Fishing ban lifted at Manasquan Reservoir after bacteria scare

    Image: By Lamiot (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

    Image: By Lamiot (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

    Fishing is once again permitted at the Manasquan Reservoir now that an advisory for bacteria has been lifted, officials said. 

    According to a posting on the Manasquan Reservoir Facebook page earlier this week, “All permitted activities may resume as normal.”

    Tests revealing high levels of a harmful algae-like bacteria last week prompted state and county officials to warn the public to not eat fish caught at the Manasquan Reservoir.

    The bacteria, known as “cyanobacteria” or blue-green algae, can cause an adverse reaction in humans and pets.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    “Cyanobacteria frequently impart off‐tastes and odors to the water in which they grow, and sometimes they produce toxins that can be harmful to the health of humans and other animals,” a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection fact sheet states. “Although problems related to cyanobacteria most often occur in freshwaters (lakes and streams), cyanobacteria can also be found in marine waters.”

    An official with the Manasquan Water Supply System said last week that the bloom was not impacting the water supply and would removed by a filtration system regardless. 

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal