December 21, 2010
Press Release
Belmar, NJ
Yesterday the full Senate voted to pass bill S1122 (free saltwater registry). The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Beck (R) and Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D), and requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to administer a free saltwater registry program to comply with the federal mandate for data collection. The bill was unanimously approved 36-0.
However, apparently a minor amendment made during the Senate session will send the bill back to the Assembly for consideration the first week of January. The amended bill is expected to pass in the Assembly.
The bill does not specify where the funding will originate to cover the cost of the registry. Non-government organizations (NGO) estimate it will cost approximately $600,000 to implement and manage the free registry. But a considerable percentage is likely to go to a company that has the contract to provide the equipment that registers anglers. The balance would go toward registry management at the state level. The cost of the registry is expected to equal, or exceed, the entire state appropriation to the Bureau Marine Fisheries (BMF).
Although there is a reported 600,000 saltwater anglers in New Jersey it is a changing percentage that fish from year-to-year. The DEP recently announced that a $5.00 fee is needed to cover the cost of the free saltwater registry.
Mauro said, "Regardless of the actual numbers we know that the money to implement and manage a registry must come from someplace and interestingly the very same state government that has run up a deficit of $10.7 billion hasn't addressed how the registry will be funded. Chances are that the huge budget deficit will add pressure to raid accounts already underfunded." Mauro continued, "We don't want funds that are used to run natural resources to be ransacked. It's that simple. This unfunded mandate is one more straw added to the weakened backbone of the very things the saltwater registry is designed to provide free access to."
The BMF budget has already been cut to the point where conservation organizations have voiced concerns about the bureau's ability to adhere to federal requirements for fisheries research and management. In the end, an ineffectual BMF could cause fishery closures.
Peter Grimbilas, President, NJOA (CF) said, "You don't get something for nothing so it's wise for anglers to make sure that funds currently used to manage fisheries or other natural resources aren't used for the free registry. When people call the Governor's office (1-609-292-6000) I'd suggest that they also relay that they don't want funding for Bill S1122/A823 "Free Recreational Saltwater Fishing Registry" to come from fishery management or other natural resource accounts."
Since the state of New Jersey has not provided a means to fund the registry, and given the poor state of affairs at BMF, the consensus of the majority of NJOA (CF) council members is that a $2.00 administrative fee is needed to cover the projected costs.
NOTE: It has been incorrectly reported in the press and other venues that the NJOA, Jersey Coast Anglers Association and New Jersey Beach Buggy Association are in favor of a saltwater $21.50 license. The majority of saltwater-only NJOA (CF) council members continue to support a $2.00 administrative fee to cover registry costs.
The NJOA (CF) will continue to provide updates on the status of the free registry.
Anthony P. Mauro, Sr
Chair
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Environmental Projects
Join the NJOA, "Help us to help you ensure your outdoor freedoms!"____
JOIN NJOA:
http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html Officers: Ed Markowski, Captain Pete Grimbilas, Jerry Natale, Len Wolgast, PhD., Anthony Mauro
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