April 19, 2015 — A mountain of shells lay along the western shore of Barnegat Bay.
They're being transported by barge and placed at a location off Good Luck Point, just a few hundred feet from the shoreline. The 62,000 or so knobbed whelk, the state shell of New Jersey, may play an important part in improving the health of the Bay.
For decades Barnegat Bay has struggled with high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen mostly due to inorganic fertilizers that run off lawns when it rains. This nutrient rich water flows into storm drains, creeks, rivers and ultimately ends up in the Bay. The excess nutrients promote the growth of algae which stops sunlight from filtering through the water. The result is the reduction of oxygen levels which kills sea grass and devastates marine life.
This is where the shells come in. An experiment is being led by the American Littoral Society (ALS), a non-profit that promotes the study and conservation of marine life and habitat. ALS, with the help of local municipalities and volunteers, is placing the shells in the bay to create an oyster reef around a quarter-acre in size.
The project which is funded by NOAA and Restore America's Estuaries is a collaboration of efforts from Berkeley Township and Ocean Gate. Berkeley Township's Departments of Recreation, Parks and Beaches helped to load the shell on a barge provided by Atlantic Dock and Bulkhead.