Petition to Oppose Marine Sanctuary Designation

[Gerry Zagorski]

Please considering signing and sharing this petition to oppose any applications that may be submitted to designate The Sandy Hook and Twin Rivers areas as a Federal Marine Sanctuary.

Summary of the reasons we are in opposition:
- This could be a very slippery slope. Although on the surface the designation seems like it could provide some benefits to our area, other areas like Florida and California which thought the same, are now being subjected to certain areas being closed to fishing.
- We don't want or need federal involvement or over site. Local waters should be managed by state and local people to ensure our local interests are represented and protected.
- Bottom line is the risk out weighs the potential benefits

https://www.change.org/p/sanctuary-nominations-noaa-gov-oppose-sandy-hook-bay-and-twin-rivers-marine-sanctuary-designation?recruiter=277674041&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive

Click on the Blue F at the top of this page to share on Facebook, click on the envelope to pass along via email.

Updates:
- We have 849 signatures online so far and I think the NJRFA has a similar amount they got at the Somerset show.
- To the best of my knowledge the application has not been submitted yet but we believe it still might be in spite of our opposition so we need to continue to follow this closely and not let up
- A meeting on the subject that was to be held at Bahrs by the group advocating the designation was canceled by Bahrs management. Apparently they did not want a mob scene.. Most believe future meeting by this group will be held in private to avoid general public opposition and comment.
- If any of you know the local Mayors, Councilmen, Commerce or Rotary groups in the immediate area, its probably a good idea to reach out to them personally and let them know of our opposition and the reasoning, since I'm sure they are or will be approached by the group who supports the designation.
- JCAA and NJOA have also stated they are opposed to the designation.

[shrimpman steve]

Done.

[BugEye Chris]

Done

[Striper80]

Done

[chicago bill]

signed

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks everyone. 65 and counting signed this online petition so far.

There are also printed petitions at the RFA booth in the Somerset show for you to sign.

If you have a place of business, boat, store etc. Please print out this petition from the NJ Chapter of the RFA and have it on hand for people to sign.
http://www.dneconsulting.com/DraftPetition.pdf

[Man Workin]

Done

[dakota560]

Done Gerry thanks for getting the ball rolling! Federal government is without doubt the most poorly run organization on the planet yet they keep spending our tax dollars like drunken sailors and taking on more. This is all about someone trying to make a name for himself or fulfilling a personal agenda and using a completely broken and dysfunctional system to carry that out.

[JBird]

Done. This is what I was talking about with my last thread. Way to go, Gerry!

Let's keep the pressure on!

[njdiver]

Petition URL is now on eight other sites!

[Fat fish stick]

131 and counting. i shared on facebook too

[bulletbob]

done

[scooter1010]

Signed and shared

[Capt John]

You've got my vote. Does anyone know who the hell is this guy and who's funding this ridiculous idea?

[Sullivan]

Done

[SaltLife1980]

Signed

[KevinH]

Signed and shared. Thanks for starting this

[NoLimit]

You've got my vote. Does anyone know who the hell is this guy and who's funding this ridiculous idea?

It doesnt take money to do what Rik is doing. He is a local professional engineer and he loves old boats and he loves the area. I think the biggest problem he doesnt know what has happened under the water like the rest of us.

[Topeka Boy]

Done:D

[arat]

Signed

[Bucktail Bob]

Signed

[thehammer]

Done

[Relentless Charters]

Signed and appreciate the efforts in putting the petition together, will share
on the Stelwagen Bank Charter Boat FB Page.

[SplitShot]

signed

[tjd24]

Done.

[makosnax]

Signed and shared on FB

[FASTEDDIE29]

done

[stevelikes2fish]

signed

[Ry609]

Signed yesterday at RFA booth!

[Pilot2550]

Done. Thanks for coordination!

[lenny bent rod]

Done

[GDubya07]

Done

[MVP]

Signed

[Gerry Zagorski]

479 and counting... Thinking we should be able to reach 1000.

[The Earl]

Done

[joerosa1]

Done

[Canyonfish]

Done.. and forwarded to 5 others ......

[PAFireGuy]

Done

[AHFluker]

Signed

[Gerry Zagorski]

505 people signed so far..... Lets keep this going!!

[Detour66]

Done !!!

[Scott Free]

Done

[River Rat]

Done, Thanks for posting Gerry

[shbeachbum]

Signed

[Dupes]

Signed at the show.

[Capt. Lou]

Done , hopefully everyone gets on board this one !

[Andrushkin33]

Done.

Andre

[bunker dunker]

done

[racerjk31]

Done

[MattRedShirt]

Petition signed. Thanks for making us aware.

[Skolmann]

Done

[Rich]

Done

[RAMMFISH66]

Signed it and DONE!!!!

[linden nj]

Done!!!!!

[O'Man]

Signed, and made a comment. Thanks for setting it up. Will get some family members to sign it too.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks for all the support here guys. Here is an article Al Ristori wrote on the subject for NJ.com http://www.nj.com/shore/blogs/fishin...rt_river_index

As usual, Al is spot on and does a great job summarizing the reasons we can't let this happen.

Jersey Shore Fishing: Sandy Hook Bay Sanctuary sparks strong opposition
Print Email
Al Ristori By Al Ristori
on March 24, 2016 at 5:06 PM, updated March 24, 2016 at 7:17 PM

Anglers are up in arms about the proposal by the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association to seek a Sandy Hook Bay National Marine Sanctuary designation that would encompass not only that Bay but also the rivers flowing into it plus a portion of Raritan Bay.

There was overwhelming opposition to that proposal at last week's meeting in the Red Bank Library, which wasn't large enough to hold the crowd that arrived. Rik Van Hammen seemed to be sincere as he spoke about his vision, but never presented any problem that would justify turning over control of the area to the federal government.

On the other hand, anglers in Florida and California can testify why this is the last thing we would want to do. The April issue of Salt Water Sportsman states that proposals there would eliminate fishing in up to 30 percent of the reefs covered, and may be followed up by making the entire southeast Florida reef track a National Marine Sanctuary. The magazine notes that "While anglers have supported a number of spawning-season area closures throughout the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, most consider MPAs a last resort only imperative for the survival or restoration of a fishery. The Coastal Conservation Association calls the proposed creation of a marine sanctuary an unnecessary delegation o a federal agency of a state's authority over its waters. Florida has an excellent record of managing its fisheries."

The same applies to New Jersey. Our fisheries are controlled by the state in cooperation with regulations developed for migratory species by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. No one at the meeting was complaining about the quality of the fisheries or management by the state -- and if they aren't satisfied there's plenty of opportunity to seek change on the state level.

It was only three years ago that President Obama closed the national parks in a battle with Congress over the national debt. That just didn't involve facilities, but also the public's right to use lands that required no facilities, as money was found to pay rangers to keep anglers from walking the beach at Sandy Hook. At least the waters weren't involved up here, but charter captains in the Florida Keys, along with the rest of the public, weren't allowed to fish their traditional waters in Everglades National Park. Giving up state control to the federal government for no apparent benefit makes no sense at all.

[FishNDoc]

Done

[Salt]

Done

[Rubberhead]

Done

[Rippnlips]

DONE. Roy thanks for the reminder.:D now get the rod fixed

[Grateful Dad]

Done. Thanks to Gerry for starting the petition.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Please considering signing and sharing this petition to oppose any applications that may be submitted to designate The Sandy Hook and Twin Rivers areas as a Federal Marine Sanctuary.

Summary of the reasons we are in opposition:
- This could be a very slippery slope. Although on the surface the designation seems like it could provide some benefits to our area, other areas like Florida and California which thought the same, are now being subjected to certain areas being closed to fishing.
- We don't want or need federal involvement or over site. Local waters should be managed by state and local people to ensure our local interests are represented and protected.
- Bottom line is the risk out weighs the potential benefits

https://www.change.org/p/sanctuary-nominations-noaa-gov-oppose-sandy-hook-bay-and-twin-rivers-marine-sanctuary-designation?recruiter=277674041&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive

Click on the Blue F at the top of this page to share on Facebook, click on the envelope to pass along via email.

Updates:
- We have 763 signatures online so far and I think the NJRFA has a similar amount they got at the Somerset show.
- To the best of my knowledge the application has not been submitted yet but we believe it still might be in spite of our opposition so we need to continue to follow this closely and not let up
- A meeting on the subject that was to be held at Bahrs by the group advocating the designation was canceled by Bahrs management. Apparently they did not want a mob scene.. Most believe future meeting by this group will be held in private to avoid general public opposition and comment.
- If any of you know the local Mayors, Councilmen, Commerce or Rotary groups in the immediate area, its probably a good idea to reach out to them personally and let them know of our opposition and the reasoning, since I'm sure they are or will be approached by the group who supports the designation.
- JCAA and NJOA have also stated they are opposed to the designation.

Done

[Gerry Zagorski]

Just crossed the 800 mark... The goal is 1000 so lets keep this going.

[Ryelof]

done