NJ Out of Compliance with the Interstate FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks

[stripermania]

NJ Out of Compliance with the Interstate FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks

02-16 13:58. New Jersey Fishing News
ASMFC Finds New Jersey Out of Compliance with the Interstate FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks Noncompliance Finding Forwarded to the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior
Last week at its Winter Meeting, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission found the State of New Jersey out of compliance with the mandatory management measures contained in the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The Commission has notified the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior of its finding. This action was taken pursuant to the provisions of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act of 1993.

The State of New Jersey has not implemented the regulations of the Interstate FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The implementation of these regulations is necessary to rebuild depleted shark stocks, ensure sustainable harvest of others, and provide protection for sharks in state nursing and pupping grounds. The Technical Committee has identified Delaware Bay as one of the most important nursing grounds for depleted sandbar sharks on the Atlantic Coast. Included in the 22 commercial and recreational regulations in the FMP is a seasonal closure from Virginia north through New Jersey to protect pupping sandbar sharks.
In order to come back into compliance the State of New Jersey must implement all measures contained in the FMP.

Upon notification by the Commission, the Secretary of Commerce has 30 days to review the recommendation and determine appropriate action, which may include a federal moratorium on fishing for all 40 species of coastal sharks managed under the FMP in New Jersey's state waters. For more information, please contact Robert Beal, Director, Interstate Fisheries Management Program, at (202) 289-6400.

http://www.fishingrssfeeds.com/node/8482

[DarkSkies]

Another example why the RFA needs your contributions. Sent in by Finchaser. Some recent progress....

RFA-NJ SAYS THE SHARK SEASON WILL GO ON!

Jersey Shark Tourney Organizers Will Get Back To Work

March 19, 2010 - The Atlantic City Press today reported that New Jersey shark fishermen have gotten a reprieve from the federal government with news that the state will be given more time to conform to management measures. The decision means that New Jersey's shark season can commence as normal for those who specifically target mako, thresher and blue sharks, which is exceptional news for New Jersey's struggling recreational fishing industry.
AC Press correspondent Rich Degener reported the state Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) appeal to NOAA - the parent agency of the National Marine Fisheries Service - on behalf of New Jersey's tourism industry to keep the shark fishery open was met with positive response. New Jersey had been facing a complete moratorium on shark fishing this year for being out of compliance with 22 rules governing 40 species of coastal sharks, which was essentially due to a lapse in paperwork processing through Trenton.
Amy Cradic, assistant DEP commissioner of natural and historic resources, told the Press that NOAA has given the state until July 30 to comply. She said the DEP has devised a plan to come into compliance by July 19. The plan includes filing the new rules with the Office of Administrative Law, publishing them in the New Jersey Register, hosting a public comment period and other measures.

"Overall it's good news. They accepted our action plan to come into compliance and will not impose a moratorium as long as we do it on time," Cradic said. According to the DEP, as long as all the planned deadlines for public comment and input are met, the federal fisheries service has indicated that New Jersey will not face a moratorium and the shark season can go on.
"This is great news for our coastal fishermen, particularly given the fact that the New Jersey's shark season historically gets underway just over two months from now," said Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA). "We have thresher sharks arriving as early as May for our inshore guys and a whole host of offshore mako tournaments coming up in June and July, so the DEP has come through for our fishermen on this one," Donofrio said.
In February, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) issued a noncompliance finding for New Jersey's coastal sharks management plan which was forwarded to the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior for review. According to the RFA, the state DEP, with the support and assistance of the state Marine Fisheries Council, prepared a Marine Fisheries Regulatory Package for 2007 which had taken three years to get through the review process and was ultimately stalled on former Governor Jon Corzine's desk.
"We've been in contact with our friends at NOAA for the past 2-1/2 months in an effort to brief them on our serious administrative issues back here at home in New Jersey," Donofrio said, adding "Ever since Governor Christie has taken office, Deputy Commissioner Cradic has done a tremendous job in getting the shark portion of the regulatory package through the proper state channels and up to the folks at the federal level."
"I am pleased that NOAA's interactions with Amy Cradic and other New Jersey officials will allow the shark fishing season to open as planned," said Andrew Winer, NOAA's Director of External Affairs. "We understand that this is an important issue for anglers and tackle shops in New Jersey, and NOAA is committed to improving its relationship with the recreational fishing community by working in cooperation with state officials and organizations such as RFA."

Because of former Governor Corzine's failure to act on the package during his time in office, New Jersey had faced the very real threat of facing a damaging shutdown of its shark fishery. Expedited approval of the Marine Fisheries Regulatory Package was placed in Governor Christie's office, where the shark plan was pulled from the entire package for an emergency exemption.
"The RFA-NJ Chapter sent a letter to Gov. Christie shortly after he assumed office advising him of the need to respond to this issue," said state chapter Chairman Capt. Adam Nowalsky last month, explaining how damaging such a closure would be to the Jersey Shore economy "because of its impact on a number of very high profile shark tournaments that are held up and down New Jersey's coast in the early summer -- tournaments that help generate income for New Jersey's fishing industry."

The RFA and the RFA-NJ are grateful to the efforts of the Christie Administration and federal officials at NOAA for helping expedite the compliance efforts on behalf of New Jersey's saltwater fishermen.


To learn more about the RFA-NJ chapter and to get involved in NJ saltwater fishing issues, visit www.rfanj.org.

About Recreational Fishing Alliance

The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org.