JCAA Letter to Governor Jon Corzine

February 15, 2007

Governor Jon S. Corzine
State House
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

Dear Governor Corzine,

The member clubs of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association voted unanimously at its last meeting to request the assistance of your office to prohibit the use of commercial fishing gear and pots on artificial reefs within state waters, and to also petition the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to declare those artificial reefs directly outside of New Jersey’s waters as special management zones. Let me explain the reason for this request.

To provide a habitat for fish, shellfish and crustaceans, our DEP created a network of 15 artificial reefs. Two of these reefs are in New Jersey’s waters and thirteen of them are directly outside of our border in federal waters. Working with the Division of Fish and Wildlife to have these reefs constructed, recreational anglers have contributed funds to have these artificial reefs built. The reefs provide recreational anglers and divers increased opportunities to catch bottom dwelling fish who are attracted to these types of structures.

Unfortunately, these artificial reefs have been taken over by commercial fishermen who place numerous traps and gear all over the structures to resemble a golf course with their above-water flags that identify the location of their gear. The bottom lines that connect the numerous traps to the flags float up in arcs, and when recreational boats use the reefs their fishing rigs and anchors snag these lines. In essence, the artificial reefs have been taken over by commercial interests even though they have been created and funded by recreational anglers!

Another serious issue is that those commercial traps catch blackfish and sea bass 24/7 on these prime fishing grounds. This continuous pressure fishing on these species naturally depletes their stocks. Meanwhile, the recreational sector has been recently told by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission that its blackfish quota will be reduced by 28% for 2008! The penalty to recreational anglers is two fold: access to the reefs is impeded by the commercial sector and their continuous pressure on these bottom dwelling species results in severe quota cutbacks for the recreational community.

Remember, according to a survey done by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, 20% of the recreational fish caught by anglers in NJ comes from artificial reefs and it is a large contributor to New Jersey’s 1.3 billion dollar recreational fishing industry.

Accordingly, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association is requesting your office to immediately ban commercial gear on those two reefs that are directly in New Jersey’s waters. For those 13 artificial reefs directly outside of New Jersey’s waters, we are requesting the assistance of your office to direct the Office of Environmental Protection to petition the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to declare these reefs special management zones so that all commercial gear on these reefs will be managed by strict guidelines by the Council. We are looking forward to working with you to make this happen and we will be waiting to hear from you.

John Toth
President of Jersey Coast Anglers Association
145 Freehold Road,
Englishtown, NJ 07726
732-446-6298
tothjohn@juno.com

CC:
Lisa P. Jackson
New Jersey Departmental of Environmental Protection
401 E. State Street
7th Floor, East Wing
PO Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402

Gilbert H. Ewing, Jr. Chairman
New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council 501 East State Street, 3rd Floor
PO Box 400
Trenton, NJ 08625-0400

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