06 March 2008
Posted by
edgar3 (
)
Published on March 6th, 2008 @ 09:28:27 am, using 241 words, 193 views
The Garden State Seafood Association, representing New Jersey~s ocean-oriented commercial fishing industry, enthusiastically endorses the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2008 (HR 5425), introduced by New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone and extending the provisions of earlier legislation sponsored by North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones and Massachusetts Congressman Barney Franks.
Having already attracted a core of Coastal Members, Congressman Pallone~s legislation would adjust provisions of the Magnuson Act, the legislation that defines how U.S. fisheries will be managed. The legislation contains amendments to avoid unnecessarily harsh management measures being imposed in fisheries in which the stocks are increasing but the rebuilding rates are beyond the influence of the recreational or commercial harvest levels.
The Bill includes safeguards that will provide the affected fish stocks with more than adequate protection from overharvesting. However, the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2008 will allow fisheries managers to also protect fishermen and fishing communities when arbitrary and inflexible regulations would otherwise punish fishermen ~ and the communities that depend on them ~ for environmental or anthropogenic factors beyond their control that affect those stocks.
Having already attracted a core of Coastal Members, Congressman Pallone~s legislation would adjust provisions of the Magnuson Act, the legislation that defines how U.S. fisheries will be managed.
Congressman Pallone and his co-sponsors have earned the respect of commercial and recreational fishermen on both coasts for recognizing that they are as important as the fish that they harvest.
20 February 2008
Posted by
edgar3 (
)
Published on February 20th, 2008 @ 05:15:27 pm, using 201 words, 164 views
The meeting will be held in the Committee Room 10, Third Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ.
We need you all to attend this meeting and oppose this bill.
Before the meeting please contact each member listed below.
Make sure you oppose bill 336 and explain how this will impact you.
If you have people outside of the fishing industry make a call that would be helpful. Tell them to explain the impact on them as a consumer.
Thanks
Greg DiDomenico
Garden State Seafood Association
SENATE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Hon. Bob Smith (D-17), Chair
216 Stelton Road, Suite E-5
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone: (732) 752-0770
Fax: (732) 752-1590
Email: SenBSmith@njleg.org
Hon. John Adler (D-6)
1916 Route 70 East, Suite 3
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Phone: (856) 489-3442
Fax: (856) 489-4180
Email: SenAdler@njleg.org
Hon. Andrew R. Ciesla (R-10)
852 Highway 70
Brick, NJ 08724
Phone: (732) 840-9028
Fax: (732) 840-9757
Email: SenCiesla@njleg.org
Hon. Jeff Van Drew (D-1), Vice
21 North Main Street
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone: (609) 465-0700
Fax: (609) 465-4578
Email: SenVanDrew@njleg.org
Hon. Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-16)
36 East Main Street
Somerville, NJ 08876
Phone: (908) 526-3600
Fax: (908) 707-4578
Email: SenBateman@njleg.org
Hon. Robert M. Gordon (D-38)
14-25 Plaza Road, P.O. Box 398
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
Phone: (201) 703-9779
Fax: (201) 703-8127
Email: SenGordon@njleg.org
Posted by
edgar3 (
)
Published on February 20th, 2008 @ 04:44:29 pm, using 395 words, 105 views
Call measure unfair to diners who don’t fish
Organizations representing the interests of New Jersey’s seafood lovers, including the Garden State Seafood Association and the New Jersey Restaurant Association, are coming together to oppose legislation which they say would strip people who don’t fish of their right to enjoy ocean-fresh New Jersey lobsters, sea bass, blackfish and other species.
On Thursday, the State Senate’s Environment Committee will consider legislation that these groups warn would deny consumers their right to enjoy fresh seafood harvested from New Jersey’s artificial reefs. The legislation, sponsored by State Senator Sean Kean (R – Monmouth), would effectively ban commercial fishing over the State’s artificial reefs, and direct the State to push to expand the ban beyond New Jersey waters. The legislation comes in response to complaints by some recreational fishermen that their lines occasionally get tangled in commercial boats’ gear.
Deborah Dowdell, President of the New Jersey Restaurant Association, sees the debate as a matter of fairness, adding, “New Jersey citizens are equally entitled to the rich harvest of our coastal waters, whether they catch it themselves or depend on the efforts of New Jersey’s commercial fishermen to catch it for them. Ocean fresh New Jersey seafood is second to none, and isn’t the exclusive property of any one group.”
Greg DiDomenico, Executive Director of Garden State Seafood Association, says his group has been seeking a mutually satisfactory solution to the complaints of some recreational fishermen. “Empowered by their ongoing success in maintaining their monopoly of New Jersey’s striped bass stocks, recreational anglers seem to believe the New Jersey legislature will reserve any fishery they want for their sole catching—and eating—pleasure. Striped bass first, then the fish on these reefs. What will follow? This attitude ignores the fact that our seafood is a public resource. It belongs to all of us, and folks shouldn’t have to catch it themselves to enjoy it.”
The reefs, attracting fish and shellfish from surrounding areas, were created and are maintained with public funds, and have been used for commercial fishing since before reef-building programs officially started in the early 1980s.
The hearing on the bill, S- 336, is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 21 in Room 6 of the State House Annex.
Greg DiDomenico can be contacted at 609 675 0202 or via email at gregdi@voicenet.com.
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