SPEND A DAY AT THE BAY ECO-FESTIVAL was part of Aberdeen Township’s annual Family Fishing Contest, which took place from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. The eco-festival was a joint effort between Aberdeen Township and the Bayshore Watershed Council, an all volunteer environmental group that is dedicated to the restoration and conservation of Raritan & Sandy Hook Bays through education, advocacy & research.

Many people were there to take part in the annual fishing contest. Other folks were on hand to enjoy the eco-fest. Some of the fun activities included kite flying, fish printing, creating beach murals, and venturing out on a wetland walk by Whale Creek. One of the more popular activities was beach seining. Found in the net along Cliffwood Beach that day were juvenile Windowpane flatfish, Atlantic and Rough Silverside fish, a juvenile Striped Bass, and about 15 other different species of remarkable bay life including Pipe Fish (a member of the Seahorse family), Striped Killifish, Mud Snails, Green Crab, Hermit Crabs, Bay Shrimp, Sand Shrimp, Whelk eggs, Finger Sponges, and barnacles.

(A juvenile Windowpane flatfish)

There is no doubt that the bay is rich in aquatic critters. As of 1995, scientists put the number of fish species recorded in the bay at around 206. Of these, approximately 50 are common to abundant. The bay’s natural landscape of wetlands, shoals, and tidal creeks create an ideal nursery for much marine life; including oysters, clams, crabs, eels, sponges, fish, birds, and other remarkable Raritan Bay life.

(A juvenile Striped Bass)

The event was designed to introduce people from around the Bayshore region in Monmouth and Middlesex counties to the frequently overlooked Cliffwood Beach - a beautiful, natural sandy bay beach that overlooks Keyport Harbor and is located in the middle of the much larger urban coastal environment of lower New York Harbor. Come see for yourself the wonders of the waves in the bay and the importance of Raritan Bay’s marine and coastal resources at Cliffwood Beach!

SPEND A DAY AT THE BAY ECO-FESTIVAL will hopefully impress upon people the importance of creating a healthy bay and healthy environment, and the need to preserve more coastal open spaces like Cliffwood Beach. 

The eco-festival was made possible in part by a public access grant from the New York – New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program, Public Access Work Group, and the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance. The New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary was designated an "Estuary of National Significance" in 1988 by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

 Thanks also goes to the good folks at Clean Ocean Action, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Chris Rossi family at Go Rise Up ( www.goriseup.com), and the great people of Aberdeen Township for all their wonderful help & time.