Dear Speaker Sheila Oliver,

JCAA is writing to request your support for Assembly and Senate Bills A1152/S221 which prohibits the use of traps on artificial reefs. This legislation has 50 co-sponsors in the Assembly. You need to tell Assemblyman Nelson Albano to post this bill for a vote in his committee or move the bill to another committee. Then we want you to post it for a full vote in the Assembly. We will not accept any compromises or amendments to this bill. This bill was passed by the full Senate on Monday, March 21st by a vote of 31 yes and 4 no. Now is the time for the Assembly to pass this legislation. JCAA wants this legislation passed before the end of this year. JCAA and the fishing clubs throughout New Jersey will be watching your actions on this matter and we will be judging you and the Assembly on its action or inaction. Our members and 800,000 New Jersey anglers are in support of this issue. Your action will matter to us in the upcoming election.

New Jersey’s artificial reef system is one of the nation’s most successful reef building programs. Though it occupied just 0.3 percent of the sea floor off New Jersey’s coast, a 2000 study by the state’s Division of Fish and Wildlife revealed that 20 percent of New Jersey’s recreationally landed fish come from the state’s 15 reefs. As more and more severe fisheries restrictions are placed on the more than 800,000 New Jersey anglers and the more than 500,000 out-of-state anglers who fish New Jersey’s waters, the reef sites have become even more important to the state’s recreational anglers. In the case of summer flounder, aka fluke, the reefs are the best opportunity for most recreational anglers who target fluke to catch one that meets the new minimum size of 18 inches.

This fishing effort provides a tremendous trickle-down economic effect in both shore and inland communities, as these anglers support marinas, boat liveries, bait and tackle stores, fuel stations, restaurants, convenience stores, sporting goods stores, toll highways, hotels/motels, real estate rentals, etc. These considerations add $4 billion to New Jersey’s economy, $150,000 in sales taxes, and provide for 37,000 jobs.

At issue here is the very legality of the use of traps on the artificial reef sites. According to the state-approved 2005 Artificial Reef Plan, the intent of the reef sites is for “hook-and-line” angling activities. Continuing to allow fixed gear on the reefs is in complete disregard for this Department of Environmental Protection-approved measure.

Furthermore, the continuingly increasing use of fixed gear for commercial fishing purposes on New Jersey’s reef system may directly violate federal law. For more than 20 years, the administration of the reef program has been funded by Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish (Wallop-Breaux) Restoration Funds. These funds are derived from an excise tax on recreational fishing purchases, and as a “user pay, user benefit” program, federal law requires that these funds be used to benefit recreational fisheries. Under 50 CRF 80.14 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Assistance Toolkit, Part 521, Section 2.9 lists ineligible activities for the use of these funds, with paragraph C specifically disallowing their use for “Providing services or property of material value to individuals or groups for commercial purposes or to benefit such individuals or groups.” Violation of these rules is subject to repayment of funds.

The majority of states that have artificial reef programs, including New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, have identified traps as incompatible with their reef programs and no longer allow traps on their reefs. Furthermore, this action has been supported federally by classifying reefs in federal waters for a number of those states as Special Management Zones (SMZs), restricting the use of traps on those sites.

The issues are clear and the precedent has been set: Traps are not compatible with the purpose or the laws governing New Jersey’s artificial reefs. JCAA looks forward to your support in enforcing this mandate and voting for Bill S221and A1152. If you have any questions, please contact our legislative chairman, Tom Fote, at 732-270-9102 or tfote@jcaa.org.

Sincerely,
<YOUR NAME>

Dear _____ (Your Assemblyman or woman):

We are asking for to join 50 of your colleagues and co-sponsor A1152 without amendments. The attached letter to Assembly Speaker Oliver states the reasons this bill is crucial to the recreational fishing community. We are asking you to let Speaker Oliver know that you support this legislation and want it voted on in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee or moved to another committee. Then you want Speaker Oliver to post it for a vote by the entire Assembly. We are asking you to also contact Assemblyman Albano, Chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee to request his immediate action to post this bill. Jersey Coast Anglers Association, our member clubs and the 800,000 recreational anglers want this legislation passed before the summer recess. Since the Senate has passed this bill in three sessions and the Assembly has refused to post this bill for a vote, we clearly know that the problem is in the Assembly. We will be watching and hold you accountable for your action or inaction.

Sincerely,
<YOUR NAME>