NJ  Artificial Reef Program Put At Risk by Clean Ocean Action

The permit for New Jersey to continue its Artificial Reef Program is currently under review by the Army Corps of Engineers.  One would think that this should be an automatic approval.  The New Jersey artificial Reef Program is one of the best in the country with 14 reef sites.  One new reef site is in the permit application.  The Division of Fish and Wildlife has successfully run the reef program for 20 years.  New Jersey anglers have benefited from these reefs and so has the ecology of the ocean and the environment.

            Many fishing clubs, groups and the JCAA have made constructive comments in support of the reef program and also made suggestions on how it could be improved.   However, Clean Ocean Action has taken the stance that the permit should be denied! 

In their letter to the Army Corps, Clean Ocean Action said: 

“COA strongly urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the ”Corps”) to deny the permit application based on extensive deficiencies in the application.”  

We checked the COA website and surprise!  It does not indicate that they have asked the Army Corps to deny the permit.  Why is their website different than their stand against the reef program?

This has put the New Jersey Reef Program at risk of being terminated.  Does this upset you?  It should!  Clean Ocean Action has stated that they would like to work with the JCAA and fishing groups in the spirit of cooperation.  If this is what our friends consider cooperation, then what would our enemies do?  Clean Ocean Action has managed to alienate the anglers of New Jersey with their stubborn position on the Artificial Reef issue.  What about the extensive deficiencies?  They could easily be addressed without taking the stance that the permit should be denied.  To state that the permit should be denied is irresponsible and clearly demonstrates that this group is not a friend of New Jersey anglers.  Is your organization a supporter of COA?  Did they contact you before they took this position?  If not, you should contact them and let them know that you are upset and want them to either change their position or you will no longer be able to support anything that they champion. 

            Every angler is concerned about the environment and would not do anything that would jeopardize the ecology.  Approving the permit to allow the continuation of the NJ Artificial Reef Program will not hurt the environment.  In fact, it will enhance the ecosystem by providing habitat for many varieties of sea life, all the way from microscopic invertebrates to large fish.  The reefs are a nursery ground for many species of mollusks, crustaceans and fish.

            The science of Artificial Reefs is constantly changing as new information is learned, new materials become available and other materials prove to be unsuitable.  The permit must have enough latitude to allow the experts to do their job.

[News Contents] [Top]