On November 11, New Jersey members of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) officially voted in a new slate of officers for 2010, as the RFA's New Jersey chapter (RFA-NJ) was officially reactivated. With the current issues affecting Garden State anglers, including cutbacks in summer flounder, a closure of black sea bass, near moratorium on winter flounder and weakfish, and the debate over the saltwater registry in New Jersey, the timing couldn't be better.
Capt. Adam Nowalsky of Port Republic was unanimously chosen by the 15-member RFA-NJ board of directors to lead the chapter as 2010 Chairman. A licensed USCG captain, Capt. Adam grew up fishing Raritan Bay and off Sandy Hook, but has spent most of his professional career fishing along the South Jersey shore. In addition to accepting the volunteer position of RFA-NJ Chair, Nowalsky is also vice president of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association and a founding member for the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund.
Co-chair for the RFA-NJ chapter is Howard Owens of Passaic County. A hardcore saltwater angler who fishes extensively in the NY Bight and Raritan Bay region, Howard can also be found in some of the upper reaches of the state's northern tidal waters. When he's not fishing for fun, Owens also spends time working as a local tackle rep for BioEdge baits.
RFA-NJ also welcomes Monmouth County's Herb Moore back into the fold. The former chief legal counsel for RFA's national office is now in private practice in New Jersey, and was voted by the board to be RFA-NJ's Legislative Chair. The Fisherman Magazine's Karen Wall was tabbed Secretary and Media Chair, while Atlantic County's Maria Dowd of will chair the RFA-NJ Habitat Committee and will also handle the responsibilities of Treasurer. Longtime RFA volunteer Jim Winn of Gloucester, a crowd favorite on the show circuit, will continue his work as Membership Chair.
To help gather input from anglers throughout the state and better address regional access issues affecting all of New Jersey's saltwater fishing community, the RFA-NJ Board opted to create regional and sector delegates for the year ahead. Early in 2010, RFA-NJ Board members will be assigned to fill delegate roles. These roles will provide representation for not only the North, Central and Southern coasts, but also Delaware Bay and Hudson River anglers. Additional roles have been created for Pennsylvania anglers through the RFA-PA, Habitat/Conservation and Shore-Based anglers.
Rounding out the 2010 RFA-NJ Board are Nick Cicero, Capt. Tony Bogan, Capt. Chris Gatley, Capt. Fran Verdi, Tony Spinelli, Ed Goldman, Greg O'Connell and Chris Pezska. Details for the 2010 RFA-NJ meeting schedule will be released after the holidays.
NJ SENATOR BLOCKS ATTEMPT TO CHARGE ANGLERS TO FISH
Statehouse political correspondent Matthew Reilly reported on December 3 that Senator Van Drew (D-Cape May) blocked attempts to amend his saltwater registry bill to include a user fee. "The purpose of my bill is to establish a registry that helps the federal government do better science, not to raise more money for the state," he said. "This bill is about establishing a database of saltwater sport fishermen that will help the federal government do an accurate assessment of what fish are being caught, where they're being caught and who is catching them. There's no reason to impose a tax or fee on people to do this."
The RFA has been a staunch supporter of Van Drew's bill (S2194) to require the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Marine Fisheries Council to establish a free recreational saltwater fishing registry would bring the state into compliance with a federal law. "This should not used to fund the Division of Fish and Wildlife, it should be about getting better data to do better science and research," said Jim Donofrio, RFA's Executive Director. "This is not the time to be taxing people," he said.
(Photo by John DeBona, The Fisherman Magazine)
While Senator Bob Smith (D-Piscataway) held up the bill in the Senate Environment Committee, the RFA is confident that the saltwater registry legislation will reappear in Trenton very soon in 2010. The RFA has worked hard during the past 18 months to get this registry legislation passed, and the RFA-NJ chapter will be busy in the months ahead rallying support for new saltwater registry legislation for 2010.
Since New Jersey was unable to pass saltwater registry legislation before the end of 2009, anglers fishing in federal waters outside 3 miles or those fishing for anadromous species like striped bass, shad or river herring in state coastal waters in 2010 will be required to register for free with the federal government. Those exempted from registering are those under 16 years of age, those fishing on a federally licensed party or charter boat and or anglers possessing a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) angling permit. Online and telephone registration will begin January 1, 2010. Register online at
www.countmyfish.noaa.gov or call toll free 888-674-7411
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds saltwater anglers that the federal government's National Saltwater Angler Registry Program requires most New Jersey saltwater anglers to register prior to fishing in 2010. "With a national registry, the agency (NOAA) will have a ready-made database from which to survey anglers and get a more accurate sense of the state of our fisheries," said Van Drew. The new federal registry is part of NOAA's responsibilities to improve data collection as mandated by Congress in the last reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act in 2006.
Click here to read Read Matthew Reilly's registry column at POlitickerNJ.com.
UNITED WE FISH!
On February 24th at nooncoastal fishermen from around the country will unite upon the steps of the Capitol in Washington DC. This show of solidarity is being organized by the RFA and our allies within the recreational fishing community. Look for more details as the RFA-NJ chapter works to rally the troops in New Jersey for this historic event!
About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The RFA is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. Our mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For information, visit
www.joinrfa.org.
