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  Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring



Shellfish Growing Area SE-5: Ludlam Bay to Townsends Inlet, is located in the southern part of New Jersey, northwest of the city of Avalon and southwest of Strathmere, in Cape May County. The shellfish waters in this growing area are bordered to the north by Upper Township, to the east by Sea Isle City and Avalon, and to the west by Dennis Township and Middle Township. This area includes the shellfish growing waters from Ludlam Bay in the north, to the north of Great Sound in the south. Great Sound is not included in this shellfish growing area. The principal bodies of water in this area are Ludlam Bay, Townsends Sound, Stites Sound, and Townsends Inlet. This area also includes Devauls Creek, Maple Swamp, Big Elder Creek, Little Elder Creek, Swimming Creek, Ludlam Thorofare, Sunks Creek, Mill Creek, Scraggy Creek, Ware Thorofare, Mill Thorofare, Townsend Channel, Clem Thorofare, Granny Creek, Mud Thorofare, Jonadab Creek, Uncle Aarons Creek, Kitts Thorofare, Bottle Creek, Middle Thorofare, North Channel, South Channel, Leonard Thorofare, Ingram Thorofare, Gravens Thorofare, Cornell Harbor, Pennsylvania Harbor, Princeton Harbor, S Creek, Deep Creek, Rachael Gut, Salt Creek, Cat Run, Deep Thorofare, and Paddy Thorofare. The approximate size of this shellfish growing area is 3,574 acres of shellfish growing waters.

Status: Currently, the shellfish classification of this growing area is Approved, Seasonally Approved (November to April), Seasonally Approved (January to April), Special Restricted, and Prohibited. There are approximately 2,851 acres of Approved waters (79.75%), 3.0 acres of Seasonally Approved (November–April) waters (0.08%), 39.0 acres of Seasonally Approved (January-April) waters (1.09%), 327.0 acres of Special Restricted waters (9.14%), and 355.0 acres of Prohibited waters (9.93%) in this shellfish growing area.

Most recent Reappraisal Report

Most recent Sanitary Survey Report

Ludlam Bay to Townsends Inlet Shellfish Classification

Click map to enlarge


Ludlam Bay to Townsends Inlet Photo Ludlam Bay to Townsends Inlet Photo Ludlam Bay to Townsends Inlet Photo Ludlam Bay to Townsends Inlet Photo

Photo Credit: NJDEP