Not Good News

Here's the current boating regulations for New Jersey announced April 3 by Governor Murphy.

April 3, 2020
Consistent with Governor Murphy's orders that all New Jerseyans practice social distancing in order to limit the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), anglers must fish alone or with immediate family members and cannot fish in groups of any size (no matter how small), either on land or by boat. A minimum six-foot social distance between anglers must be maintained at all times. To disperse the fish and to help maintain social distancing among anglers, trout were released early and the NJ Fish and Game Council opened trout stocked waters for catch and release only for trout, from April 1 through April 10. Season, size, and creel limits for all other species apply, as well as any gear restrictions.

So again tell me how any commercial operator is sailing currently in NJ with more than just the Captain or immediate family members which you know is not the case. My heart goes out to the commercial sector but at the same time my heart goes out to the recreational sector and every business being decimated by this virus not to mention the risk of contagion commercial operators pose by having their own set of rules. Not to mention the fact their markets have been destroyed so a lot of their catch is being wasted. Question is how is the commercial sectors risk / reward model with this virus any different then the recreational risk reward model. Both impact the economy, both require social interaction so why would one sector have different guidelines as it relates to the health crisis and safety or lock down precautions. They're potential carriers of the infection no different than anyone else. I understand the exception made for essential workers, commercial operators are not essential workers even more so when you consider their markets have been destroyed both domestic and internationally.