Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

Great info thanks!

Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

One organization and only one will have the money and power.Multiple organizations fighting this will not work! Fishing clubs are great but when it comes to politics we need money.Money is power! This can only be done on a national level.This Sandy Hook thing is just the beginning!

Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

This might be a good opportunity to get this excitement pointed the right way and that is to stop draggers from killing off yet another species that used to frequent the rivers and bay. Why let it go to waste?

I think the proposed sanctuary is a great idea because the crabs are gone, the winter flounder are gone, and the fluke that spawn there are on their way out too. But it is not because of regulations inside the sanctuary. It is because of a lack of regulation outside the sanctuary.

Instead of "stopping", how about getting something positive going? We have everyone's attention and its a great opportunity to tell the real story - that the draggers are destroying the rivers and bay too. They are killing off the species that have occupied these waters every winter, spring, and summer when they migrate out to deep water.

I think this is a great opportunity to restore what we used to have - maybe oysters too. It would be a shame to let this opportunity to go to waste.

Bonus Points - Maybe this will stop the slaughter and waste of other species like whiting and ling. There are lots of tree huggers out there that have absolutely no idea that offshore lumps that used to rise off the bottom are getting flattened and that all the plants and animals are gone thanks to draggers. Now is a chance to do something about it by getting the message out past the choir.

Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

Well the RFA National and NJ Chapters are onboard opposing it so that's as good a place as any to support.

I may be naive but I don't think this is a money battle. I think it will be a political one. In order for an application to be even considered by NOAA (and BTW the application has not been submitted yet) they must have the support of local area Mayors and Councilmen etc.

You might remember some time ago someone in the NJDEP floated a trial balloon to socialize and get support for a NJ paid salt water fishing licence. Once the politicians saw the massive grass roots opposition to the proposal, they ran from it like a burning building.

I think/hope the case will be the same here.

If you are reading this and have relationships with Mayors or Council people in the area, you might want to voice your concern if they were to support the application and designation.

Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

Bingo

This is a political battle and you need to get the message past the choir. Having the same captains talking to the same govt people ain't doing it. You have to get the newspapers and teachers and soccer moms and millenials and all the people who never think about fish saying "stop the draggers".

Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

February 25, 2016, 4.30 pm, Shrewsbury Boro Hall, Two Rivers Council of Mayors (initial introduction)

He has been there done that already.

Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

Jerry, It would be nice to have local mayors and politicians on our side. The problem is we don't have enough of them and we need the most powerful ones. When Mcgreevy who was the mayor of my town in Woodbridge ran for Governor i approached him on some issues. I asked if he would get on board to stop the devastation of the bunker and he refused.Our current Governor could care less and will never help.The Sandy Hook issue might not need a bunch of money to solve the problem but all the other issues that need ''lobbyists'' do. This is where the money is needed the most. We are out gunned by the commercial fishing community big time.I believe this Sandy Hook thing will be crushed but we still have alot of work to do.Menendez should get on board.Perth Amboy is a port and it got him where he is today. Time for him to step up to the plate and go to bat for us!

Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

Maybe it's time to try and get corporate help. Look at the NRA. They are so powerful that there isn't a piece of gun legislation in the entire country that isn't vetted by their lawyers or killed outright. They have the backing of citizens concerned about their rights but, more importantly, they are heavily bankrolled by Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Glock etc etc

So, where is Penn, Shimano, Eagle Claw, Mustad, Berkley, Ande? Are the companies that we support getting some skin in the game? I'd like to know if they donate to the RFA.

Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

EXACTLY. These manufacturers stand much more to loose as fishing opportunities are taken away. Where is the $ from them?

Re: Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal
 

There you guys go spewing shit. It money it's politics. You guys are only hurting yourselves with that kind of crap. Do your part and let others do their part. Continuously looking to others to solve your problems is just plain silly. Do it yourself one by one. Talk to your friends, carry the petition. Make people aware. That's how it's done.