50 years ago, almost all water east of the channel side on Long Beach Island was declared contaminated and clamming was forbidden there. Locals would take a few for dinner now and then and although no one was ever sickened to my knowledge, these "forbidden" clam zones created vast seeding beds of clams to re-populate the bay. 30 years ago the "forbidden" areas were declared safe and opened to commercial clammers. Within 10 years, clam numbers dropped off in the entire bay.
50 years ago, almost all water east of the channel side on Long Beach Island was declared contaminated and clamming was forbidden there. Locals would take a few for dinner now and then and although no one was ever sickened to my knowledge, these "forbidden" clam zones created vast seeding beds of clams to re-populate the bay. 30 years ago the "forbidden" areas were declared safe and opened to commercial clammers. Within 10 years, clam numbers dropped off in the entire bay.
Hammerlix 2 years ago