Pots Off the Reefs Hearinbg 1-17-13

[Angler Paul]

Here is something I received from Reef Rescue that gives a little more detail than other posts I read. I will be there on behalf of the Berkeley Striper Club and the Jersey Coast Anglers Association. I hope to see some of you guys there too.

Paul Haertel
2nd VP JCAA

WANT COMMERCIAL GEAR OFF OUR REEFS?
SHOULDN’T REEFS BE FOR HOOK, LINE AND SPEAR ONLY?
DO YOU WANT NJ’s REEF PROGRAM BACK?
IF YOU DO ……………. YOU NEED TO ATTEND THE MAFMC
PUBLIC HEARING TOMORROW NIGHT!
The purpose of the hearing is to collect comments from New Jersey fishermen, recreational and commercial, on whether Delaware should be granted Special Management Zone (SMZ) status on their offshore reefs.
Why is this meeting so important to New Jersey anglers? Simple: if Delaware receives SMZ status there is a strong possibility that New Jersey will be granted the same. So, by supporting Delaware at tomorrow night’s meeting, you are fighting for New Jersey’s quest for SMZ status!
Background: Delaware petitioned the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC) to designate five ocean artificial reef sites as SMZs in June of 2011.
The petition was made to reduce gear conflicts between recreational fishermen and pot/trap gear at those sites. If these gear conflicts continue, Delaware will likely lose its federal funding (USFW Sport Fish Restoration Funds) for its artificial reef program in federal waters (beyond 3 miles from shore). These funds are effectively Delaware’s only source of funding for its artificial reef building program.
The MAFMCouncil has been evaluating Delaware’s SMZ request and has developed a number of options to address this issue. The options primarily consist of limiting the gear used on the SMZs, for all or part of the year. The Council is seeking public comment on the proposed options (see attached).
Because New Jersey’s state government ignored the conflicts on their ocean reefs, federal funding was lost in 2012. NJ’s reef program is presently non-existent!
But, federal funding can be restored to New Jersey if recreational fishermen speak out tomorrow night.
PLEASE ATTEND! BEFORE NJ’s REEF PROGRAM IS GONE FOR GOOD!
January 17, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Ocean County Administration Building,
101 Hooper Avenue, Room 119, Toms River, NJ
Please testify in favor of 2a, 3b, 4b, 5c)

2a. Designate reef sites 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 as SMZ (i.e., all five reef sites)

3b. Restrict fishing activities in designated SMZ sites to hook & line and spear fishing gear only.

4b. Designate SMZs year round

5c. 500 meter buffer (equivalent to 0.25 nautical miles)