Collecting Other Shellfish ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Collecting Other Shellfish

Moon Snails are commonly eaten as Scungilli. They are sometimes very common offshore; more than that I can't say.

Large Whelks are sometimes eaten as Conch, but these are most often collected in bay waters.

Clams live beneath the surface of the sand and would be difficult for a diver to collect.

Oysters are also found in shallow bay waters. Oyster diving in the Chesapeake Bay is a wintertime way to get in the water.

Collecting Shellfish

Something almost anyone can catch is shellfish. They really don't put up much of a fight or try to escape, so even a beginning diver can take something home for the dinner table.

Other Shellfish

More: Collecting Shellfish ...

Fish

New Jersey now requires registration for saltwater fishing, including lobsters. Registration is free and can be done online at nj.gov/dep/saltwaterregistry.

This listing is for New Jersey waters only - if you cross into New York or Delaware, or Federal waters ( more than 3 miles offshore, ) you are subject to their regulations. Federal regulations supersede state regulations whenever stricter.

Lobster

More: Fishing Regulations ...

Cost of Building Reefs

According to a survey conducted by the Division in 1993 and 1994, an average of $2.2 million is expended annually to construct and manage New Jersey's ocean reefs. The management portion of the project, which includes the salaries of State marine biologists who select reef sites, coordinate construction activities, and conduct biological and harvest surveys, and the costs of operating a research vessel and sampling equipment, amounts to approximately $215,000 each year. Funding for management is composed of $161,000 in federal Sportfish Restoration Funds, which are obtained from excise taxes on recreational fishing tackle, and $54,000 in state funding.