Archive for the ‘Regulations & Legislative’ Category
Fishermen to March on D.C. - “United We Fish”
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010There is a ‘Fishermen to March on Washington’ rally, ‘United We Fish’ on February 24th. The rally is to demonstrate against the unintended negative impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and to get congressional support for Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.’s (D-NJ) Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act (The Flexibility Bill) amending the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA) was made law in January of 2007. There are buses available for the ride down to Washington. To find out more information about the buses, check out some of the organizers of the rally’s web sites: Save the Summer Flounder, RFA, CCGF, United Boatmen of New York, United Boatmen of New Jersey, New York Sportfishing Federation, Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association and the Fishing Rights Alliance.
RFA Press Release on Fisherman to March on Washington
RFA Press Release on The Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act
NJMFC Sept. 3 Meeting Update
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009I just received an update from Tom Fote about this weeks NJMFC meeting about sea bass, scup and summer flounder.
…Tom McCloy sent out the notice below in maroon telling us that these agenda items have been removed from this Thursday’s NJ Marine Fisheries meeting.
Tom Fote
Greetings,
Just completed the conference call of the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Board to discuss emergency closures in the summer flounder, scup and sea bass recreational fisheries for the remainder this year, 2009.
Even though the projections are that ALL fisheries will be over the harvest target (significantly for scup & sea bass) the Board failed to approve any action for an emergency closure this year.
Therefore, there will be NO action required by the Council at the Sept 3 meeting on these species.
Be advised that management measures for these species could be extremely restrictive in 2010.
Please note that NJ’s recreational summer flounder fishery is projected to exceed our target harvest by 29%.
Tom McCloy
No closures for 2009!
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009I just got off the call for the ASMFC meeting today. It took over 1.5 hours for me to even get into the call. So I missed the presentation on black sea bass and the public comment as well. Apparently they only had available seats for 50 callers in the conference call. After Tom Fote, the Governor’s Appointee to the ASMFC, was also kicked out of the call they suspended the call and increased the available seats.
They then re-opened the floor to public comment in favor for a motion to close black sea bass. The motion to close the remainder of the 2009 black sea bass season was overruled 7 votes against and 4 for.
There was no motion on the floor for scup or summer flounder.
There were several states that asked questions as to how the projected landings were calculated and there were some very concerning answers given. The projections were calculated on the 2008 seasons, bag limits and minimum sizes. If any of the states had put in place shorter or longer seasons, changed bag limits or minimum sizes those regulations were not used in the projections. Most states have changed seasons, bag limits and minimum sizes on summer flounder in particular, sea bass has pretty much remained unchanged over the past few years.
The ASMFC had acknowledged they had problems and this was one of their first webinar and conference calls but they were pleased with the amount of callers and attendees to the webinars and that they had more people on the conference call than have ever attended a board meeting. They hope to continue with this forum and look to work out the kinks to be able to provide more opportunity for the public to be involved with the process.
Winter Flounder Board Approves Addendum I to Initiate Stock
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS
May 5, 2009
CONTACT: Tina Berger
(202) 289-6400
Winter Flounder Board Approves Addendum I to Initiate Stock Rebuilding of Inshore Stocks
It hasn’t been set in stone yet by NJ but it looks like ASMFC will not completely close winter flounder. With a two fish recreational bag limit they believe we will achieve about a 50% reduction in harvest with a 50 pound commercial possesion limit is estimated to achieve a 65% reduction.
NJ 2009 Marine Recreational Regulations
Thursday, April 9th, 2009The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife has updated the NJ marine recreational angling regulations. The most notable changes are the 2009 summer flounder season and the increase in minimum size for black sea bass from 12 to 12.5 inches. There are anticipated changes in 2009 for black sea bass and sharks, we will just have to wait and see what the changes will be. I believe the changes for sea bass will be minimum size as well as a reduction in bag limit to 10 of 15 fish from the current 25 fish limit.
NY summer flounder regulations and lawsuit
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009Minimum size: 21″
Bag limit: 2 fish
Split season: 5/15 - 6/15, 7/3 - 8/17
NY has a lawsuit pending and New Jersey’s regulations are being threatened by a recent ruling by a Brooklyn, NY federal judge. The judge found for the state of NY and a coalition made up of the United Boatmen of NY, the NY Fishing Tackle Trade Association and the Fisherman’s Conservation Association to include Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in the lawsuit. NY is looking to change the coast-wide allocation of summer flounder. It appears that Brooklyn’s Senior Federal District Judge, Charles P. Sifton, has made an unprecedented change to the status of the ASMFC, which, if left to stand, leaves the ASMFC at the mercy of the courts in the allocation of species under its management.
In the mid 90’s, for the first time, a coast-wide quota was set for all coastal states where each competed for a quota. After being in place for several years, this system was found to be unfair to some states and it was agreed by all parties that a change to the coast-wide system needed to happen. The current state-by-state system was determined over twenty years ago by extensive discussion by the coastal states to come up with a fair and equitable system. Ironically, it was NY that made the motion to switch from a coast-wide to state-by-state model.
If NY is successful in changing back to a single coast-wide quota system, then NY anglers will be able to increase their catch at the expense of NJ anglers. As a result New Jersey’s catch will be substantially decreased and this will have a significant negative economic impact on New Jersey’s economy during these troubled financial times.
Please send a letter to the Governor asking that NJ intervene along with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Secretary of the Federal Department of Commerce to challenge the case brought by the State of New York to change the coast-wide allocation of summer flounder. I have included a sample letter below.
Letters should be sent to:
The Honorable Jon S. Corzine
Governor of New Jersey
State House, PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625-0001
Dear Governor Corzine,
The vitality of New Jersey’s recreational fishing industry, which generates 1.3 billion dollars to New Jersey’s economy, is being seriously threatened by a recent ruling by a Brooklyn, New York Federal Judge concerning the data and methodology used to establish quotas for summer flounder, locally know as fluke, for East coast states.
I request that New Jersey intervene along with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the Secretary of the Federal Department of commerce to challenge the case brought by the state of New York to change the coastwide allocation of summer flounder. Further, I am concerned that Brooklyn’s Senior Federal District Judge Charles P. Sifton has made an unprecedented change to the status of the ASMFC, which, if left to stand, leaves the ASMFC at the mercy of the courts in the allocation of species under its management regime. The judge found for the state of New York and a coalition made up of the United Boatmen of New York (UBNY), the New York Fishing Tackle Trade Association (NYFTTA), and the Fisherman’s Conservation Association of NY (FCA) to include the ASMFC in the lawsuit.
The summer flounder fishery, one of the most important to our state, is jointly managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the ASMFC. The NMFS has management of responsibilities over fisheries within three to 200 miles and the ASMFC is responsible for the water from New Jersey’s shoreline to three miles out to sea. For nearly twenty years now, each state has been allocated a catch limit based upon its historical catch. Because of its large participation by anglers, New Jersey has historically had the largest allocation of any state.
If New York is successful in changing back to a single coastwide quota system, then New York anglers will be able to increase their catch at the expense of New Jersey anglers. As a result, New Jersey’s catch will be substantially decreased. This will have a significant negative economic impact on New Jersey’s economy during these troubled financial times.
I am deeply concerned that this legal decision may result in a court-mandated injunction that would disrupt the 2009 summer flounder season for New Jersey’s anglers. Because of the large impact a federal ruling could have in this matter, I again request that New Jersey’s interest be represented by our Attorney General as a friend of the court.
Thank you,
Your Name
Your Address
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some of the above information was obtained from the April JCAA newsletter.
2009 NJ summer flounder regulations
Thursday, March 5th, 2009We have a slightly increased quota for 2009 as many of you already know. NJ’s 2009 summer flounder regulations have been announced and the new season will open on May 23 and close on September 4, with a six fish bag limit and a minimum size of 18″.
I am actually surprised by this. I guess someone thought reducing the bag limit by two and going with the longest season will keep NJ within the quota. I personally don’t know how that will happen when most of the data reports that unless the bag limit is reduced to between two and four fish it will not make a significant difference. I sure hope they know what they are doing otherwise the state with the most relaxed summer flounder regulations may not be that way in 2010. See you out there opening day!
121.5 and 243 MHz beacons phased-out
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009Just a reminder that on February 1, 2009 121.5 and 243 MHz rescue becons will no longer be monitored.
NJ Outdoor Alliance
Thursday, February 19th, 2009Once considered the minority of the voting demographic slowly hunters, trappers, fishermen and outdoorsmen are becoming the majority in NJ. Anthony Mauro and the NJ Outdoor Alliance has a big hand in this transformation. This was evident back during the Senatorial election defeating Sen. Karcher and Assemblyman Panter. On the NJOA’s web site you can get information on all the hot legislative topics affecting outdoorsmen and women, which politicians are with or against us, find out where the NJOA will be next and purchase merchandise or donate to the NJOA to help protect our rights as outdoorsmen and women.
To receive all the latest information and news on what this great organization is doing, what the politicians and environmentalist are trying to slip past us and where they will be sign up for the NJOA Action Alerts.
NJ saltwater license
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009We know something is coming, whether it be the already mandated Federal Registry (Jan. 1, 2010), state registry or state saltwater license. Delaware put one in place for 2008 and NY has one in the works. There are some bills in legislature already that hopefully don’t pass the way they are structured. I am for a state license. Why would we want to send money to the Federal Government to be put in the general fund and never used for fishing? I think Tom’s white paper is excellent and brings up a lot of very important points for the structuring of a saltwater license in NJ. While most of the angling community is against a license, I don’t see a way around it. If it is well thought out it very well could make things a lot better in the future. One thing it could benefit is the traveling angler, if you fish Delaware Bay, NJ waters and Raritan Bay if NJ structures the license properly it would be reciprocal or honored in each neighboring state so you would not be required to purchase three licenses. Despite the corruption and political bias in NJ I think a saltwater license can be structured to help the recreational angler if enough of us get behind the process to ensure it is tailored to our specifications and not the to the politicians liking.
Take a read and I think if you are on the fence or against a license you may rethink your position.
2009 proposed fluke regulations
Friday, January 30th, 2009OK, here is the skinny…tables below are minimum size, bag limit, season start - season end. The below information is take from the ‘Report by the Peer Review Panel for the Northeast Data Poor Stocks Working Group’. The complete document can be found by clicking here. NY is on page 50 and NJ on 52.
Not sure I really like any of them, i was really hoping for a slot limit on fluke, something like two fish at 14-16.5″ and two fish at 18-24″ and a trophy fish-one at over 24″. Whatever they decide we will comply, actually last year we made very few fluke trips. Due to several reasons, one the cold water temps early in the season, there were still good sized striped bass around and then when fluking was picking up we were running to the mud hole after bluefin tuna. Later in the season the sea bassing was hot so we really never dedicated more than about five trips to fluking.
2008 Regulations: 18” size limit, 8 fish possession limit, open season May 24 to September 7
Table A. 2009 NJ Summer Flounder Options that meet Board approved motion that at least 50% of the required reduction should come from a closed season. Seasons were calculated using the 1994 – 1998 Weibull distribution.
18.0 8 June 6 – Sept 7
18.0 6 June 1 – Sept 7
18.0 4 May 31 – Sept 7
18.0 8 May 23 – Sept 1
18.0 6 May 23 – Sept 4
18.0 4 May 23 – Sept 3
Table B. 2009 NJ Summer Flounder Options developed using adjusted percent reduction.
18.0 8 June 17 – Sept 7
18.0 6 June 13 – Sept 7
18.0 4 June 8 – Sept 7
18.0 8 May 23 – Aug 26
18.0 6 May 23 – Aug 28
18.0 4 May 23 – Aug 31
18.0 8 June 1 – Aug 29
18.0 6 May 30 – Aug 31
18.0 4 May 29 – Sept 2
18.5 8 May 9 – Oct 4
Table C. 2009 NJ Summer Flounder Options meeting the Board approved motion that at least 50% of the required reduction should come from a closed season and the Technical Committee recommendation that the closed season should come from the wave of highest harvest. Seasons were calculated using the 1994 – 1998 Weibull distribution.
18.0 8 May 23 - July 20 & Aug 3 - Sept 7
18.0 6 May 23 - July 20 & Aug 3 - Sept 7
18.0 8 May 20 - July 20 & Aug 3 - Sept 9
18.0 6 May 20 - July 20 & Aug 3 - Sept 12
18.0 8 May 15 - July 20 & Aug 3 - Sept 13
18.0 6 May 13 - July 20 & Aug 3 - Sept 16
18.0 8 May 23–Aug 2 & Aug 10-Sept 7
18.0 6 May 23–Aug 2 & Aug 10-Sept 7
18.0 4 May 23–Aug 2 & Aug 10-Sept 7
18.0 8 May 22–Aug 2 & Aug 10-Sept 9
18.0 6 May 19–Aug 2 & Aug 10-Sept 11
18.0 4 May 19–Aug 2 & Aug 10-Sept 11
NJ again requests to have a 1-day opening on Sunday, October 4, 2009; area specific to Island Beach State Park; for the annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament.
Note: Other options may be developed after consultation with Summer Flounder Recreational Advisors and the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council. These options will be developed using the same methodology as above.
NMFS Saltwater Angler Registry Final Ruling
Monday, January 5th, 2009I have not read the document yet but thought many would be interested in it. One thing I did pick out of it is that if you posses an HMS permit you are exempt from filing with the registry.
I personally hope NJ instates a saltwater license. I know many are against it due to the corruption in this state but if the money stays in NJ no matter where it goes it is far better than it going to the federal government to never be seen again. The fish and wildlife funds are closely monitored due to matching funds and other funds that come from the federal government, so it is very difficult for the Governor and other officials to dip into it or to divert the funds elsewhere. It has been tried in the past and stopped by the feds or the matching funds were to be revoked, in the two cases that I know of where this was attempted the state decided to comply.
The Garden State without the Agricultural Dept?
Saturday, March 29th, 2008I received an e-mail tonight about a rally of farmers taking their tractors to the Statehouse. Also in the e-mail was information that I did not know. That the Department of Agriculture has been opposed to many legislature items against the recreational angler. Below is the e-mail I received, what do you think my fellow anglers?
Go to the link below and vote YES .
Farmers fear Corzine plan
Thursday, March 27, 2008
By Gene Robbins
Angry Hunterdon farmers plan to rev up their tractors Tuesday and drive them to the Statehouse to protest the governor’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Agriculture as a Cabinet-level agency.
As many as 50 tractors and horse trailers from the county and northern New Jersey will rendezvous at Dave Bond’s farm on Route 579 in Delaware Township. They’ll gas up and leave by 8 a.m. to roll down routes 29 or 31 in time to reach a “Save the Department of Agriculture” rally in front of the Statehouse Annex, West State Street, from 10 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.
Not coincidentally, the Assembly Budget Committee convenes that day at 9 a.m. on the fourth floor of the Annex.
The slow-moving tractor-cade should be quite a spectacle, and could snarl commuter traffic. Farmers are out to make a point, although pitchforks and even placards on wooden stakes are prohibited.
From Tom Fote:
The saltwater anglers in NJ have not been treated fairly over the years by the Dept of Agriculture. They have supported the commercial fishermen over the recreational anglers at every turn. They support the menhaden boats in state waters, against striped bass gamefish, fought against recreational Sunday clamming and many other recreational concerns of the years.Their name was bought up at the latest Senate Environment Committee hearing of the Pots Off the Reef bill as supporting the potters over the recreational anglers. Over the years they were not friends of the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the recreational anglers. I would not consider it a loss at this time. Their functions could be absorbed by other agencies. A lot of the local agriculture board have commercial fishermen members and take up their positions at the local level.
You have a chance to show your feelings. The wording of the question is a little tricky since you need to vote yes if you support doing away with the Dept of Agriculture.
Tom Fote
Subject: NJ Dept AG
Below is a link to a poll on whether the Garden State needs the agriculture department. Please take the time to vote.
Fluke belly for bait
Sunday, March 9th, 2008What a crock…now that they jack the minimum size up, they legalize the use of fluke belly, back or ribbons for bait. Follow the link below to read the full article from the APP.
The verdict is in
Thursday, March 6th, 2008On the 2008 summer flounder season that is. The NJ State Marine Fisheries Council voted unanimously to raise the minimum size to 18″. We will retain the same bag limit at 8 fish but will have a shorter season by a week. The 2008 season will run from May 24th through September 7th.
Good news and bad news
Thursday, February 7th, 2008Well let’s start with the good for a change. We in NJ are status quo for striped bass for 2008! The current 2007 regulations will remain in effect. We are well above the mortality rates, the spawning stocks were low but the young of the year looked really good especially in 2003 and not too shabby for 2006 so we are in good shape. Actually we are well above the point of action for the spawning stock, 30.9 million pounds is the point of action and we are at 55 million!
The bad news is NJ did not come into compliance with the tautog regulations and we now face drastic cutbacks. And rumor are flying around of one fish per person per season. We will just have to wait and see how the ASMFC rears its ugly head next.
The real fluke proposals
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008OK here is the skinny. The below proposals were wrong the four that are being made to the ASMFC are as follows:
- 17 1/2″ June 28th to Sept 8th 2 fish
- 17 1/2″ July 4th to Sept 2nd 8 fish
- 18″ May 25th to Sept 8th 8 fish
- 18 1/2″ May 17th to Oct 17th 8 fish
The Summer Flounder Board will look at them on Thursday and if approved then the NJ Marine Fisheries Council will be holding an advisories meeting to receive comments and then discuss and vote on it at their March 6th meeting.
I hope to get an update at the conclusion of the ASMFC Summer Flounder meeting in Alexandria on Thursday.
Fight for summer flounder
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008I am not sure how many of you are following with detail the fight over summer flounder or fluke that most of the Northeast states are going through. There has been some speculation over the options being presented to the ASMFC and some controversy over the three of size options that were published by the APP this week.
- 5/24 - 9/8 18.25″ 8 fish bag
- 6/28 - 9/8 17.25″ 2 fish bag
- 7/4 - 9/2 17.25″ 8 fish bag
There have been several comments that these are not actually three of the six and we may not know for another week or so if that is the case or not. But the fact that they are all a quarter inch size limit really has no bearing if they are viable options or not. In the history of ASMFC they have never approved a quarter inch minimum size, it has always been a full inch or half inch in size.
If you are not already involved at some level I urge you to join a local fishing club that is in-line with your beliefs as well as donating to one or more of the organizations fighting for the recreational angler and sportsmen and women.
- Jersey Coast Anglers Association: http://www.jcaa.org/
- Recreation Fishing Alliance: http://www.joinrfa.org/
- NJ Outdoor Alliance: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/
- Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund: http://www.ssfff.net/
I am Vegetarian, I Fish and I Vote!
Tuesday, November 6th, 2007There has been a lot of controversy about Panter and Karcher’s bills A3275/S2041 and sportsmen and women the last few weeks. These politicians were elected with a margin of fewer than 75 votes yet NJ has millions of residents that hunt, trap and fish. Those of you who know me I am a strict vegetarian for many years and I fish at least once a week sometimes more. I used to hunt occasionally but have not in a few years. Panter and Karcher are seeking to end all hunting fishing and trapping in this state because they are also affiliated with powerful animal rights activist groups that fund their campaigns. If just half of the sportsmen and women of this state go out and vote today we can ensure and protect our right to provide food for our families as countless generations have from our lands, streams, rivers and oceans. Our ancestors fought for the right to vote, please exercise your right to vote and make a difference.
Fluke Crisis
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007A recent article in the APP brings to light the severe cutbacks we may face in 2009 through 2013. While summer flounder stocks are up in almost every recreational fisherman’s mind NMFS says they are not. The 2007 season was one of our best in probably 10 years, with us boating over 500 keepers with about 85 to 90 percent of those over 19 inches. The recommendation was first made for 15.77 million pounds, down from 17.1 million pounds. This will most likely be cut back due to overages in the TAL for both recreational and commercial fisherman.
What NMFS fails to realize that while concentrating their management efforts on one species other species receive a lot more pressure from both recreational and commercial fisherman. This could lead to declining stocks in other species very quickly.
Battle of Monmouth
Monday, October 29th, 2007Who attended? I would like to hear you comments on the rally. Below are a few links to press about the rally.
APP Article: Protesters oppose bills to change Fish and Game Council
NJ.com Article: Sportsmen to protest proposed bills
NJ Outdoor Alliance: Who is with us and who is against us
November 6 is coming and we need all hunters, fishermen and sportsmen to vote to protect our right to hunt, fish and trap in NJ. Also vote yes to option 3 to save New Jersey’s preservation programs.
Weakfish/Sea Trout Bag Limit Change
Monday, October 1st, 2007Just a reminder that as of October 1 the weakfish or sea trout bag limit changes to 6 fish at 13 inches.