The blue claw crab, a bottom feeder and dweller that absorbs contaminants in sediments, has become more abundant in the Passaic River and Newark Bay complex due to the prohibition on commercial crabbing. Persons who violate the crabbing ban in the Lower Passaic and Newark Bay are subject to fines ranging from $300 to $3,000 for a first offense. “There is no way to prepare crabs from these waters to make them safe for consumption,’’ said Health Commissioner Mary E. Children are also at risk of developmental and neurological problems if these crabs are eaten. Women of child-bearing years, pregnant women and nursing mothers, in particular, are urged not to ingest these crabs from this region. While some crabs may appear healthy, contaminants found in blue claw crabs and some fish pulled from these waters can be harmful to fetuses and infants. Clean waters in New Jersey are in abundance and we strongly recommend people go to those places for healthy fishing and crabbing.” “This is a matter of public health and safety for area residents. “It is very important that people observe the ban on crabbing in this area and not eat the crabs from these waters,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. The DEP, along with several community groups and municipalities in the Lower Passaic and Newark Bay region, are continuing to notify area residents of the negative health effects of crabbing in those waters. Multiple studies show crabs from those waters continue to have harmful levels of cancer-causing dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as other contaminants, including mercury. (12/P88) TRENTON - As part of a coordinated multi-language community education effort taking place this week, the Department of Environmental Protection is reminding residents that harvesting blue claw crabs from the waters of the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay is dangerous and prohibited. DEP ISSUES REMINDER ABOUT BAN ON BLUE CLAW CRABBING
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