By Patrick F.Donnelly DMD
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association June 1998 Newsletter)
Bruce Halgren, from the Division of Marine Fisheries, has asked that any fishing clubs that are involved in tagging projects please contact his office at 609-292-2083. This is a program designed for organizations involved in tagging on their own. If your club is tagging in conjunction with the American Littoral Society this is not a program that would benefit you. If you have any questions, please contact Bruce.
Bruce Freeman reminded all anglers in the Manasquan River area to be aware of the Division’ s sea-run brown trout stocking. If you are lucky enough to land one of these beautiful fish, please contact the Division at 908-236-2118.
On the Elver front, I thought that it was interesting to listen to the reason of some of the Council members. Dr. Robert Abel, Chairman of the elver committee, made a comment that while there is not enough science available now to support an elver fishery, there may never be enough science. That being said, we should not wait for better information, but we should go ahead and start fishing. There was no indication to err on the side of the resource, nor was there any discussion concerning conservation. Instead, Dr. Abel wants to "bite the bullet" and start fishing. Obviously, Dr. Abel was not aware that the reason for the expansion of the elver fishery in the U.S. was the decimation of the stocks in Europe and Asia. This from the Chairman of the elver committee.