2013 American Shad Fishery Closure for All NJ Waters Except Delaware River and Delaware Bay
The New Jersey Fish and Game Council, in coordination with the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council, and the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife, has modified the regulations for American shad in marine and fresh waters of the state.
The regulations for American shad in New Jersey waters are as follows effective January 1, 2013:
All American shad fisheries (both commercial and recreational), in both marine and fresh waters, with the exception of the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and its tributaries, are closed (no possession, take or harvest). The recreational possession limit in the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and its tributaries is 3 fish with no minimum size and an open season all year. Commercial net regulations for American shad in the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and its tributaries will remain the same.
These steps were taken to comply with Amendment 3 to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) management plan for American shad and river herring due to concerns about the significant coastwide decline of American shad stocks.
For more information about the closure see
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2013/shad_closure13.htm on the division's website.
