The map below shows Delaware Bay beaches which will be closed from May 13 to June 7, 2006 and Atlantic Coast beaches which will be closed from May 5 through Labor Day or later, as indicated . Various beaches have been closed seasonally since 2003 to protect a rapidly-declining population of migrating shorebirds. These birds stop over each spring to feed on the fat-rich eggs of the horseshoe crab. (For more information on shorebirds see the Delaware Bay Shorebirds Information page.)

Closed areas will be marked with printed signs and rope fencing from the street end to the water's edge. DEP staff will be present to educate the public about the interaction between the shorebirds and horseshoe crabs and the need to let the birds feed undisturbed.

Detailed maps of the closed areas are linked from the map below by clicking on the beach name. Closed areas on those maps are indicated in red.