Pots to be limited

[finchaser]

NJDEP Enacts Long Awaited Artificial Reef Regulations to Limit Pots and Traps in State Waters to Resolve Gear Conflicts Trenton, NJ - The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced today the enactment of regulations regarding the use of pots on the Sandy Hook and Axel J. Carlson Jr. reefs. Those regulations which were published in Monday's state register create one full access zone within the existing Sandy Hook reef and two full access zones within the Axel Carlson reef. Within the full access zones, areas described as historical commercial fishing grounds, limited amounts of pots and/or traps can be set. The remaining area of the two reefs will be allowed to be access with hook and line and/or spear gear only. This regulation only applies to the two reefs which are located within New Jersey state waters and does not apply to the thirteen other artificial reef sites in federal waters. "This is clearly a step in the right direction in addressing the ongoing gear conflicts between hook and line anglers by prohibiting pots and traps on the majority of the Sandy Hook and Axel Carlson Reefs ," explained Jim Donofrio Executive Director of the RFA. "Obviously the next step in this process would be to seek similar regulations for the 13 reefs in federal waters by granting special management zone status through the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council." Special Management Zone status is a process through the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) which allows a state to impose regulations approved by the Council beyond the state's jurisdiction boundary of 3 miles. Since 13 of 15 New Jersey's permitted reefs are located in federal waters, the state will need to pursue special management zone status through the Council to address gear conflicts on those reefs. Delaware recently received special management zone protect for its reefs, the process took roughly 4 years. While the implementation of these measures should reduce gear conflicts on the two artificial reefs in state waters a big question remains about restoring the ability of NJDEP to use Sportfish Restoration Funds for reef building efforts. NJ DEP was prohibited by the US Fish and Wildlife Service from using federal money for reef building due to the on-going gear conflicts. The USFWS suspended New Jersey's authority to use Sportfish Restoration Funds for the artificial reefs program in 2011 citing the commercial/recreational gear conflicts. According to documents secured through a Freedom of Information Act request, this action was specifically requested by a New Jersey outdoor association and a reef association. Documents revel that they requested New Jersey funding be suspend as a means of gaining political leverage. "It was unfortunate to learn that groups within New Jersey actively lobbied the federal government to suspend New Jersey's ability to use Sportfish Restoration Funds to continue artificial reef building while the issue was being resolved. The same groups then refused to support a proposal that would have resolved this issue when introduced by the 1st district delegation 4 years ago," continued Donofrio. "Anglers in New Jersey were significantly disadvantaged by this tactic. With NJDEP's action today, fisherman can only hope these groups lobby the USFWS to restore our funding for all of New Jersey's reefs as hard as they did to have it taken away." #### 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.

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[cowherder]

I don't fish boats that much. Is this about the pots off the reefs that were in the press a few years ago?