Recreational Fishing Alliance (NJ)
Contact: Jim Hutchinson, Jr. / 888-564-6732
For Immediate Release
June 18, 2010
NJ SHARK SEASON UNDERWAY
New Gretna, NJ - The RFA-NJ wanted to remind the recreational angling community that the new regulations in effect in New Jersey coastal waters this year increase the minimum size for most sharks to 54 inches fork length with a possession limit of one shark per vessel. Sandbar or brown sharks are also now a prohibited species
In February, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) issued a noncompliance finding for New Jersey's coastal sharks management plan which was forwarded to the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior for review. New Jersey had been facing a complete moratorium on shark fishing this year for being out of compliance with 22 rules governing 40 species of coastal sharks. NOAA has given the state until July 30 to comply, and the DEP has devised a plan to come into compliance by July 19.
Updated 2010 shark and other recreational fishing regulations in NJ can be found online at
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/digmar10.htm with shark regulations specifically detailed on pages 15 and 18.
Complete information about the new shark regulations can be found at
http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/notices/040510a.html.
About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA 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 more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit
www.joinrfa.org.
Stay up to date with the happenings from RFA-NJ by visiting the RFA-NJ chapter homepage at
www.rfanj.org.
