RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

RFA National Headquarters and the RFA New Jersey Chapter have been working hard to put the sanctuary proposal to a well deserved death.

We have had high level meetings with elected officials and have not found one who supports the sanctuary proposal. We are rolling out a process to obtain resolutions in opposition to the sanctuary designation from the 17 municipalities affected, as well as Monmouth County.

The RFA is working with local environmental groups to partner with them on water quality issues. After all, we do want clean water.

The NJ Chapter board members are volunteers. But National HQ has full-time paid employees. The RFA needs your financial support. If you are not an RFA member, please go to the RFA website and join - JoinRFA.org. If you are already a member, get your buddies to join. And member or not, sign up for the cod trip April 30th. You can find that on this board.

The individual proposing the sanctuary has an October target date for filing with the Federal Government. We need to stop it before then.

Jim Krauss
RFA NJ Chapter Chair
jkrfanj@gmail.com

Re: RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

That is a great effort and can you advise what is being done to bring back winter flounder, fluke, weaks, and whiting? Whats the point of chasing after water treatment plants if there are no fish in the bay?

Specifically, what is being done to get the commercial draggers to stop decimating these stocks?

Re: RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

I wont speak for Jim who you touted for doing a great effort which he did. While your constant message on this is admirable because I believe (but could be wrong) you care about fish stocks and have no agenda against any fisherman making a living ask yourself if YOU personally advocate kicking ANY fisherman off the water? Next answer for yourself what your post would be if the Commercials lobbied to kick recreational fishermen off the water? RFA respects ALL fishermen within the quotas by law we are all forced to accept. Fight the data, Fight the Sanctuary, Fight the regulations but no reason to fight the fisherman if they abide by the regs. JMHO

Re: RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

Well said Dales and not to single you out No Limit but there are lots of people talking and asking questions but fewer getting involved to change what is at the root of the issue, which are the laws.

There are a lot of people in the RFA, SSFFF and JCAA who volunteer their time and don't get paid a dime.... IMHO they deserve any support we can muster, be it financially, volunteering our time or at a minimum, some moral support and words of encouragement.

We're all fed up but people need to choose to get involved and be part of the solution, or they are part of problem.

Re: RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

Thanks and you confirmed my concerns.

Yes I would have no problem stopping all commercial fishing that decimates juvenile stocks and makes them extinct. In fact, I am trying to find a group that shares this goal. We brought stripers back from extinction by stopping the slaughter of juvenile stocks and the same has to be done with other species. Let Shoprite sell Tilapia and farmed salmon for a while. There is no excuse for suffering gladly the continued decimation of flounder, ling, whiting, weaks, etc.

Re: RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

Over the years in my travels I have eaten lunch at some very good "Fish joints" like Jody's in Neptune and the little place in Keyport, The Lobsta' house in Cape May, the old Coop in Point Pleasant and all the fish lunches and dinners they put out are good and caught by commercial fishermen. Sport fishermen are not allowed to sell fish so how would these establishment fare if the only thing they sold was a TALAPIA sandwich or dinner? Their demise would be swift and many many jobs would be lost. Eliminating a whole industry, as well as all those good eating establishments just might be a little extreme on your part.

Re: RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

Would you support hook and line commercial fishing? I'm all for banning the draggers.

Re: RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

I would like hook and line comm. fishing and maybe even traps. If they could release alive any by catch or undersized fish. I don't want to put any restaurants or fish markets out of business so we need some comm. fishing. But I think dragging has got too efficient at making money while at the same time destroying fish stocks. So it should be greatly reduced or stopped...Charlie

Re: RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

It appears statements are now answers to questions but such is todays world.
I know of no Fishing group that advocates the "decimation" of any species by any fishing interest and RFA amongst other groups have fought hard against commercial oversight when required and will continue to do so when its outside of the regulations (which we are always fighting for better).

The original Thread was about the Sanctuary update and while all opinions on commercial fishing are respected lets get back to the point of the OP (original poster).

Either you support the opposition of the Sanctuary and if so should be thankful of the efforts to stop it or you are FOR the Sanctuary and its your right to say so or not but would love to know your reasons.

Re: RFA Update on Sanctuary Proposal
 

Yep - Stay on topic and one fight at a time....