the trail can earn a certificate of completion and a ReClam the Bay limited edition pin. ReClam's "Shellfish in the Classroom" program aligns with STEM curriculums and allows local students to help care for and feed shellfish while watching them grown in their classrooms. "We had over seven hundred children involved last year," Walsh said, "and we hope to expand this program." ReClam also offers an internship program for high school and college students interested in researching topics such as the vary- ing growth rates of shellfish in the bay. He said, "This is a great oppor- tunity for a student interested in marine biology to help our program." —Jill Ocone Editor's Note: ReClam the Bay's offices are located at 68 Main Street in Waretown. Monetary donations help support and expand their programs and establish more upweller locations, which will yield hundreds-of-thou- sands more shellfish and even cleaner waters. For those interested in volunteering, donat- ing, or purchasing items from their online store, visit www.reclamthebay.org. For more information, call (732) 325-2663 or email info@reclamthebay.org. ReClam Programs ReClam welcomes volunteers to help support their initiatives, spread the word about their mission, and lend a hand at projects and fundraisers. During the summer months, an average of one hundred fifty people per week visit the thirteen upweller sites throughout Ocean County for hands-on learning opportunities and to help care for the baby shellfish inside the nurseries. Volunteers at each site log growth, nutrition, air One of over thirty giant, painted, fiberglass clamshells that are part of the "Clam Trail" scavenger hunt. Oysters growing inside a living shoreline bag —considerably larger since the spat stage. RECLAM THE BAY'S RECLAM THE BAY'S SHELLFISH NURSERIES SHELLFISH NURSERIES — Upweller Locations — — Upweller Locations — Tom Lynch / AngryFishGallery.com Jill Ocone

• Cover