I have some tentative numbers for you guys to help put it into perspective...
(please be aware that all these numbers are mere estimates to help people understand the magnitude. Some assumptions were made in these calculations and I'm not looking for anyone to take these as Gospel. Do your own research and learn about this. Anyone who has more accurate numbers is welcome to post theirs, and I will be glad to edit mine)
It was reported that in the last few days, approx 31 million lbs of bunker were netted.
That's
31 million pounds.
Just for the sake of argument, assume that each bunker boat (there were 8) split the take, each bunker weighed 1lb, and the netters were paid .05c/lb for each bunker. Again, I know I'm simplifying this and there may be inaccuracies in these calculations. I'm just trying to illustrate a point....
31million x .05c/lb = approx $1.55 million in value at the wholesale level.
If you distribute this "total" among the approx 8 boats, that gives them gross revenue of approx $187k/vessel, all for a few day's work.
Again, even if these numbers are not completely accurate, consider their cost of doing business in the state of NJ
1. Cost for bunker permit for each boat, $70-500/boat, according to statute.
2. Cost of fuel to come down to NJ.
3. Cost of labor and lodging for crewmates.
4. Cost of spotter planes.
Probably less than $100 k for all those out of state boats to be here, and
less than $5600 in permit fees to the state of NJ.
So...
for the measly price of less than $5600 in yearly permit fees,,, (for all of the 8 boats)
these boats get carte blanche to take as many bunker as they can, with as many visits as they can manage, to NJ.
Meanwhile, we as a state:
1. Lose revenue from fishermen who aren't fishing, as there are now less striped bass, with less bunker around.
2. The bass don't have a reason to stick around, and many are now North of us, so we have an opportunity loss there.
3. Loss of revenue - to marinas, gas stations, delis, tackle shops, charter captains, who will make a percentage less this year than they did last year...
All because we allow other states to come in and net our bunker.
As I said, some may find fault with some of the points I made here. I threw this together in a hurry, I'm not claiming 100% accuracy.
However, I do claim that not having these bunker for our NJ recreational fishermen represents a huge economic loss to many ancillary parties.
That's the part I would like you fishermen and fisherwomen to key in on, and the part where you should be mad as hell.