Kean: Ban
commercial pots from reefs
Senator says reefs
should be left for recs only
July 12, 2008 |
by Daniel Nee
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R
ecreational anglers and divers gathered at
Belmar’s Taylor Pavilion on Tuesday, June 24, to
rally for the passage of the long-awaited “Pots
off the Reefs” bill sponsored by Senator Sean T.
Kean and Assemblyman Dave Rible [both R-11].
The bill is also being sponsored by Senators
John Adler, Jeff Van Drew and Andrew Ciesla in
the Senate and Assembly members Mary Pat
Angelini, Nelson Albano, David Wolfe, James
Holzapfel, Patrick Diegnan, Allison Littell
McHose, Louis Greenwald and Scott Rumana in the
State Assembly.
Senator Kean’s legislation would would ban
commercial fishing on the state’s two artificial
reefs — the Axel Carlson and Shark River reefs —
and seek approval from federal authorities to
impose the ban on federal reefs off New Jersey,
including the Sea Girt, Sandy Hook and Barnegat
North and South reefs, all located in waters off
Ocean and Monmouth counties. Recreational
anglers contend the reefs were funded by
donations from recreational anglers as well as a
tax on hook-and-line fishing equipment
statewide.
The reefs were at least partially built through
tax revenue generated under the Wallop Breaux
Amendment to the state Sport Fish Restoration
Act, which imposed a tariff on sportfishing
equipment, outboard engines and pleasure boats.
In recent years, commercial lobster and fish
pots and traps have become the bane of
recreational anglers who lose equipment,
including rigs and anchors, on the submerged
pots. Some experts say that placing pots on
reefs damages the habitat the reefs are built to
sustain.
“It’s like if you were to build a playground for
kids but the adults end up having so much fun on
it that it doesn’t exist for the kids anymore,”
said Anthony P. Mauro, chairman of the New
Jersey Outdoor Alliance, one of the groups
lobbying for the bill’s passage.
“It’s not fair and it’s not right,” said Capt.
Pete Grimbilas, a spokesman for Reef Rescue, a
grass roots group that supports the bill. “The
artificial reefs cover 0.3 percent of New
Jersey’s ocean bottom and it’s only 20 or 30
potters and trappers that are dominating the
reefs.”
Senator Kean, who represents coastal communities
in Monmouth County, has proposed the bill for
the second time, after it expired without being
sent for a full vote in last year’s legislative
session.
“For too long commercial fisherman have made it
nearly impossible for recreational anglers to
fish artificial reefs,” Sen. Kean said. “If the
Legislature does not act quickly, recreational
fisherman will face another summer of having
little or no access to New Jersey’s artificial
reefs.”
Legislators and groups supporting the bill hope
the Senate and Assembly will vote on the bill
when the legislature’s summer recess ends in
September. The Corzine administration has yet to
take an official stand on the issue.
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