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NJ Senate Committee Approves Free Fishing Registry

TRENTON, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- Yesterday the Senate Environment and Energy Committee approved Senate Bill S1122, which requires the DEP to establish free recreational saltwater fishing registry.

The bill will now head to the full senate for a vote as early as Monday, December 13, 2011.

Voting in favor of the free registry were Senators: Gordon, Bateman, Beck, and Greenstein. Committee Chair, Senator Smith abstained for reasons of conscience stating that the costs of implementing the registry were not considered in the bill.

The vote brings New Jersey closer to meeting federal registry requirements established by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and avoiding a $15.00 federal registration fee. The salt water registry is a federally mandated data collection program intended to ensure sustainable fisheries based on the best available science. An Assembly version of the bill (A823) has already passed.

Last week the NJOA (CF) sent out a NMFS announcement that a $15 fee would be imposed on individual saltwater anglers as of January 1, 2011 for those not currently registered through the federal program or by coastal registrations from other states. Those having an active Highly Migratory Species permit are also exempt from needing to register.

Two representatives from NJ DEP requested the committee consider a $5.00 registry fee. NJOA (CF) Chairman, Anthony P. Mauro said, “For nearly a year we’ve been trying to get the DEP to give us a firm understanding of how they would comply with the federal mandate but today was the first glimpse of their position.”

Based on a consensus of its council the NJOA (CF) has been advocating a $2.00 registry fee to cover the costs of implementation. “As a practical matter, the council is not opposed to a free saltwater registry,” said Mauro. He continued, “Concerns center on whether the costs associated with implementing a saltwater registry will impact an already severely underfunded Bureau of Marine Fisheries (BMF). The devil is in the details. Bill sponsors Senator Beck and Senator Van Drew did not address this important aspect in their bill.”

In addition to saltwater anglers the NJOA (CF) council is composed of hunters and freshwater anglers. Mauro added, “These diverse interests force us to consider whether there are unexpected consequences to a free registry. We certainly don’t want to see the Division of Fish and Wildlife transfer funds from the sale of freshwater fishing licenses, hunting licenses, permits and stamps, and to free up monies for implementing a saltwater registry. In effect, this scenario would swap funds currently used for natural resource management to data management. If it were to happen it would be an unacceptable tradeoff.”

Pete Grimbilas, NJOA (CF) President, said, “An appropriation from the state to cover the costs would be one way to remedy our concerns and show respect for the nearly $2 billion in economic activity and 10,000 jobs generated by sportsmen and women. With a little creative thinking and use of technology perhaps the state can simply find a low cost method to fulfill registry obligations.”

The NJOA (CF) council will continue to work with other fishing groups and legislators to ensure a registry that improves the integrity of fisheries and benefits saltwater anglers.

Anthony P. Mauro, Sr.
Chairman,
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance: “We’ve got your back!”

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earths resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

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2010 Sport Fish Consumption Advisories Announced

West Virginia - -(FishNLand.com)- The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has updated the West Virginia Sport Fish Consumption Advisory for 2010. DHHR partners with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to develop consumption advisories for fish caught in West Virginia.

Fish consumption advisories are updated each year to help West Virginia anglers and their families make educated choices about eating the fish they catch.

The 2010 advisory is the result of reviewing recent fish tissue data and re-analysis of historical data. Improved data analysis methodology to isolate fish from specific water known to have higher concentrations of contaminants have resulted in less restrictive statewide advisories in some species and additional stricter advisories for specific waters. The only change to the current advisory is as follows: The advisory limiting consumption of channel catfish, all sizes, caught from the Monongahela River has been removed. The 2010 statewide consumption advisory for Channel Catfish should be followed.

The 2010 advisories can be reviewed at www.wvdhhr.org/fish, obtained from DHHR or found in the 2010 DNR fishing regulations.

Low levels of chemicals like PCBs, mercury, selenium and dioxin have been found in some fish from certain waters. An advisory is advice and should not be viewed as law or regulation. It is intended to help anglers and their families decide where to fish, what types of fish to eat, how to limit the amount and frequency of fish eaten and how to prepare and cook fish to reduce contaminants.

Women of childbearing age, children and people who regularly eat fish are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up over time. Individuals falling into one of these categories should be especially careful to follow the guidelines.

This advisory covers only sport fish caught in West Virginia waters. Safety regulations and advisories for fish in the marketplace are the responsibility of the United States Food and Drug Administration. More information can be found at

www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm110591.htm

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Fishing Industry Offers Enthusiastic Support

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. --(FishNLand.com)- The Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) Fishing Industry Outreach Program is focused on bolstering the relationship between the fishing industry and outdoor journalists. POMA’s efforts are being recognized and supported by the fishing community.

POMA Chairman Chris Chaffin spent several days networking with fishing industry executives at the recent American Sportfishing Association (ASA) Sportfishing Summit. Chaffin provided industry executives with information on POMA’s Fishing Industry Outreach Program and discussed ways POMA, ASA, which is a POMA Corporate Partner member, and industry leaders can work together to achieve mutually beneficial goals.

Chaffin also participated in the ASA’s Communications Committee meetings during which several suggestions on how POMA and ASA might work together were discussed.

“POMA’s program has drawn attention among industry executives,” Chaffin acknowledged, “But, POMA was most encouraged by the opportunity to determine what it can do to make its program even more valuable to the fishing industry.”

“ASA has been a long-standing member of POMA. We look forward to partnering with the organization to ensure the fishing story is told fairly and accurately and to ensure the future of this American Heritage sport.”

POMA’s Fishing Industry Outreach Committee, led by Kurt Beckstrom of North American Fisherman magazine, is also actively working on projects to bring more fishing industry media and industry professionals into the organization and to promote increased POMA member participation at ASA’s ICAST Show.

POMA is also the only outdoor journalists organization to show its support of the industry through ASA membership.

About:
The American Sportfishing Association is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. Sportfishing Summit Report

About:
The Professional Outdoor Media Association is a group of individual communicators and Corporate Partners who believe in, defend, support and promote the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting and traditional outdoor sports through writing, photography and other means. By doing so, members hope to educate the general public about these sports and encourage more participation in them. The organization serves the membership by helping members grow professionally, improve their skills, better their working environments and enhance their businesses.

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