Assembly resolution no. 90 State of new jersey 216th legislature
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- District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean) SYNOPSIS
- An Assembly Resolution
- Whereas
- Be It Resolved
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ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 90 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 216th LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 27, 2014 Sponsored by: Assemblywoman DIANNE C. GOVE District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean) Assemblyman BRIAN E. RUMPF District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean) SYNOPSIS Urges Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to adopt Options I and II, and reject Option III, of proposed summer flounder management program. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. 
An Assembly Resolution urging the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to adopt Options I and II, and reject Option III, of the proposed summer flounder management program. Whereas, Summer flounder are among the most sought after commercial and recreational fish along the Atlantic Coast and, in particular, New Jersey; and Whereas, Summer flounder fisheries are managed cooperatively by the states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; and Whereas, Together, these managing entities are responsible for developing summer flounder fishery regulations, as part of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan; and Whereas, The plan seeks to ensure the protection and maintenance of the summer flounder resource, primarily through harvest limits, which are divided between commercial and recreational fisheries in each state; and Whereas, Since 2001, the plan has allowed for, and the managing entities have utilized, a state-by-state allocation formula for recreational fishing, based on estimates of state recreational landings in 1998, to establish individual state harvest limits; and Whereas, Under the plan, each state has flexibility to devise conservation equivalent management measures, including minimum fish size limits, bag limits, and seasons, to reach its target harvest limit; and Whereas, States are also permitted to voluntarily combine their harvest limits with other states to create a region, which can mitigate the potential disproportionate impacts resulting from coast-wide measures; and Whereas, Nevertheless, there is a growing concern among some states that the regulations set forth under the plan are not providing recreational fishermen along the coast with equitable access to the summer flounder fishery; and Whereas, Consequently, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission proposed Draft Addendum XXV to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, which sets out three options to address these concerns; and Whereas, Option I maintains the status quo by allowing states to continue to implement conservation equivalent management measures, and voluntarily combine into regions; and Whereas, Option II is designed to be used in conjunction with Option I, and allows states to distribute their under-utilized fish to any other state or region, upon request; and Whereas, Option III would impose mandatory regionalization on the states, and force New Jersey to combine its harvest limit with either Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York, or just Connecticut and New York; and Whereas, Although Draft Addendum XXV states that regionalization “would allow states the flexibility to mitigate potential disproportionate impacts” and “pursue more equitable harvest opportunities,” it does not explain what those specific impacts are, or how regionalization is the most effective and fair method for improving management; and Whereas, To date, there has been no formal explanation as to why regionalization is the best response; and Whereas, Imposing mandatory regionalization, while perhaps addressing the concerns of some states, would have the undue effect of reducing New Jersey’s and other states’ harvest limits, thus hurting fishermen all along the Atlantic Coast; and Whereas, Careful consideration and analysis, and input from all interested parties, is necessary before any action to adopt a regionalization plan is taken; and Whereas, The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission plans to consider these options very soon, leaving interested parties with little or no time to consider this possible radical departure from current management measures; and Whereas, The Jersey Coast Anglers Association, the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, which collectively represent 100,000 saltwater fishermen throughout the State of New Jersey, strongly support Options I and II and strongly oppose Option III; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. This House respectfully urges the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to adopt Options I and II, and reject Option III, of the proposed management program for summer flounder in Draft Addendum XXV to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. 2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. STATEMENT This resolution respectfully urges the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (commission) to adopt Options I and II, and reject Option III, of the proposed management program for summer flounder in Draft Addendum XXV to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. The draft addendum, which aims to address some states’ concerns about inequitable access to the summer flounder fishery, sets out three options. Option I would maintain the status quo by allowing states to continue to implement conservation equivalent management measures, including fish size, bag, and season limits, and voluntarily combine with other states into regions. Option II is designed to be used in conjunction with Option I, and allows states to distribute their under-utilized fish to any other state or region, upon request. Option III would impose mandatory regionalization on the states, and, in effect, force New Jersey to combine its harvest limit with several other states. Draft Addendum XXV fails to explain why mandatory regionalization is the best response to inequities in the summer flounder fishery. Indeed, regionalization would have the undue effect of reducing New Jersey’s and other states’ harvest limits, thus hurting fishermen all along the Atlantic Coast. Careful consideration and analysis, and input from all interested parties, is necessary before any action to adopt a regionalization plan is taken. For these reasons, the commission is urged to maintain the status quo and adopt Options I and II of the proposed management program for summer flounder, and reject Option III. The Jersey Coast Anglers Association, the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, which collectively represent 100,000 saltwater fishermen throughout the State, endorse this position. Directory: 20142015 20142015 -> Assembly, No. 3901 state of new jersey 216th legislature 20142015 -> All times Eastern (Updated 1/12/15) 20142015 -> Assembly resolution no. 186 State of new jersey 216th legislature 20142015 -> Assembly, No. 3809 state of new jersey 216th legislature 20142015 -> Senate, No. 2351 state of new jersey 216th legislature 20142015 -> Assembly, No. 4835 state of new jersey 216th legislature 20142015 -> Assembly resolution no. 108 State of new jersey 216th legislature 20142015 -> State of new jersey 20142015 -> Senate resolution no. 53 State of new jersey 216th legislature 20142015 -> Assembly, No. 2791 state of new jersey 216th legislature Download 21.81 Kb. Share with your friends:
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