NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums
NJ Saltwater Fisherman => Fisheries Management => Topic started by: njdiver on September 21, 2007, 08:14:25 AM
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You gotta be at the NJ Senate Environment Committee meeting October 4th. Tentatively slated for Trenton. If you call the Chairman of the Committee Senator Smith's office we might be able to get the meeting moved closer to the shore. Here's the number:
(732) 752-0770
Ask that the meeting be moved closer to the ocean! The enviros got their Ocean Council meeting moved to Monmouth Univeristy. Ask that we be given the same courtesy!
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t^
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I can make this t^
With Video Camera in hand t^
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Called Senator Smith's office, the pleasant young lady informed me that they usually have only one meeting in the summer outside of Trenton. So, floor three of the State Annex bldg it is! Stay tuned for exact room location and time!
Please do call however. The more they hear from us the better our chances!
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Per another phone call to Senator Smith's office the meeting will be held at the State House Annex, Trenton, NJ, Committee Room 10, 3rd Floor.
Thursday, October 4th, 10:00 AM!
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Senate Environment
Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 10:00 AM Meeting - Committee Room 10, Third Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
S2635 Fishing gear on artificial reefs-proh.
S2677 Forest stewardship-estab. Discussion Only
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Hi NJDiver,
Thanks for all the posts about such matters. I have made my calls. I think this is one we can win (if win is the right word).
Thanks for all the contributions!
Best wishes,
Capt. Ed
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New date for Senate Environment meeting, October 18, same location and time. I will post again when I get confirmation from Senator Smith's office.
Word is that they could not get a quorum.
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Word is that they could not get a quorum.
Prolly all on vacation....
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The Senate Environment Committee will meet on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 9:00 AM in Committee Room 10, Third Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, New Jersey.
The following bill will be considered:
S-2635
McCullough/Asselta
Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Note the Early start time!
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Thanks for the update, NJDiver. t^
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Senate Environment
Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 9:00 AM
Meeting - Committee Room 10, Third Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
Bill Abstract
S2635 Fishing gear on artificial reefs-proh.
NEW JERSEY LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR
Office of Legislative Services -- Office of Public Information
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2007
Senate Environment Meeting 9:00 AM
Committee Room 10, 3rd Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
Chair: Sen. Smith, Bob
S2635 [McCullough, James J./Asselta, Nicholas+2], Fishing gear on artificial reefs-proh.
Note the early start time!
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Plan to ban lobster, fish traps on N.J. artificial reefs advances
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/18/07
BY TOM BALDWIN
GANNETT STATE BUREAU
TRENTON -- Score one for sportfishing.
The state Senate Environment Committee today voted unanimously to advance legislation that, if adopted, would ban the setting of lobster and fish traps on New Jersey's two offshore artificial reefs.
This is being done by commercial fishing boats, advocates for which argued today against the ban, saying the reefs are for the use of all.
"The reefs belong to everyone," said Jean Hollerbach, who said she has been
lobstering, with her 400 traps, out of Point Pleasant for 26 years.
Advocates for sportfishing groups said that setting the traps -- called "pots" -- on the reefs makes it impossible to build up the structures, reduces access for recreational fishing and tends to overfish the wildlife there.
The pots are connected by ropes to a float on the ocean's surface, and the
recreational interests said that too often they snagged their hooks on the ropes or the pots themselves.
"The reefs were designed for the average angler," said marine biologist Bill Figley of Manahawkin.
"It's a matter of fairness," said state Sen. Stephen Sweeny, D-Gloucester, a
co-sponsor of the proposal.
The bill now heads to Senate President Richard J. Codey, who will decide if it is to be given a vote by the full Senate. A companion measure exists in the Assembly, where no action has been taken.
Both chambers must OK their bills before the legislation is sent to Gov. Jon S. Corzine to either sign into law or send reject. The current legislative session ends in the second week of January.
State Sen. Bob Smith, D-Middlesex, who is chairman of the committee, said the ban would affect only the two reefs in New Jersey's three-mile territorial waters.
The two are Sandy Hook Reef, located less than two miles off Sea Bright, and the Axel Carlsen Reef, located about two miles off the Bay Head and Mantoloking beaches.
Smith said the bill calls for the state Department of Environmental Protection to ask the federal government to ban "potting" on 13 other reefs off the Jersey Shore located beyond Jersey waters.
The building of man-made reefs off Jersey's sandy ocean floor, begun in the 1980s, has been acclaimed for providing bountiful fish habitat.
Most East Coast states have banned potting on man-made reefs, North Carolina being the exception. Anywhere north of New York State, in New England, there is no issue because vast areas of the sea bottom there are rocky, requiring no man-made reefs.
Tom Baldwin: tbaldwi@gannett.com
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071018/NEWS0301/71018034/1007/NEWS03
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071018/NEWS01/71018037
MCCULLOUGH REEF PROTECTION BILL PASSES COMMITTEE TEST
By wmurray - October 18, 2007 - 12:24pm
Tags: McCullough, Reefs, Recreational fishermen,
Release Date: October 18, 2007
Legislation sponsored by Senator James J. McCullough, (R-2), which would prohibit setting commercial fishing pots or traps on any of New Jersey’s artificial reefs cleared the Senate Environment Committee unanimously today.
“New Jersey’s artificial reef program is an important economic and environmental benefit for all New Jersey residents bought and paid for, in a large part by recreational anglers,” McCullough stated. “When large commercial pots are placed on our artificial reefs it interferes with recreational fishing.”
New Jersey currently maintains 15 artificial reef sites located from 2 to 25 nautical miles offshore. This bill would prohibit, within the marine waters of the State, any person from using, leaving unattended, setting, or deploying fishing gear, other than rod-and-reel, hand line, spear, or recreational gig, within 100 feet of artificial reefs created under the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s artificial reef program. Violators would be subject to the penalties established for violations of the Marine Fisheries Management and Commercial Fisheries Act.
“Not only will the use of commercial pots or traps on our reefs deny their use to recreational anglers they very well may destroy the reefs they are monopolizing. The existing reef structures are vital to increasing the bio-mass and bio-diversity off of New Jersey’s shores,” McCullough concluded.
http://www.politicsnj.com/mccullough-reef-protection-bill-passes-committee-test-12926
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That is great news.
However, it is only part of the equation. Now we need the people who make the rules and regulations to get off of their derrieres and come up with some common sense regulations for our fisheries. The ones they have in affect now are so outrageous they should be ashamed of themselves.
We can have to reefs open to us and it would be meaningless if we had nothing to legally catch.
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whs
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Fight demonstrates value of reefs
Recreational fishermen ask lawmakers to bar commercial gear
10/21/07
BY KIRK MOORE
STAFF WRITER
TRENTON - It's often said that the struggle over New Jersey's artificial reefs is something that fishermen describe, with disarming simplicity, as a "gear conflict." But there's a deeper conflict over history too.
That much was evident Thursday as the state Senate Environment Committee listened to advocates for recreational fishermen, divers and commercial fishermen recount the 24-year record of state-sponsored reef building, its financing, and who's benefited.
The Senate committee agreed to release bill S-2635 for a vote by the full Senate, opening the door for a ban on fish and lob¬ster traps on New Jersey artificial reefs. A similar measure is already awaiting an Assembly vote. Lobbyists close to the debate say it could be decided after the November general election.
Usually the Legislature is content to let specialists at the Department of Environmental Protection deal with the arcane science and Byzantine politics of managing ocean fisheries. But under intense pressure from recreational groups, lawmakers could intervene directly within weeks, as they have on other hot-button debates over commercial fishing for striped bass and menhaden.
At the Thursday hearing, senators heard Bill Figley, the retired coordinator of the state reef program and an East Coast guru on the subject of artificial fish havens, argue the program was always intended for hook-
and-line fishing only.
For 20 years New Jersey used federal Wallop-Breaux funds to build its reefs, drawn from tax revenue on recreational fishing equipment, "to increase fishing opportunities for recreational fisherman," Figley said.
By federal law, "Wallop-Breaux funds cannot be spent on commercial fishing projects,"
Figley told the Senate committee. But it's money well spent of the recreational side, said Figley and others who advocate banning commercial fish and lobster traps from the state's 15 reef sites.
Some 40 percent of marine fish caught by sport anglers come off New Jersey's reefs, fueling a $1.8 billion industry that's under pressure from catch restrictions on other key species like summer flounder, they said.
Commercial fishermen offered their own arithmetic, portraying themselves as surrogates for millions of New Jersey consumers who don't catch their own fish.
"The reefs were designed to benefit both the commercial fishing and recreational sec¬tors," said Denise Wagner, who with her husband Joe operates a trap boat. "We rely on these reefs for lobster and tog."
On the other side, recreational fishing groups feel a deep investment in the reefs, which they started building in the 1930s, long before the state Division of Fish and Wildlife took charge and made it a coast-wide project in the 1980s. Now there's 14 million tons of material on the reefs, from obsolete ships to rock blasted out and barged from New York Harbor channels. Peter Grimbilas of the Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association said his group has raised more than $500,000 for reef projects over the years.
Commercial fishermen parsed the numbers their own way, arguing they and the general public have a stake in money from annual state budgets used for building reefs, from the Department of Environmental Protection's planning process to the Department of Corrections. Prisoners craft hollow, cast-concrete "reef balls," a kind of modular home for fish.
Seafood businesses, too, have cleaned up and donated old fishing boats to be sunk on reefs,
said Jeff Reichle, an owner of Lund's Fisheries in Cape May.
By next year, commercial trap fishermen need to switch from using floating polypropylene rope to new "sinking line," to meet federal rules for reducing accidental entanglements with sea turtles and marine mammals. Low-lying lines will reduce anglers' complaints about snagging their hooks on commercial gear, said Dan Cohen of Atlantic Capes Fisheries, another Cape May seafood company.
But neither that, nor the DEP's proposed May through October seasonal ban on traps, seems likely to achieve a compromise.
To lawmakers, the most convincing arguments seemed to come from Figley, who shaped the reef program, and says it was designed to provide sustainable fishing for rod-and-reel anglers within reasonable dis¬tances from New Jersey's ocean inlets.
But now, there's too much trapping on the reefs, Figley said. He told senators: "Special areas need special consideration. The reefs were designed for the average angler."
Nearly a quarter-century later after the state reef program started, older fishermen recalled discussions over where to place the reefs. Retired state conservation officer Ed Markowski, who's now president of the New Jersey Federation of Sportmen's Clubs, said commercial fishermen in the early 1980s favored basing the sites on previously unproductive sea floor - a custom that harkens back to the 1800s when the state set aside areas for planting oysters.
One thing this controversy does is demonstrate what a tremendous biological and economic engine the reefs have become, say advocates on both sides. To this day, some doubters question whether reefs merely attract fish to be picked off. But Figley says studies clearly show reefs increase the productivity of typical, sandy Mid-Atlantic bottom by 1,000-fold.
In terms of biomass - the sheer weight of life on the sea floor as measured by biologists - that means the sunken ships, reef balls and rock host a half-ton of life for every pound of sand dollars, worms and sponges out on bare sand.
"The fact that so many people are fighting over artificial reefs today is testimony to the fact that our artificial reef network is so valuable," said Jack Fullmer of the New Jersey Council of Diving Clubs.
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DUH!!!
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The vote is coming up. What is needed now are letters and phone calls to Senator Codey and Assemblyman Roberts to get the bills on the board list for the next sessions of their respective houses.
For S2356: An Act prohibiting the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs and supplementing P.L.1979, c.199 (C.23:2B-1 et seq.).
Senator
Richard J. Codey
(Senate President)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
449 Mount Pleasant Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
PHONE NUMBER:
(973) 731-6770
For A3986: An Act prohibiting the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs and supplementing P.L.1979, c.199 (C.23:2B-1 et seq.).
Assemblyman
Joseph J. Roberts Jr.
(General Assembly Speaker)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
Brooklawn Shopping Plaza
Route 130 & Browning Rd.
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
PHONE NUMBER:
(856) 742-7600
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From the December 5th Legislative Calendar:
MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2007
*SENATE SESSION 2:00 PM Senate Chambers
10:00 AM: Committees at the call of the President.
2:00 PM: Voting Session:
(Snip)
S2635 [McCullough, James J./Asselta, Nicholas+2], Fishing gear on artificial reefs-proh.
(Snip)
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t^
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Too late for letter writing everyone. Hit those keys and fire off an e-mail it takes just a few minutes and could mean better fishing for all.
But you have to act now; to procrastinate means we loose big time. Besides it feels good to make things happen and to say "I helped".
Paul
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Our legislation was passed over in the Senate yesterday with no action taken. We also have a problem in that the Assembly Bill has yet to be posted. According to the Legislative Calendar there are only three more Senate and one more Assembly voting sessions after this Thursday’s Assembly session. We need to push harder!
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2007
SENATE SESSION 2:00 PM Senate Chambers
Committees at the call of the President.
Voting Session: Board list to be announced.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2008
SENATE SESSION 2:00 PM Senate Chambers
Voting Session: Board list to be announced.
ASSEMBLY QUORUM Assembly Chambers
Committees at the Call of the Speaker.
MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2008
SENATE SESSION 2:00 PM Senate Chambers
Voting Session: Board list to be announced.
ASSEMBLY SESSION Assembly Chambers
Voting Session: Time and board list to be announced.
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Here is a "short list" of the present Legislative leadership. They all need to hear from us!
Senator
Richard J. Codey (D)
(Senate President)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
449 Mount Pleasant Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
PHONE NUMBER:
(973) 731-6770
Senator
Bernard F. Kenny Jr. (D)
(Majority Leader)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
235 Hudson St.
Suite 1
Hoboken, NJ 07030
PHONE NUMBER:
(201) 653-1466
Senator
Shirley K. Turner (D)
(President Pro Tempore)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
1440 Pennington Rd.
Trenton, NJ 08618
PHONE NUMBER:
(609) 530-3277
Senator
Wayne R. Bryant (Esq.) (D)
(Deputy Majority Leader)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
501 Cooper St.
Camden, NJ 08102-1240
PHONE NUMBER:
(856) 757-0552
Senator
John A. Girgenti (D)
(Majority Whip)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
507 Lafayette Ave.
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
PHONE NUMBER:
(973) 427-1229
Assemblyman
Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D)
(General Assembly Speaker)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
Brooklawn Shopping Plaza
Route 130 & Browning Rd.
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
PHONE NUMBER:
(856) 742-7600
Assemblywoman
Bonnie Watson Coleman (D)
(Majority Leader)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
226 West State St.
Trenton, NJ 08608
PHONE NUMBER:
(609) 292-0500
Assemblyman
Wilfredo Caraballo (D)
(Speaker Pro Tempore)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
371 Bloomfield Ave.
2nd Floor
Newark, NJ 07107
PHONE NUMBER:
(973) 350-0048
FAX NUMBER:
(973) 350-0951
Assemblywoman
Joan M. Quigley (D)
(Majority Conference Leader)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
The Hamilton Park Foundry
242 Tenth St.
Suite 101
Jersey City, NJ 07302
PHONE NUMBER:
(201) 217-4614
Assemblyman
Joseph Cryan (D)
(Deputy Majority Leader)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
985 Stuyvesant Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
PHONE NUMBER:
(908) 624-0880
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Thanks for the update NJDiver. Let's contact the appropriate senator and assemblyman. Let them know that we can and will affect their future in government. t^
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RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN & DIVERS ARE LOSING THE BATTLE!
Monday the NJ Senate was scheduled to vote on our “Pots Off the Reef” Bill S2635. It was supposed to pass easily. Instead, once again we were “blind sided” by commercial fishing industry and the Bill was put aside. NO VOTE WAS TAKEN! THE BILL WASN’T EVEN MENTIONED!
Tuesday we found out why. A well known, very influential lobbying firm, contracted by the commercial sector, flooded the Senate floor with faxes proclaiming that Senate Bill S2635 would be devastating to (a handful of) commercial fishermen. If passed, most potters would go out of business and there would be a major shortage of lobster and reef fish for the general public to consume. The faxes must have had clout and obviously coerced Senate Speaker Codey to abandon the vote.
It was also rumored that this lobbying firm contributes substantial amounts to political campaign funds and that might be the real reason Bill S2635 was passed over.
Is this the way the democratic system is supposed work? Why isn’t the majority being heard? Aren’t they listening to New Jersey’s 1.3 million saltwater anglers? I THINK NOT!
The Senate has (3) more voting sessions before the legislative year end: December 17, January 3 and January 7. If Bill S2635 is not voted on, we go back to square one in 2008. IT IS TIME TO MAKE A CALL! Or, WE LOSE!
The same thing holds true for the General Assembly. They have only a few voting sessions left. Assembly Bill A3986, which is identical to S2635, has not been posted for a vote. WE NEED BOTH BILLS POSTED NOW, VOTED ON AND APPROVED! Or, WE LOSE!
MAKE A CALL NOW! Below is the list of Senators and Assemblymen. The main targets are Senate President Richard Codey, General Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts and especially Assistant Majority Leader Jeff Van Drew. They have the ability to push the bills to a vote. When you call, an administrative assistant will answer. Just mention the bill number and ask why it’s not being voted on, what is the hold up, do they realize how many fishermen and divers want to see these bills passed, that sportspeople paid for the reefs while a few commercial potters are allowed to dominate them and blanket them with gear! Make sure you mention your club affiliation and how many people you represent. Ask that the Assemblyman or Senator call you back.
MAKE THAT CALL TODAY! BEFORE IT”S TOO LATE!
Thanks & good luck to all,
Captain Pete Grimbilas
REEF RESCUE
www.njreefrescue.com
Senator Richard J. Codey, (D) 449 Mount Pleasant Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052 (973)-731-6770
Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., (D) Brooklawn Shopping Plaza, Rt. 130 South & Browning Rd., Brooklawn, NJ 08030 (856)-742-7600
Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, (D) 21 North Main Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 (609)-465-0700
District Office: 223 East Main Street, Millville, NJ 08332 (856)-293-8353 District Office: 1028 East Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360 (856)-696-7109
Senator John H. Adler, (D) 1916 Route 70 East, Suite 3, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 (856)-489-3442
Senator Diane B. Allen, (R) 11 West Broad St., Burlington, NJ 08016 (609)-239-2800
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Does anyone have their fax numbers. If their fax is constantly busy with messages from us it might be something they will listen to. The reason, it will cost them money for the paper, and ink to print out all those faxes. My .02
Paul
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It is imperative that all anglers interested in POT REEF Bills A3986 and S2635 contact Senator Codey, Speaker Roberts and Asm Van Drew immediately and demand that these bills be posted for a vote.
Apparently those with interests contrary to recreational anglers are influencing these legislators with last minute efforts to derail the bills. If these bills are not posted to a vote prior to Januray 7, 2008 we will end up back at square-one. The delay will cripple our ability to be successful.
Bills A3986 and S2635 have the support of the RFA, JCAA, NJSFSC and NJOA and we are making every effort to have the bills posted. We need your support in contacting the legislators below and insisting that A3986 and S2635 be posted for a vote. The links below will provide fax and email information. Phone numbers have been provided below.
Thank you.
Ant
Anthony P. Mauro. Sr
Chairman, NJOA
Sen. Codey
(973) 731-6770
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/codey.asp
Speaker Roberts
(856) 742-7600
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/Roberts.asp
Asm Van Drew
(609) 465-0700
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/vandrew.asp
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The NJ Senate has S2635 posted for a vote on January 3, 2008!
Keep those calls into Assembly Speaker Roberts going!
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Just got off the phone with the NJ Legislature's Bill room.
S2635 PASSED!
Now let's call Assm. Roberts and your own Assembly rep!
Post A3986 for Monday!
Assemblyman
Joseph J. Roberts Jr.
(General Assembly Speaker)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
Brooklawn Shopping Plaza
Route 130 & Browning Rd.
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
PHONE NUMBER:
(856) 742-7600
(FAX: 856-742-1831)
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Outstanding!!! t^
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Fantastic, now comes the problem, the Assembly, the Senate want to be's.
I just finished sending e-mails off again, this time I used stronger language. Don't worry I kept my cool but still managed to show my disgust and what we, the fisherman of NJ could do to their careers.
This is so frustrating. Sometimes you just want to take these politicians and shake the daylights out of them.
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slt whs
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This is so frustrating. Sometimes you just want to take these politicians and shake the daylights out of them.
That's not what I want to shake out of them!!! TT^
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I hear ya,,, TT^
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The Bill was NOT posted! Assemblyman Sean T. Kean motioned for a roll call vote on the Bill and the Majority Leader Assm. Watson Coleman motioned to table it. Here are the results:
Asm. 1/7/2008 - MOTION TAB MOTION - Yes {41} No {32} Not Voting {7} Abstains {0}
Albano, Nelson T. - No Barnes, Peter J., III - Yes Baroni, Bill - No Bateman, Christopher - NoBeck, Jennifer - No Biondi, Peter J. - Not Voting Blee, Francis J. - No Bodine, Francis L. - Yes Bramnick, Jon M. - No Burzichelli, John J. - Not Voting Caraballo, Wilfredo - Yes Carroll, Michael Patrick - Not Voting Chatzidakis, Larry - Not Voting Chivukula, Upendra J. - No Cohen, Neil M. - Yes Conaway, Herb, M.D. - Not Voting Conners, Jack - Yes Connors, Christopher J. - No Corodemus, Steve - No Cruz-Perez, Nilsa - Yes Cryan, Joseph - Yes Dancer, Ronald S. - No DeCroce, Alex - No Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. - No Doherty, Michael J. - No Egan, Joseph V. - Yes Epps, Charles T., Jr. - Yes Evans, Elease - Yes Fisher, Douglas H. - Not Voting Giblin, Thomas P. - Yes Gordon, Robert M. - Yes Green, Jerry - Yes Greenstein, Linda R. - No Greenwald, Louis D. - Yes Gregg, Guy R. - No Gusciora, Reed - Yes Handlin, Amy H. - No Holzapfel, James W. - No Jasey, Mila M. - Yes Johnson, Gordon M. - YesKarrow, Marcia A. - No Kean, Sean T. - No Lampitt, Pamela R. - Yes Malone, Joseph R., III - NoManzo, Louis M. - Yes Mayer, David R. - Yes McHose, Alison Littell - No McKeon, John F. - YesMerkt, Richard A. - NoMoriarty, Paul D. - YesMunoz, Eric - NoO'Toole, Kevin J. - NoOliver, Sheila Y. - Not VotingPanter, Michael J. - Yes Payne, William D. - Yes Pennacchio, Joseph - No Pou, Nellie - Yes Prieto, Vincent - Yes Quigley, Joan M. - Yes Roberts, Joseph J., Jr. - Yes Rooney, John E. - No Rumpf, Brian E. - No Russo, David C. - NoScalera, Frederick - Yes Schaer, Gary S. - Yes Stack, Brian P. - Yes Stanley, Craig A. - Yes Stender, Linda - Yes Thompson, Samuel D. - No Truitt, Oadline D. - Yes Vainieri Huttle, Valerie - Yes Van Drew, Jeff - No Vandervalk, Charlotte - N oVas, Joseph - Yes Vega, Silverio A. - Yes Voss, Joan M. - Yes Watson Coleman, Bonnie - Yes Whelan, Jim - Yes Wisniewski, John S. - Yes Wolfe, David W. - No
The "No" votes were on our side!
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APP
January 8, 2008
Lobster trap ban dies in Legislature
By KIRK MOORE
Legislation to ban lobster traps and other commercial fishing gear from New Jersey's artificial reefs died in the final hours of the 2007 Legislature, after supporters could not get enough votes in the state Assembly to bring the measure up for a final vote.
The bill's prime sponsor, Assemblyman Sean T. Kean, R-Monmouth, sought a vote on Monday only to see the lower house vote to table the measure 42 to 31. The legislation had passed the state Senate unanimously last Thursday and backers among the state's recreational fishing groups had hoped the Assembly version would pull through and go on to Gov. Corzine's desk for his signature.
"Sean Kean wanted a vote,'' said James Donofrio, executive director of the
Recreational Fishing Alliance and an advocate of the reef bill. But the Garden State
Seafood Association was successful in persuading Assembly leadership not to hold a vote, Donofrio said.
With the end of the 2006-2007 legislative year, the bill has now died and supporters need to decide whether to seek re-introduction in the new Legislature, Donofrio said.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Environmental Protection has proposed seasonal reef exclusion rules that would keep lobster and fish traps off the reefs from May to October. That measure is proceeding through the DEP administrative process and could take effect this year, state Division of Fish and Wildlife Director David Chanda said at last Thursday's meeting of the state marine Fisheries Council.
As planned by DEP officials, the rule would first apply to reefs within the state's
three-mile territorial limit. But the agency also plans to ask the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council, a quasi-government board with authority in federal waters, to apply the same rule to artificial reefs outside three miles.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...D=200880108042 (http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...D=200880108042)
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More than one way to skin a cat! t^
Let's hope the DEP uses their brain for the benefit of most instead of a select few.
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I am holding my breath on this one. :-\
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Both Bills have been reintroduced for the 2008-2009 NJ Legislature. The new Bill numbers are S336 and A1519. The Senate bill has retained the old Assembly sponsors as they have won their seats in the Senate. The new Assembly Bill has a new primary sponsor and five co-sponsors.
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Default.asp (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Default.asp)
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Let's hope the new regime is smarter than the last.
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A1519 Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Last Session Bill Number: A3986
Rible, David P. (R) as Primary Sponsor District 11
Albano, Nelson T. (D) as Co-Sponsor District 1
Wolfe, David W. (R) as Co-Sponsor District 10
Holzapfel, James W. (R) as Co-Sponsor District 10
Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. (D) as Co-Sponsor District 18
McHose, Alison Littell (R) as Co-Sponsor District 24
1/8/2008 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
(Group D)
Fisher, Douglas H. (D) Chair District 3
Albano, Nelson T. (D) Vice-Chair District 1
Amodeo, John F. (R) District 2
Conaway, Herb (D) District 7
Karrow, Marcia (D) District 23
S336 Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Last Session Bill Number: S2635
Kean, Sean T. (R) as Primary Sponsor District 11
Van Drew, Jeff (D) as Co-Sponsor District 1
1/8/2008 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment Committee
Senate Environment Committee
(Group 3)
Smith, Bob (D) Chair District 17
Van Drew, Jeff (D) Vice-Chair District 1
Adler, John H. (D) District 6
Gordon, Robert M. (D) District 38
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Senate Environment
Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 1:00 PM
Meeting - Committee Room 10, Third Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
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S75 Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs-estab SEN 1/8/2008
S336 Fishing gear on artificial reefs-proh. SEN 1/8/2008
They might have to move it to another larger room on the first floor.
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They moved it:
Senate Environment Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 1:00 PM Meeting - Committee Room 6, First Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
Bill AbstractCurrent StatusLDOA
S75 Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs-estab SEN1/8/2008
S336 Fishing gear on artificial reefs-proh. SEN1/8/2008
S480 Soil contamination on sch. prop-concernsDiscussion Only SEN1/8/2008
S717 Underground storage tanks-concernsDiscussion Only SEN1/8/2008
S924 Coastal region-concernsDiscussion Only SEN1/28/2008
S1166 Stormwater util. sys.-concernsDiscussion Only SEN2/14/2008
S1167 Land-recreation & conserv. purpose;$8.4M SEN2/14/2008
S1168 Open space, park devel.;$54.917M SEN2/14/2008
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After a long afternoon, with seven other Bills ahead of ours and near two hours of testimony the Senate Environment Committee passed S336 on to the full Senate for its first reading. Step one in another long Legislative Process.
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Nice, on to the next step. Let's hope they continue on the right course. t^
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For anyone who would like to listen to the testimony:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/archive_audio2.asp?KEY=SEN&SESSION=2008 (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/archive_audio2.asp?KEY=SEN&SESSION=2008)
Click on Listen for Thursday, February 21, 2008.
Move the bar to 1:05:30 for the start of the testimony on S336.
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What a great post. I just listened to the whole thing and I tell you what this whole process will come down to some sort of compromise. Not everyone will get everything they want but that might be a good thing for the state of NJ as a whole. If it takes a new reef just for commercials why not help them.
They do bring up some good points as does our side. If they are put out of business in total the price of seafood would go through the roof like everything in this state of confusion.
Don't get me wrong I am for the angler here and rightly so but these commercial fisherman have a right as well only they are going about it all wrong. The big problem in my mind is the DEP and again its mismanagement of the whole process from the start.
Just my opinion at this point in time. Which has changed many times as I listen to both sides of the argument. It would be a good idea if everyone would listen to this post as I did and then post your comments. Like I said before my mind is flip flopping. But the best solution I have heard so far is to help the commercial concerns build their little niche and let them proliferate or we will all loose something.
Paul
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Fight to save reefs from traps advancing
April 18, 2008
By JOHN GEISER
CORRESPONDENT
Recreational fishermen and divers who are trying to get commercial fish and lobster traps off the state's artificial reefs are making progress with the state Legislature.
Capt. Peter Grimbilas, chairman of Reef Rescue, said his group and dozens of other organizations are talking to legislators from both parties in an attempt to get a law passed prohibiting the commercial gear on reefs built with anglers' and divers' money. Bills have been introduced in both the Assembly and the Senate.
The commercial pot fishing industry — blackfish and lobsters — beat back a similar attempt in 2007 simply by persuading key Democratic legislators not to bring the legislation up for a vote.
Grimbilas is confident that the votes are there to get the measure passed since the impact of the gear on the reefs is so important to anglers and would minimally affect only a handful of commercial fishermen.
Bill Figley, former head of New Jersey's artificial reef program, said he and his staff, made up of Jeff Carlson, Hugh Carberry, and Barry Priem, made a study in 2005 of the pot fishery on eight of the state's 15 ocean reef sites.
Two of the reefs — Sandy Hook and Axel Carlson — lie in state waters. The others are in federal waters. Of the 14 reef sites, the Axel Carlson site is the most heavily used by commercial fishermen.
At the time the study was made, there were believed to be 341 pots on the site with 23,637 feet of runners or 4.4 miles criss-crossing the four-square-mile site.
The Sea Girt Artificial Reef, lying 3.5 nautical miles off Sea Girt, is only 1.3 square miles in area, but had an estimated 209 pots and 14,488 feet of runners on its bottom in 2005.
The density of pots was the highest of any reef site in the reef system, and the projected potential sea floor coverage by pot strings with a mean runner length of 1,525 feet left only six tiny areas without pot coverage.
The Sandy Hook Artificial Reef, with 1.4 square miles of area, had only 11 pots with an estimated 762 feet of runners on it in 2005.
New Jersey pots or strings of pots are not always marked by high flyers as some states require. It was learned by the state, from a poll of license holders in New Jersey, that 30 percent of the 214 commercial fishermen said that they occasionally set pots without marker flags.
Commercial fishermen used a lobbying firm last year to persuade the Democratic leadership not to post the bill for a vote. This year, Reef Rescue and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance have hired a lobbying firm to persuade the Democrats to do the opposite.
Last year commercial fishermen asked for a compromise on the reef problem, but anglers rejected the proposal. This year the commercial sector has offered the same compromise.
Gregory DiDomenico of Garden State Seafood spelled out the alternatives that could be considered for the artificial reefs in state waters:
No fish pots on the reefs from May 1 to Oct. 1;
A vessel that is permitted and following current gear regulations to harvest lobsters using pots shall be required to use sinking groundlines in all of their lobster trawls;
All commercial pots will be required to comply with the new marking requirements including high flyers at both ends of the trawl and appropriate flag requirements as proposed by the state Department of Environmental Protection;
Lobster trawls will be limited to 25 pots;
Vessels engaged in the directed lobster fishery that are following legal gear requirements and vent sizes shall be held to a 50-pound possession limit of black sea bass during the May 1-Oct. 1 gear prohibition, even if the vessel is holding a limited entry permit for black sea bass (this 50-fish possession limit already exists for vessels without the BSB permit).
Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Atlantic, who is a key player in the reef situation, is concerned about commercial interests in his district, and he reached out to Reef Rescue recently asking for a meeting between anglers and the commercial industry.
Grimbilas wrote Van Drew that he understood the senator's objectives, but the compromise offered by Garden State Seafood is the same one offered June 5, 2007, which was unacceptable then and more so now.
"Reef Rescue firmly maintains that the position that the solution to this problem must conform to both federal Wallop-Breaux Sportfish Restoration Program rules and the objectives of New Jersey's reef program," he responded.
"We will not discuss any proposed solutions that do not conform to these standards," he emphasized. "These were the standards observed by New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas (and soon Delaware) when they resolved similar gear conflicts on their reefs."
In other words, money from the federal Wallop-Breaux fund must be used for recreational fishing enhancement purposes only. That is the law. The money cannot be used to support commercial fishing.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...=2008804180331 (http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...=2008804180331)
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Thanks for the update Diver. t^
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t^
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New state regulation to keep traps off reefs
BY John Geiser
STAFF COLUMNIST
July 13, 2008
There is more than one way to get commercial fish traps off the state's artificial reefs.
The will of the people has been thwarted in the state Legislature by two key Democratic lawmakers for nearly two years; so people are looking elsewhere for relief.
The state Division of Fish and Wildlife announced at Thursday's state Marine Fisheries Council meeting that it will provide it through a regulation to prohibit traps on the reefs.
Members of the Corzine administration as well as lawmakers from both houses of the Legislature recognize that it is neither right nor fair that anglers and scuba divers be denied access to artificial reefs built with recreational money.
Further, much of that money comes from a federal excise tax on fishing tackle. The law creating the tax specifically prohibits the use of that money for aiding and supporting the commercial industry.
The removal of the web of commercial gear that monopolizes the reefs will not come quickly. In fact, it will probably take months, and the process cannot begin until the state Marine Fisheries Council makeup changes.
Despite the fact that only a comparative handful of commercial fishermen actually set their gear on the reefs, the commercial industry adroitly used the political system to deny the majority access to the reefs.
Their first line of defense was the Marine Fisheries Council. It is theoretically made up of five commercial fishermen, four recreational fishermen and two members of the public at large. When the two public seats remained unfilled, the commercial sector won every vote, 5-4.
Anglers and divers patiently exhausted every avenue of appeal to logic and fairness in the council process, but were either outright rebuffed or mired in committee hearings and parliamentary maneuvers.
Frustrated and angered by the growing mass of traps, pot lines, flags and ghost gear on the reefs and the games commercial fishermen played on the council, recreational activists turned to the state Division of Fish and Wildlife and the state Legislature.
The division proposed a compromise … six months of use by the commercial sector and six months by the recreational sector. The state Legislature responded by introducing bills prohibiting the commercial gear on the reefs, and quickly pushed the legislation through committees, and received enormous bipartisan support before the two legislators prevented passage.
The division compromise was actually acceptable to neither the recreational nor commercial sides, but commercial fishermen, emboldened by assurance from the two legislators that the measure would never be brought to a vote, demanded more, including keeping lobster pots on the artificial reefs 12 months a year.
Finally, the state Department of Environmental Protection, fed up with the attitude of commercial fishermen, and seeing public interest in donating money and effort to reef building dwindling, as well as the possible illegal use of federal funds, decided to act through regulation.
Dr. Patrick Donnelly, a member of the state Marine Fisheries Council and as patient a man who ever sat through 30 meetings on the subject and listened to the arguments on both sides, said he was pleased to see the division take a stand.
"This is finally going in the right direction,'' he said. "There is no room for compromise any longer. This will be a total ban done through the administrative process.''
Donnelly explained that when the two newly appointed members representing the public at large soon take their seats on the council, the commercial lock on votes will no longer be a sure thing.
The council has the power to veto division regulations, but Donnelly believes the regulations will stand by a 6-5 vote.
"There is so much that went into this,'' he said. "All of the work by Reef Rescue, the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, the Recreational Fishing Alliance, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and the thousands of people who wrote letters, sent e-mails and made phone calls has finally paid off.''
Donnelly said the most encouraging aspect of the matter is the division's position.
"They listened to all sides, weighed the information and stepped up to the plate,'' he said. "They did the right thing. This is something that recreational fishing needed to help reverse all of the negative things going on.''
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080712/SPORTS06/80712053/1020/SPORTS06&template=column (http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080712/SPORTS06/80712053/1020/SPORTS06&template=column)
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S336 Pots Off the Reefs, Passes NJ Senate Again!
On Thursday by a 32 to 4 vote. Here are the Legislators who voted aginst the bill:
Jim Whelan, (D) Dist 2, Northfield, NJ
Loretta Weinberg (D) Dist 37, Teaneck
Shirley Turner (D) Dist 15, Trenton
Joe Kyrillos (R) dist 13, Middletown
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Thanks for the update. t^
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t^ grtn
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Speaker Roberts is once again the focus of attention. He has consistently prevented this bill from being heard in both the Assembly and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. He needs to hear from us!
Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts Jr.
Brooklawn Shopping Plaza
Rt. 130 South & Browning Rd.
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
PHONE NUMBER: (856) 742-7600
Fax: (856) 742-1831
Email: AsmRoberts@njleg.org
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Email send .. t^
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Pots Off the Reefs Bill reintroduced in NJ Assembly...
A1152http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp?BillNumber=A1152 (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp?BillNumber=A1152)
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t^
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Just a thought, my 2 cents.
First of all I do want the fish traps off the reef's OK so there's no confusion over that.
Now here's the conundrum.
Not all reefs have traps on them, do you know why? No ?
Give your NOAA charts a close look and you'll see designated areas for fish traps, these areas were there long before we started building the reef system. They are placing their traps where there supposed to. And it seems to me we placed our reefs on areas designated for the commercial guys, correct me if I'm wrong. But it seems to me a big bubo was made here -as to where the reefs were located and or we just didn't think or care. And discovered afterwards the nuisance of the trap gear.
So who's the bad guy here?
Like I said " just a thought"
If I am not mistaken and please somebody with more direct knowledge speak up but the marks you see on most NOAA charts marked "fish traps" were pound net areas. Areas that were or are deemed a possible hazard to navigation and not marked just as "fishing areas". Also the placement and location of the reefs involved an amazing amount of study and hard work. In addition to distance from an inlet many other things went into their locations, such as they did want to place them near areas that already held fish attracting structures. As far as not all reefs having pots on them I would say its a matter of economics. Guys fish lobster and fish pots differently.The bottom south of BI is mostly sand with very little contour. The most guys will place their gear the closest spot were they can catch(prior territory is a whole nother thing).If you are not seeing gear on the reef your fishing it maybe that the pot fisherman has much better fishing in deeper water. Have a great day grtn
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Just a thought, my 2 cents.
First of all I do want the fish traps off the reef's OK so there's no confusion over that.
Now here's the conundrum.
Not all reefs have traps on them, do you know why? No ?
Give your NOAA charts a close look and you'll see designated areas for fish traps, these areas were there long before we started building the reef system. They are placing their traps where there supposed to. And it seems to me we placed our reefs on areas designated for the commercial guys, correct me if I'm wrong. But it seems to me a big bubo was made here -as to where the reefs were located and or we just didn't think or care. And discovered afterwards the nuisance of the trap gear.
So who's the bad guy here?
Like I said " just a thought"
If I am not mistaken and please somebody with more direct knowledge speak up but the marks you see on most NOAA charts marked "fish traps" were pound net areas. Areas that were or are deemed a possible hazard to navigation and not marked just as "fishing areas". Also the placement and location of the reefs involved an amazing amount of study and hard work. In addition to distance from an inlet many other things went into their locations, such as they did want to place them near areas that already held fish attracting structures. As far as not all reefs having pots on them I would say its a matter of economics. Guys fish lobster and fish pots differently.The bottom south of BI is mostly sand with very little contour. The most guys will place their gear the closest spot were they can catch(prior territory is a whole nother thing).If you are not seeing gear on the reef your fishing it maybe that the pot fisherman has much better fishing in deeper water. Have a great day grtn
6.1.5 Conflict with Commercial Fisheries
Current commercially important trawling and sea clam or sea scallop dredging grounds will be avoided for reef construction. Areas historically avoided by these mobile fisheries, such as former fish havens and existing wrecks, will be selected where they meet other site selection criteria. Site boundaries will be oriented along latitude-longitude lines, where possible, to help commercial otter trawl and dredge vessels avoid reef sites. Efforts will be made by DEP to notify the commercial fishing industry of reef sites with bulletins, news releases and direct mailings. All reef sites are now clearly delineated as fish havens on NOAA nautical charts.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2005/reefplan05.pdf
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"Pots Off the Reefs" Bill moves out of Committee...
S221 Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Unanimously passed by the Senate Environment & Energy Committee February 1st. A statement was made early that “I think we need a bigger room!” A standing room only hearing room was witnessed once again to a unanimous decision to pass the bill on to the full Senate, where in two previous sessions; it received 32 votes each time. Now it's on to the Assembly for another battle.
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Next step in the battle for our reefs...
General Assembly Leadership
Assemblywoman Sheila Y. Oliver (D) (Assembly Speaker)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
15-33 Halsted Street
Suite 202
East Orange, NJ 07018
PHONE NUMBER: (973) 395-1166
FAX NUMBER: (973) 395-1724
EMAIL: AswOliver@njleg.org
Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D) (Majority Leader)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
985 Stuyvesant Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
PHONE NUMBER: (908) 624-0880
FAX NUMBER: (908) 624-0587
EMAIL: AsmCryan@njleg.org
Assemblyman Jerry Green (D) (Speaker Pro Tempore)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
17 Watchung Ave.
Plainfield, NJ 07060
PHONE NUMBER: (908) 561-5757
FAX NUMBER: (908) 561-5547
EMAIL: AsmGreen@njleg.org
Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley (D) (Majority Conference Leader)
DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:
235 Ninth Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
PHONE NUMBER: (201) 217-4614
FAX NUMBER: (201) 217-4617
EMAIL: AswQuigley@njleg.org
Call them, write them, fax them, email them. Ask them to have the bill heard in committee! Let them know you want the "Pots Off the Reefs"
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We are here in front of Assemblyman Albano's office now. Come join us now or on the 23rd and 30th.