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Life Below Water

What Lies Beneath the Waves

What happens beneath the surface of Barnegat Bay is just as vital as what occurs above it. The Bay’s fragile ecosystems, including its submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) like eelgrass, are key to maintaining balance for both marine life and the environment.

The Role of Eelgrass in Barnegat Bay

Barnegat Bay is a lagoonal estuary, a shallow and protected nursery where countless marine species raise their young. Its average depth of just four to six feet creates ideal conditions for eelgrass to thrive, as the shallow water allows enough sunlight to reach these critical plants.

Eelgrass plays an essential role in the Bay’s ecosystem:

  • Prevents Erosion: Slows wave action to stabilize shorelines.
  • Protects Wildlife: Provides shelter for young fish and other marine life.
  • Supports Oxygen Production: Acts as a vital producer of oxygen.
  • Feeds Waterfowl: Serves as a food source for many bird species.

These grasses are uniquely adapted to Barnegat Bay’s conditions, making them nearly impossible to replant elsewhere. This significance has helped earn Barnegat Bay Category One protected status.

Threats to Life Below Water

Unfortunately, eelgrass and the ecosystems it supports face growing threats:

  • Excess Nitrogen Pollution: Runoff containing fertilizers promotes harmful algal blooms, which block sunlight and choke out SAV.
  • Stormwater Runoff: Contaminants like oil, pet waste, and debris from impervious surfaces enter the Bay, harming its delicate ecosystems.

Save Barnegat Bay’s Efforts

Save Barnegat Bay is dedicated to protecting life below water through education, advocacy, and hands-on conservation efforts.

Stormwater Management:

We address runoff pollution with initiatives like:

  • Rain Barrel Workshops
  • Stormwater Conferences
  • Smart Yard, Healthy Bay Programs

Marine Conservation:

Save Barnegat Bay helped establish the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone, the only one of its kind in New Jersey. This special area is a sanctuary for:

  • Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)
  • Blue Claw crabs
  • Windowpane flounder
  • Ospreys
  • Clams

This zone offers a rare glimpse of what Barnegat Bay was like 80 years ago—and a vision of what it could be again.

Combating Invasive Species:

Through our Stop the Sting campaign, we’re tackling the problem of invasive Bay Nettle jellyfish.

 

Alexandra Sellitsch

Alex is 27 years old and is an aspiring marine biologist who is finishing up her junior year at Stockton University. Growing up by the beach has made a significant impact on Alex’s life, which has influenced her passion for the ocean. She is an advocate for elasmobranch conservation, and enjoys getting her hands dirty in research. Alex is currently an intern with Barnegat Bay, researching pathogen influences in the bay’s water. She is also an active intern partnering with one of her professors, who is researching dual seagrass habitats in the Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary. In her spare time, Alex enjoys spending time at the beach and teaching herserself new hobbies. Hobbies that include roller skating, and surfing. Alex is also volunteering with the Berkeley Township Underwater Search and Rescue Team, and is in the process of obtaining her SCUBA certification.