Opportunities for Public Comment

[Gerry Zagorski]

I wanted to make some comments on this issue...

NJDEP is putting forward a proposal that would grant them more power concerning public access to our shore. This would give DEP the authority to restrict/prohibit access to areas considered as critical habitat not only to endangered species, but also to threatened or possibly threatened species. Several of the areas included not just shoreline access, but up to 300yds into the water. The Non Game and Endangered Species Council worked wit DEP on this, but refused to include the Marine Fisheries Council in a stakeholder meeting
Below find the document and the instructions on how to comment
Deadline 2/13/25
https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/reg...otection-rule/

A few things here I think are important to mention and expand on.

- I know a lot of people are tired of submitting comments on this sort of stuff because they are ignored. I understand how you feel but you can bet your last dollar that this commission in the NJDEP is doing everything in their power to get the Enviro Extremists to submit comments to stack the deck in their favor. Sit back on this one they definitely get their way.

- More proof of them stacking the deck is that the NJ Marine Fisheries Council was not included as a stake holder in these discussions. Why? Well because they didn't want to include any stake holders, even the ones within the state offices, that might have opposing view to theirs.

Please submit your comments here https://dep.nj.gov/rules/rule-comment-form/

They might go something along these lines:

As someone who fishes regularly and enjoys other recreational activities in our states waters, I'm concerned about expanding the NJDEPs ability to unilaterally close areas to public access. While I'm sensitive to protecting the habitat of endangered and threatened wildlife, I don't feel it's in the public's best interest to give card blanch authority to do so without checks and balances to include public input on each site you may consider closing before hand.

Thank you for considering my comments.

[bulletbob]

Hopefully, NJ doesn't go down the road California has gone down when it comes to fisheries/wildlife/environmental concerns. Time was Ca. was a fishing/hunting/outdoorsman/ paradise.. The residents there simply gave state regulators WAY too much power with their voting preferences over the decades. It can happen in NJ as well.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by bulletbob

Hopefully, NJ doesn't go down the road California has gone down when it comes to fisheries/wildlife/environmental concerns. Time was Ca. was a fishing/hunting/outdoorsman/ paradise.. The residents there simply gave state regulators WAY too much power with their voting preferences over the decades. It can happen in NJ as well.

It sure could… Take a look at this map of California Marine Protected Areas. No fishing no boating no nothing… https://cdfw.maps.arcgis.com/apps/we...747e2411e3439e

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

It sure could… Take a look at this map of California Marine Protected Areas. No fishing no boating no nothing… https://cdfw.maps.arcgis.com/apps/we...747e2411e3439e

FYI if you don’t know it .
Nj adopts it penal code from California after California gets through Supreme Court challenges .
They pave the way for every law imposed here .

So no matter how crazy they get , we are very possibly going to follow.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

FYI if you don’t know it .
Nj adopts it penal code from California after California gets through Supreme Court challenges .
They pave the way for every law imposed here .

So no matter how crazy they get , we are very possibly going to follow.

Sadly, NJ although a small state has several densely packed cities that call the shots politically.. The dependent class in the inner cities as well as young idealist college kids joins hands with leftist elite types and always outvote the blue collar and mid and upper middle class types that make up much of the state. They don't understand that these are NOT the JFK Democrats their parents used to vote for... NJ/NY /Ca. have the same problem.. The densely populated cities call the shots for the rest of the hard working people of these states. The needs of sportsment/fishermen/hunters/shooters etc are not even thought about.. I find that typically people that love and utilize fishing/hunting resources tend to be somewhat more socially and fiscally conservative , and in Democrat controlled states are always at a disadvantage politically. Same here- the wants/ needs/ desires of Tioga County NY residents are impossibly different from Manhattan residents.. Not even in the same universe... however, they have the numbers, and they win.. I KNOW NY will never wise up, but I hope NJ does, and rejects the stifling,oppressive micro management of its natural resources that our friends in Ca. are forced to endure... Because it will NOT end well for those that love to hunt, fish, boat, and shoot...