New Jersey Archives - Page 90 of 105

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

NEW JERSEY: DEP Commissioner Martin, Rep. Pallone to lead fish rally at Fishermen’s Supply

January 26, 2017 — A rally against the proposed cuts to the summer flounder harvest is planned for this Friday morning in the parking lot of Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach.

Along with members of the fishing community, the commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection Bob Martin and U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) will lead the rally and speak in opposition to the harvest reduction.

Both Martin and Pallone have been critical of the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management for their proposed drastic cuts to the summer flounder harvest.

Pallone has been outspoken against the science used to count fish landings and stock biomass that has led those management bodies to conclude that anglers overfished their quota last year and the biomass of summer flounder is shrinking.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press

NEW JERSEY: Bill asks NOAA to rethink increased flounder restrictions

January 19, 2017 — A South Jersey lawmaker introduced a bill Tuesday that would urge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to halt proposed reductions to this year’s summer flounder catch.

Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, introduced a resolution asking NOAA to conduct a new summer flounder assessment before implementing the proposed regulations, which would cut the flounder catch by 40 percent.

The reduction plan was advanced at a Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting last month but has been roundly condemned by recreational fishermen and prominent state leaders, including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd.

Federal officials say the cuts are necessary because a recent NOAA report concluded the flounder fishery is overfished.

Recreational fishermen at a hearing earlier this month in Galloway Township questioned NOAA’s methods for measuring flounder, and Mazzeo’s resolution, a draft of which was sent to The Press of Atlantic City, asks the agency to take another look at the stock.

Read the full story at Press of Atlantic City

Skate Update: NEFMC Reschedules Montauk, Cape May Scoping Hearings

January 17, 2017 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council has RESCHEDULED its Montauk, NY and Cape May, NJ scoping hearings on Amendment 5 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan. The new dates are as follows:

Cape May — Tuesday, Feb. 21, Grand Hotel of Cape May
Montauk — Wednesday, Feb. 22, Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation

Both hearings were initially scheduled to take place the previous week. However, in order to avoid potential conflicts for stakeholders who are planning to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Feb. 14-16 meeting in Kitty Hawk, NC, the New England Council has decided to hold its Mid-Atlantic region skate scoping hearings the following week.

See the full release at the NEFMC