Pots off the Reefs bill pases in the Senate

Belmar, NJ

NJOA (CF) News Release 3/21/11

On Monday, March 21, the State Senate passed Bill S-221, which prohibits fish and lobster traps on New Jersey's artificial ocean reefs (Senator Sean Kean, Primary Sponsor).

The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, along with NJOA (CF) council members Reef Rescue, Jersey Coast Anglers Association, Hudson River Fishermen's Association, NJ Beach Buggy Association, NJ Council Divers, Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association, Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association, Hi-Mar Striper Club, Jersey Coast Shark Anglers and other organizations support the bill and requested that the bill be heard by the full senate.

On behalf of the NJOA (CF) council members Anthony P. Mauro, Sr., Chairman, said, "We'd like to thank Senate President Sweeney for allowing the bill to be heard by the full Senate and we are grateful for the overwhelming support the bill received from our State Senators."

Former Reef Coordinator and patriarch of New Jersey's artificial reef program, Bill Figley, stated, "Both the Federal government and New Jersey State government have stated on numerous occasions that the reefs are meant for hook and line, and spear fishing only. Private donations and hidden taxes on fishing gear - all paid by recreational anglers - have funded the construction and administration of the artificial reefs. However, access to the reefs by recreational anglers has been blocked by fishing gear used by commercial industry."

The NJOA (CF) thanks the full Senate for overwhelmingly supporting the bill.

What's Next?

Before the bill can be sent to the Governor a companion bill, A-1152, must first be heard in the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and then voted on by the full Assembly. The Chair of the committee, Assemblyman Nelson Albano, has blocked the bill from being heard by his committee.

Captain Pete Grimbilas, President of NJOA (CF) and Reef Rescue said of the situation, "The circumstance is similar to businesses deciding to use public parks to build their buildings and manufacture their products. Although the parks are paid for by taxes assessed on the public, and are meant for public use, in this scenario the businesses take up all of the open space and prevent the public from accessing the parks, while profiting from the annexation of a public resource. It is unthinkable that the public, or our legislators, would allow such a situation to exist - but that's exactly what's occurring on our artificial reefs."

In the very near future the NJOA (CF) will provide additional information regarding the history of the artificial reef program and the injustice being perpetrated on recreational anglers. Mauro said, "This is a simple matter of right and wrong. Over the years a few legislators in District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland) have used parliamentary tactics to shelve the bills that would provide us access to the artificial reefs." Mauro continued, "we expect our legislators to be part of the solution and not a part of the problem."

It is now time for our State Assembly to do the right thing for New Jersey's 800,000 recreational anglers and allow them access to the artificial reefs they've built and paid for. It's time for them to vote on Assembly Bill A-1152."

What we can do!

A prewritten letter asking legislators to hear bill A-1152 in the Assembly has been provided below. All you need to do is go to the link, enter a few bits of information and click your mouse. Here's the link: http://capwiz.com/njoutdooralliance/issues/alert/?alertid=36620501&PROCESS=Take+Action

Thank you.

Anthony P. Mauro, Sr

Chair

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Environmental Projects

"Preservation through conservation"

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html