Celebrate National Estuaries Day by Volunteering to Seine in Raritan Bay on Sept. 25

Navesink, NJ (Sept. 15, 2011) – In September, millions of people will gather on beaches and along waterways around the nation to help celebrate National Estuaries Day– an annual event celebrating estuaries, the vibrant coastal areas where rivers meet the ocean  - residents of the Bayshore region of Monmouth County will also be observing National Estuaries Day.

On Sunday, September, 25, 2011 from 10am to 5pm, volunteers with the Bayshore Regional Watershed Council, an all volunteer group dedicated to restoring Raritan and Sandy Hook bays, will join with local residents to seine and monitor water quality along bayside beaches.

The public is encouraged to come out and help volunteer. Feel free to bring family and friends.

The event will take place at four (4) sites along Raritan Bay & Sandy Hook Bay.  Seine locations and times are listed below:

10:00am: Aberdeen Township/Cliffwood Beach - meet in the  parking lot near the beach entrance along Ocean Blvd, near Whale Creek and down the street from Treasure lake. (outgoing tide)

12 noon: Union Beach/Conaskonck Point - meet in the gravel parking lot where Front and Dock streets come together. (low tide)

2:00pm: Middletown Township/Port Monmouth - meet in the gravely parking lot across from the Monmouth Cove Marina at the end of Old Port Monmouth Road, not far from the Bayshore Waterfront Park. We will walk to the mouth of Pews Creek. (incoming tide)

4:00pm: Atlantic Highlands/Mouth of Many Mind Creek - meet at the end of Avenue A, along Bay Avenue, near the beach entrance to the bay. On-street parking only. (incoming tide)

Seining members will be citizen scientists. A 50-foot seine net will be dragged though the water to discover the seasonal abundance of fish, crabs, shrimp, and other estuarine species that use the near shore waters of the bay as feeding and/or nursing area. All fishes, crabs, and other aquatic creatures will be identified, cataloged, and returned to the water. In addition, watershed members will collect water temperature and turbidity information; and note the aquatic vegetation in the area.

“Participation is especially important this year," said Co-Chairperson Joe Reynolds, "since Hurricane Irene, other recent storms and flooding have brought changes to water quality and more debris than usual to our beaches and waterways. We are hoping for a good turnout on Sunday so we can to make this a useful tool to help determine the diversity and overall health of the bay."

"Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay are estuaries and as such give people so much. They provide a crucial rest stop for migratory species and critical habitat for a variety of marine plants and animals. They help prevent coastal erosion and play a critical role in the future and health of the oceans. And of course, they are the center of many coastal communities and serve as important recreational destinations.”

Come on out with family and friends to discover the aquatic life that calls our bay home!!! It will be a fun time for all!!!!

For more information about this free seining event, visit www.bayshorewatershed.org. The event is rain or shine.

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