NJ Fish Kill Caused By Broken Commercial Net

A broken net on a commercial fishing vessel caused the wash-up of thousands of dead menhaden in the North Wildwood area over the weekend, according to an investigation by the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The fishing vessel reported that one of its nets broke, releasing an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of fish. Most of the fish washed up along Hereford Inlet, although some fish were reported scattered on North Wildwood beaches from the inlet south to 18th Street.

Menhaden are a bait fish that is a member of the herring family and are also known as mossbunker, bunker or pogy.

The vessel works out of Lund's Fisheries in Cape May. Lund's has accepted responsibility for the incident and will remove the fish. The DEP is working with Lund's and local officials to ensure a quick and thorough cleanup.

The incident was not related to low dissolved oxygen levels as what was originally thought. Low dissolved oxygen levels are believed to have caused the massive die-off of menhaden last month along an eight-mile stretch of Delaware Bay in Cape May County. 

NJ WILD Outdoor Expo will be held this weekend, September 25 and 26

The first ever NJ WILD Outdoor Expo will be held this weekend, September 25 and 26, at the  Assunpink Wildlife Management Area in Upper Freehold, Monmouth County, just off Rt. I-195. Parking and entrance to the event are free.

The Expo will highlight a host of outdoors adventures such as fishing, hiking, kayaking, camping and hunting that are available in New Jersey's forests, parks and wildlife management areas. There will be demonstrations and hands-on activities geared to avid outdoorsmen and women, as well as to novices, throughout the weekend. An outdoors-supplies flea market and food vendors will also be on site.

Camping demonstrations will be held for families looking to get outdoors together. An "Orienteering Treasure Hunt'' will test participants' compass skills. Archery and shooting ranges will be operating. And there's fun for the kids too, including an opportunity to meet and take photos with the wolves appearing in the new movie "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

The Expo will be held each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Some activities will be offered at a modest fee, and some events require pre-registration. For a listing of programs and directions to the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, visit http://www.wildoutdoorexpo.com/

The Expo is sponsored by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry, as well as the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. It is partly financed by a $10,000 grant from the Weatherby Foundation International.



Welcome to the Conservation Update Section

Thanks to our readers for suggesting this section that has been lacking on our site. This will become the home to all news and feature articales that are Conservation theme. There are lots of non-profits organizations and sportsman's groups that spend time & money on projects both on water and land and now this will be a space for some recognition.

If you are involved in a conservation project please send us a email and photos and maybe some video and we will help you get the word out. Email me  and put Conservation Project in the the subject line.