October 19, 2018 — In an effort to benefit commercial fishing operations, Assemblymen Robert Andrzejczak and Bruce Land (both D-1st) have sponsored legislation permitting commercial fishing vessels to possess more than the daily trip limit of black sea bass and summer flounder under certain conditions.
The bill was advanced Oct. 18 by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
“It is not right to limit the amount of black sea bass and summer flounder commercial fishing boats can possess, so long as they are fished in a sustainable way,” stated Andrzejczak in a release. “As long as fishermen respect our environment and the fish they catch, we should not limit how our residents can make a living.”
“New Jersey’s fishermen pride themselves on providing the state with top-notch fish for our residents,” stated Land. “It is not fair for us to negate their hard work, and implement unnecessary restrictions on certain fish, limiting their income.”
The bill (A-4136) would prohibit the Commissioner of Environmental Protection from limiting the amount of black sea bass or summer flounder commercial fishing vessels may possess, as long as they don’t land summer flounder or black sea bass again in New Jersey for seven days after the initial pack-out.