Continued Discussion of the NMS proposal

[hh52]

Send in the worm

[NoLimit]

Well if people dont know about the importance of the fisheries (including clams and crab) in the rivers and bay, whose fault is that?

We are pretty good at preaching to the choir but it is obvious we are not doing a good job in getting the word out to the average citizen.

If some Big Corporate spill killed a few thousand fish and birds on the Jersey shore in July, it would be national headlines for a year.

However, we have millions of winter flounder exterminated for the last 10 years or so and there is not a single peep. Its the same for Sea Trout; fluke and crab are on their way out too.

Believe me, there are tree huggers that would care if they only knew - and lots of other people would care too including Rik. The problem is, we are only preaching to the choir.

[scooter1010]

Rik van Hemmen is very dangerous to us.

I hope it's okay to post up The Fisherman video but as Jim Hutchinson points out that being that we were vocal Rik has decided it is best for everyone that he cuts out public opinion and only holds discussions from now on "underground". This guy has major brass ones !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc8PUdr7Xaw

[QWIK]

Is there any way someone with computer skills can make up a one page flyer that outlines the proposed NMS its negative impact ( maybe list what has happened in other NMS ) and who to contact to voice concerns .
We can all then print out a few hundred copies and distribute them to individuals and businesses that will be effected. It will only cost a few bucks each to get our concerns in the hands of people who don't visit forums or go to meetings . It amazes me how little the public knows about this . Thanks.

[njdiver]

Consideration 7

There is community-based support for the nomination expressed by a broad range of interests, such as: individuals or locally-based groups (e.g., friends of group, chamber of commerce); local, tribal, state, or national elected officials; or topic-based stakeholder groups, at the local, regional or national level (e.g., a local chapter of an environmental organization, a regionally-based fishing group, a national-level recreation or tourism organization, academia or science-based group, or an industry association).

http://www.nominate.noaa.gov/guide.html#document

[scooter1010]

http://www.nj.com/shore/blogs/fishin...rt_river_index

Jersey Shore Fishing: Sandy Hook Bay Sanctuary sparks strong opposition
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Al Ristori By Al Ristori
on March 24, 2016 at 5:06 PM, updated March 24, 2016 at 7:17 PM

Anglers are up in arms about the proposal by the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association to seek a Sandy Hook Bay National Marine Sanctuary designation that would encompass not only that Bay but also the rivers flowing into it plus a portion of Raritan Bay.

There was overwhelming opposition to that proposal at last week's meeting in the Red Bank Library, which wasn't large enough to hold the crowd that arrived. Rik Van Hammen seemed to be sincere as he spoke about his vision, but never presented any problem that would justify turning over control of the area to the federal government.

On the other hand, anglers in Florida and California can testify why this is the last thing we would want to do. The April issue of Salt Water Sportsman states that proposals there would eliminate fishing in up to 30 percent of the reefs covered, and may be followed up by making the entire southeast Florida reef track a National Marine Sanctuary. The magazine notes that "While anglers have supported a number of spawning-season area closures throughout the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, most consider MPAs a last resort only imperative for the survival or restoration of a fishery. The Coastal Conservation Association calls the proposed creation of a marine sanctuary an unnecessary delegation o a federal agency of a state's authority over its waters. Florida has an excellent record of managing its fisheries."

The same applies to New Jersey. Our fisheries are controlled by the state in cooperation with regulations developed for migratory species by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. No one at the meeting was complaining about the quality of the fisheries or management by the state -- and if they aren't satisfied there's plenty of opportunity to seek change on the state level.

It was only three years ago that President Obama closed the national parks in a battle with Congress over the national debt. That just didn't involve facilities, but also the public's right to use lands that required no facilities, as money was found to pay rangers to keep anglers from walking the beach at Sandy Hook. At least the waters weren't involved up here, but charter captains in the Florida Keys, along with the rest of the public, weren't allowed to fish their traditional waters in Everglades National Park. Giving up state control to the federal government for no apparent benefit makes no sense at all.

[njdiver]

Originally Posted by scooter1010

Rik van Hemmen is very dangerous to us.

I hope it's okay to post up The Fisherman video but as Jim Hutchinson points out that being that we were vocal Rik has decided it is best for everyone that he cuts out public opinion and only holds discussions from now on "underground". This guy has major brass ones !!

If you look at his list of presentations, all but one are "private" meetings. His "choice" to go "underground" was by design from the start. That he will no doubt no longer publicize his schedule, beyond adding "(not public)" to the one presentation still pending, is not a surprise.

http://www.navesinkmaritime.org/NMS-presentations

[QWIK]

I agree this is all very well planed out . He is playing chess against our checkers.

[scooter1010]

People need to comment in the Two River Times article. Link of article provided.

http://tworivertimes.com/marine-sanc...rs-take-sides/

[njdiver]

(Snip)

Reed Bohne, the Northeast and Great Lakes regions director of national sanctuaries for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

(Snip)

"A state’s governor could alter the designation, which would then again be reviewed by NOAA, or outrightly end the process, he said. "

http://tworivertimes.com/marine-sanc...rs-take-sides/