Was This Boat In Brielle Just A Bit Too Crowded Amid Coronavirus?

BRIELLE – Perhaps this was just a bit too crowded for a pandemic.

A reader on Tuesday submitted a photo of the Jamaica II off Brielle, wondering if officials were aware that there were too many people – and too little social distancing – going on.

A person who answered the phone at Jamaica II Fishing Club hung up the phone on a Patch reporter on Tuesday.

Brielle police released a statement to Patch:

"The police department is not the 'compliance police.' We rely on business owners to urge and remind their patrons to adhere to the governor's executive orders."

The department said "these fisherman are outside, on the open seas, and have decided to place themselves in a situation to fish and not to wear masks. If they didn't want to take the risk, they would not have made the reservation to go fishing."

The photo was taken on Saturday as about 23 people were crowded within a 10-square yard block, with maybe three wearing masks properly – if at all.

Here is the photo: