A special editorial by Tom Fote
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association June 1995 Newsletter)
There were articles in newspapers and a press release sent out by the Port Authority to announce grants being given to two fishing organizations in New Jersey, $5,000 a year for three years to both the United Boatman and N.J. Seafood Harvesters. The reported purpose of these grants was for lobbying efforts, including outreach to fishermen, legislators and the media. JCAA has always maintained a policy of refusing grants or other moneys from organizations whose actions are damaging to the environment and pose potential health risks for the public. We must raise serious questions about the purposes for which the Port Authority gave these grants. Many of us will conclude that the Port Authority will expect these organizations to cease opposition to the Port’s ocean dumping plans. Although individual captains who are members of the united Boatmen ;anticipated in the "Cease Ocean Dumping" flotilla, their organization did not support their participation. In addition the united Boatmen were not listed on the recent lawsuit against the Army Corp of Engineers and the Port Authority. to require them to cease dumping. What actions can we expect them to take or what support can we expect from them when the Port asks for permission to increase ocean dumping of contaminated dredge spoils? I cannot help but conclude that these grants are intended to be nothing more than hush money to keep them quiet concerning issues of ocean dumping and polluting the ocean when it comes to the Port Authority. All we can do is watch the future actions of these two organizations and hope that I am proven wrong.
A quick look at past history shows that when we were organizing the fight to stop the PA from dumping toxic dredge spoils in the ocean, all the commercial and recreational fishing organizations were in agreement to ensure that the PA would n not undertake this project. Slowly, the PA managed to manipulate key players out of the fight. They began a very suspect "outreach program" offering one advocacy group after another money for projects, plans, studies or the like First, they gave a million dollars to renovate the commercial fishing docks in Belford. Then they allocated funds to build a depuration plant to cleanse clams in the Atlantic Highlands. Suddenly, both of the groups that would benefit from these projects became silent in the ocean dumping battle. They even asked the JCAA into a special , chaired by Lillian Borrone, at which she inquired if there was "anything the PA could do for the JCAA" in what appeared to be availed attempt to buy our silence. She was told in no uncertain terms that the only thing the PA could for JCAA at that time was to stop dumping toxic dredge materials in the ocean and our bays. We also said that if she really wanted to help the fishermen of New Jersey, she could go to the DEP and fund research on species that could benefit all citizens of the state.
What is truly outrageous is that the money they are using for these grants is the very money they collect from the general public in the form of tolls on our bridges, tunnels, airports, and goods that come in through our ports. They are using our money to promote their battle to continue polluting the very oceans and bays that we use for food and recreation.
The irony is that I have seen this happen in the past. The same representative from the NJ Seafood Harvesters was the only commercial fisheries advocate that I can remember who spoke out in favor of the position taken by PSE & G concerning the operation of the Salem Nuclear Power Plant and the negative impact it has had on the ecosystem of Delaware Bay. Shortly after supporting PSE & G, this individual’s group received a grant to study the negative impact of recreational boating on our bays and estuaries in a vain attempt to take PSE & G off the hook for damage they are causing. JCAA was also offered money for our youth education program from PSE & G, but we again refused. JCAA might never have a lot of money, but we manage to retain our integrity. We will not take money from organizations with whom we are in disagreement over the environmental impact of their actions. We will continue to question the intent and the objectivity of groups who will take money from organizations like the Port Authority and PSE&G.