Quote:
Originally Posted by sonic
Captain Sal,
You probably are aware of this...there is supposed to be a marine conservation officer monitoring these guys. If you have any pics you could report them although I guess they have a permit to net the bunker. Just disturbing, obviously
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FYI-I started this Thread.
While I saw watching these boats, I called the USCG Offices in Bayonne, Staten Island and The Battery. No one was able to give me info about legality etc. Another call to the NJ State Police Marine Unit was no help either. They suggested I contact NOAA Enforcement. I was disappointed because I figured...."they can check for short fluke but not a few boats wiping out tons of bunker in a few hours".
When I got home I called the NJDEP Fish & Game Enforcement Unit in Nacote Creek, Port Republic, NJ regarding bunker purse seining boats. I was told it is legal for purse seiners to operate from 0.6 to 3.0 miles from shore in NJ. The woman told me that the purse seiners were required to report to the Nacote Creek Office the locations where they plan to fish each day. She informed me that they had an Enforcement Officer who was expected to be in that area to observe this activity.
I told her it made me sick to watch these guys take all the bait that just arrived in the Bay. She said she understood but it's legal.
