Wild New Jersey Exclusive: Crabs, shrimp, and summer flounder while seining Cape May Harbor
This 8-inch Green crab aggressively wielded its claws after being caught in the seine net.
Photo credit: All photos by David Wheeler, Edison Wetlands Association.
While nature groups across New Jersey offer an abundance of environmental education events for children and families, it is hard to imagine a more hands-on activity than seining. New Jersey Audubon's Nature Center of Cape May offers a weekly seining event in which eager volunteers get to pull a seine net through the beachfront shallows of Cape May Harbor.
Wild New Jersey's David Wheeler joined a recent tour led by associate naturalist Hal Miller, in which a crew of eager teens and children encountered an exciting variety of harbor underwater life, from horseshoe crabs and mud snails to grass shrimp and a beautifully spotted calico crab.
The summer flounder - with both of its eyes on the same side of its head - was the biggest hit with the participants. Miller also gave an informative presentation on the rich history of Cape May Harbor, and a close-up look at some of its other resident wildlife, like diamondback terrapins.
After a brief observation period, the sea creatures were returned to their undersea home. For more information on upcoming tours, visit the Nature Center of Cape May.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 6/10/2009 1:00 PM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: seining shrimp Cape May Harbor crabs summer flounder
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: seining shrimp Cape May Harbor crabs summer flounder
liked it but Hal needs to get out in the sun....white legs and all!
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