THE COST OF NOT HAVING A
SALT WATER FISHING LICENSE
TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE SALT WATER FISHERMEN OF NEW JERSEY
150 Million in federal stimulus money
7 Salt water hatcheries
3,129 immediate construction jobs benefiting local economies near hatchery sites.
169 permanent green jobs in the form of biologists and other hatchery personnel.
Millions of dollars of New Jersey’s fair share of the Federal excise tax return.
40 million dollars annually in license fees to enhance New Jersey salt water fishing
Millions in lost tourist dollars
Millions of lost recreational fishing hours.
The ability to protect against poaching of our salt water fish.
The continued bankruptcy of bait shops,charter fishing operations,party boats and other related businesses
The ability of New Jersey to responsibly manage the States marine resources.
New Jersey fishermen will lose thier fair share of flounder, sea bass, tug and other fish due to the inability to submit the proper data to the federal government.
Negative impact to our New Jersey shore culture
Reduced value of New Jersey waterfront property
The ability of New Jersey to proactively rebuild the States depleted Weakfish population.
Reduced opportunities for future generations of New Jersey salt water anglers!
References’:
Source: Brett Boston of the Wildlife Foundation of Florida
Excerpt:
A proposal to secure almost $150 million in funding for this effort has been submitted to Congress, as well as to Gov. Charlie Crist’s office.
The money requested would come from Obama’s stimulus package through the state Legislature.
Excerpts from Cape May County Herald article:
“New Jerseyians are not only losing a revenue source, we are losing fish.”
“When our representatives go to meetings to set regulations for species catch allocations, we are up against states that have larger and more secure funding sources and therefore better research data to plead their case. Once we have lost allocated pounds of a particular species, it will be extremely difficult to get it back up again.”
Quote: Dave Chanda NJ F&W
Competition amongst Atlantic Coast states for shares of coast-wide fisheries resources is increasing at the same time. The winners are often the states with the best scientific data and competing states are spending two to seven times more per angler than New Jersey to collect fisheries data. The consequence of not being able to keep pace was evident in recent tautog harvest restrictions placed on New Jersey anglers because our data was not sufficient to argue against the restrictions. The same could soon be true for winter flounder. Competition for marine resources will continue to increase in the future as will research and monitoring requirements to responsibly manage the state’s marine resources and keep recreational fisheries open to New Jersey anglers. -end quote
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http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st5/publication/econ/MA_NJTables TITLE 50–WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
CHAPTER I–UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (CONTINUED)
PART 80_ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, FEDERAL AID IN FISH AND FEDERAL AID IN WILDLIFE RESTORATION ACTS
(Snip)
