ReClam the Bay: Stewards of the Bay

Aug 16

Letter from the Pastor
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, August 18, 2024

When I first heard of the “Clam Ministry,” I was very excited. There is nothing like a good bowl of linguine and clams on a summer’s night—delicious!! It's one of my favorites! However, believe it or not, not everything is about food!

Actually, ReClam the Bay has a much higher goal and purpose than culinary delights. Their website defines RCTB as “a local, non-profit environmental organization that promotes involvement and education … to grow and maintain millions of baby clams and oysters in the Barnegat Bay Watershed.” They aim to “enrich the ecosystem of Barnegat Bay, Manahawkin Bay, and Little Egg Harbor Bay.” They want the public to know the “invaluable services shellfish provide to our environment and communities.”

Did you know that clams and oysters filter the waters of the bay? I didn’t. Clams filter 15-20 gallons of water daily, and the oysters up to 40 gallons of water a day. The website also adds that “shellfish actually play a vital role in the health of our bay. As natural filters, they help improve water quality by removing pollutants and excess nutrients. Their presence helps stabilize shorelines, reducing erosion and protecting coastal habitats.” I never knew they played such a great role in our bay's ecosystem.

RCTB supports 11 different communities on Long Beach Island to maintain the 11 upwellers, or nurseries for baby clams and oysters, on our island. St. Francis of Assisi Parish is one of those sites. We have a group of parishioners who are deeply grounded in Franciscan spirituality and want to be stewards not only of the parish but also of the environment.

Jim Heimlich, a member of the parish RCTB team, tells me that in the spring, they receive about 41,500 clams and 1000 oysters, all the size of a pencil tip. From late June to late October, the clams and oysters grow in the protection of our upweller. Water is pumped in directly from the bay every 4 minutes and is discharged every 4 minutes. This allows the baby clams and oysters to feast on the natural organic particles in the bay, such as plankton, decaying plant material, and other wonderful delicacies they like to eat.

By the end of October, having grown to about the size of a quarter, the clams and oysters are placed back in the bay. They are placed in yet another protected environment to keep the natural predators away. After another year of growth in this protected environment, they are moved once again to undisclosed locations throughout the bay.

Our parish RCTB team meets every Monday at 9:30 AM [right after the 9 AM Mass] to clean the upweller and weigh and record the growth of the clams and oysters. They also make sure that no predators have entered our manufactured mini-ecosystem by the side of the bay. Visitors are always welcome. If you would like to help with this worthwhile endeavor, come on Monday at 9:30 AM.

To learn more about ReClam the Bay, please visit their website, www.reclamthebay.org

Peace and All Good.