New Jersey Archives - Page 90 of 106

South Jersey remains united against new flounder regulations

February 3, 2017 — That Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission winter meeting this week was surely a bummer for summer flounder fans.

The delegates went through hours of sometimes confusing debate and somehow authorized an unpopular reduction in daily possession limit and an increase in size minimum for a keeper to help achieve a 28 percent to 32 percent cut in in the flounder quota along the Atlantic Coast.

The New Jersey presence was strong at the flounder, sea bass and scup board meeting Tuesday morning at The Westin in Alexandria, Virginia.

Adam Nowalsky headed a three-man delegation that voted in opposition to the measure — Option 5 if anybody is counting — that passed by a 7-3 vote. He also spoke in favor of delaying adoption of any restrictive measures.

Read the full story at the Press of Atlantic City

LoBiondo Blasts ASMFC Decision Drastically Restricting Catch Limits for South Jersey Fishermen

February 3, 2017 — Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) on Feb. 2 blasted the decision by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to drastically reduce the catch limits for South Jersey fishermen by approximately 32 percent.

“It is absolutely absurd that New Jersey fishermen are arbitrarily subjected to these draconian cuts when those from neighboring states are free to pillage our waters at more favorable limits,” stated LoBiondo in a release. “Just when our fishing industry was recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, unelected bureaucrats in Washington use questionable methodologies and outdated science to cut us off at the knees. I will do everything in my power to run this ASMFC decision aground.”

At the ASMFC meeting in Washington, it was adopted that a three-bag limit would be instituted for this season with a fish length requirement of 19 inches instituted. In 2016, New Jersey anglers held a five fish bag limit with an 18-inch minimum requirement. The length of the fishing season did not change, and New Jersey fishermen stand to lose the most by the decision.

Read the full story at the Cape May Herald.

Congressmen MacArthur, Smith, and LoBiondo Announce Major Victory for New Jersey Fishing Community

February 3, 2017 — Washington, D.C. — The following was released by the office of Representative Tom MacArthur:

Today, Congressmen Tom MacArthur (NJ-03), Chris Smith (NJ-04), and Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) announced a major victory for New Jersey’s fishing industry. After congressional opposition led by Congressman MacArthur, the Baltimore Aquarium has withdrawn their nomination for the Baltimore Canyon to be named a national marine sanctuary, a controversial designation which could have prohibited or restricted fishing access near South Jersey.

“This is a big win for our fishing industry and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to protect New Jersey’s fishermen,” said Congressman Tom MacArthur. “Too often, our commercial and recreational fishing industry has been stifled by too many regulations from nameless, faceless and unelected bureaucrats in Washington D.C. This will make sure that a burdensome designation won’t stand in the way of our fishermen’s success.”

“With our recreational and commercial fishing industry under constant attack from Washington bureaucrats, this is certainly welcome news for our region,” said Congressman LoBiondo. “I remain committed to fighting against such arbitrary restrictions on our fishermen and appreciate Congressman MacArthur’s leadership on this critical economic issue for South Jersey.”

“If implemented, a reduction of this magnitude will have harsh and immediate economic consequences for families and businesses along New Jersey’s 130 mile shoreline—many still struggling to fully recover from Superstorm Sandy. The impact will be felt not only in fisheries and fishing communities, but by the local businesses that rely upon the industry, the governments that depend on the revenue generated by these activities and other industries—such as tourism—that are a staple along the Jersey Shore,” said Rep. Chris Smith. “The Delegation is working on a full court press that we hope will delay, and ultimately severely alter, the implementation of this devastating decision.”

In December, Congressman Tom MacArthur (NJ-03) along with Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-03), Congressman Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2), Congressman Lee Zeldin (NY-01), Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), and Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) sent a letter to the NOAA Administrator against the potential designations of Baltimore, Hudson, and Norfolk Canyons as Marine Sanctuaries.

The original letter can be viewed here

Atlantic fishing commission ignores New Jersey criticism and adopts cuts to flounder quota

February 2, 2017 — A proposal that likely will force New Jersey to make changes to its fishing regulations for summer flounder was advanced by a coastal fisheries management board Thursday despite strong opposition from state officials.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, a regional agency that helps set fishing quotas for the 15 East Coast states, voted 10-2 to adopt the controversial new flounder rule, called Addendum XXVIII, which would drastically reduce New Jersey and other coastal states’ flounder catch limits.

The vote followed nearly three hours of debate among the coastal states’ representatives and fishery managers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is responsible for federal fisheries management.

New Jersey and Rhode Island were the only states to vote “no” on the proposal, which likely would force New Jersey to adopt its most stringent fishing regulations ever for anglers, such as a 19-inch minimum size limit, as well as a shortened season and reduced daily catch limit.

Read the full story at the Burlington County Times

DAVID F. LIPTON: Christie should advocate for N.J. fishing industry

January 31, 2017 — President Donald Trump is going to reverse (“undo”) job-killing, industry-destroying regulations in dozens of huge federal administrative agencies like the EPA, the FCC and the National Labor Relations Board.

Trump campaigned on the promise to help us all take our country back by eliminating these business-stifling rules put in place by Barack Obama and his minions.

We need help in New Jersey right now since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the managed fisheries, is getting ready to cripple the New Jersey fishing industry when it receives a recommendation from the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council that will vote Thursday to reduce the flounder quotas in New Jersey, crippling the fishing business on “bad facts” presented to the agency.

Controversial flounder plan could get final approval Thursday

January 31, 2017 — A proposal to drastically reduce this year’s summer flounder catch could get final approval at a federal regulatory meeting Thursday morning in Virginia.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Committee is scheduled consider strategies that would reduce the summer flounder harvest by up to 41 percent coast-wide and implement tighter restrictions on bag and size limits for recreational fishermen.

It’s a proposal that has been met with widespread criticism in New Jersey—from recreational fishermen, both U.S. Senators, multiple other politicians and even the head of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Read the full story at The Press of Atlantic City

New Jersey rallies against flounder harvest cuts

January 27, 2017 — POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ – The state’s fishing industry could be crippled unless proposed federal regulations that would cut the harvest of summer flounder — the state’s No. 1 fish — by almost half are stopped, advocates warned at a protest rally held at the commercial fishing docks.

“It’s an attack on our economy, it’s an attack on our way of life,” said Bob Martin, head of the state Department of Environmental Protection, who organized the rally to bring attention to the looming regulations that he warned would devastate the state’s fishing industry, particularly the recreational fishing boats that are a mainstay of the summer tourism season. .

“You can barely stay in business as it is. If they shove a 19-inch size limit in our face, then we’re done,” said Captain Will Hammarstrom, owner of the Carolyn Ann III, one of only two party boats left in Barnegat Light.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press

New rules could cripple flounder fishermen

January 29, 2017 — Ice fishermen and groundhogs are scarce today.

The weather will make more ice this week, and some groundhogs will pose on their day Thursday.

So much for good news. Summer flounder fishermen will have to wait until next month to see if their season will be crippled by size reductions this summer.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will vote then on options that could the increase minimum size to 19 inches and a shorter season.

Read the full story at MyCentralJersey.com

NEW JERSEY SAYS “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” AT JAN. 27 RALLY

January 29, 2017 — Point Pleasant Beach, NJ — “Enough is enough,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner (NJDEP) Bob Martin at a press conference and rally on January 27, 2017 at Fishermen’s Supply Company in Point Pleasant Beach.

Standing alongside federal and state lawmakers and leaders of the state’s recreational and commercial fishing industries, Commissioner Martin continued to hammer home the message, repeating the refrain several more times while addressing about 175 fishermen and media members gathered along the Manasquan River front dock, where commercial and recreational boats were docked side-by-side.

“For too long summer flounder fishery management has been driven by knee-jerk reactions that lack scientific foundation and have profound impacts on the lives of many people,” Commissioner Martin said, explaining how families plan summer vacations based on the run of summer flounder.

Read the full story at The Fisherman

NEW JERSEY: Assembly passes resolution asking for new flounder assessment

January 27, 2017 — The New Jersey General Assembly approved a resolution Tuesday, Jan. 24 asking the federal government to conduct a new summer flounder assessment before implementing catch limits for 2017-2018.

Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo of Northfield was a sponsor of the resolution, AR-206. Assemblyman Chris Brown of Ventnor was a sponsor of similar legislation that was not adoopted, AR-205, which called for President Donald Trump to reject the 40 percent reduction in summer flounder catch limits recommended jointly by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. It asked the president to repeal, rescind, or otherwise prohibit the implementation of the rule adopted by the National Marine Fisheries Service Dec. 22.

Brown had previously written to the U.S. secretary of commerce to stop the implementation of summer flounder quotas for 2017-2018 and conduct a new study of the fishing stock.

“We have too many local jobs at stake, so the federal government needs to go back to the drawing board and get it right,” Brown said. “Many of my constituents have pointed out they believe the data the federal government used is flawed. The only fair thing is do is conduct another study that is scientifically sound.”

Read the full story at The Beachcomber