Representing the JCAA, I attended a February 25th meeting of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA), and the following is a brief summary of this meeting:
Two guests from the “On The Water” publication were invited to sit in at this meeting to learn more about the activities of the NJOA. These guests included Jimmy Fee, Editor, and Richard Dunn, Advertising Manager. This publication covers many saltwater activities and issues.
Ed Markowski and Tim Burden discussed the results of their February 15th meeting with the Division of Fish & Wildlife staff to develop the administration needed to move forward with HOFNOD. Getting HOFNOD passed was a long struggle with members of the NJOA meeting with legislators and testifying in Trenton on the merits of HOFNOD. Now this program is starting to move into high gear.
The National Marine Services (NMFS) is concerned about the stocks of various sharks (Duskies, etc.) that we rarely see if at all in our waters and NMFS wants to prohibit anglers from bringing sharks into marinas that are less than 96 inches! If this proposal would become law, it would effectively shut down many, if not all, shark tournaments that we have during our fishing season. NMFS is obviously unaware of the implications of what they are trying to do with the shark fishing industry, and it received many comments and letters from the recreational community advising NMFS that they need to take another look at what they are advocating. NMFS got this message and has suspended their proposal concerning sharks. However, JCAA’s Tom Fote pointed out that we still have to be vigilant over this issue since some misguided or headline-seeking environmental organizations may still want to resurrect this proposal in the near future.
In the wake of the Newtown tragedy, many legislators are proposing all types of legislation to curb guns, permits and ammunition, and it is very difficult to sort out what laws have real value. NJOA members will try to make sense of them and recommend which of these proposals the NJOA should support and work with legislators for passage.
The subject of artificial reefs dominated most of the discussion of this meeting. Anthony Mauro, Chairman of the NJOA, received a letter dated February 7th from NJ DEP Commissioner Robert Martin proposing a compromise solution to the two artificial reefs in New Jersey’s waters (Axel Carlson & Sandy Hook). Some of Commissioner Martin’s proposals follow:
These are some and not all of the proposals presented by Commissioner Martin to try to resolve an ongoing disagreement lasting about 7 years between commercial and recreational anglers over these two reefs. NJOA representatives heard Commissioner Martin’s proposals at this meeting for the very first time, and discussed the pros and cons of the Commissioner’s proposals. An official vote by NJOA representatives was NOT taken since NJOA representatives have to go back to their member organizations to receive their input and develop a position on these proposals. The real issue here is: Should recreational anglers continue to take a no-compromise stand to prohibit all commercial gear from the two reefs, or should recreational anglers pursue the proposals submitted by Commissioner Martin and possibly move on to a compromise solution involving both recreational and commercial use of the two reefs.
The JCAA’s General meeting scheduled for March 26th will have this artificial reef issue on its agenda, and member clubs should make every effort to have their representatives at this meeting to give their club’s input on this important issue.
