Nj marine fisheries council meets today

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The New Jersey chapter of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA-NJ) reminds saltwater anglers that the state's Marine Fisheries Council will meet this this afternoon, January 8th at 3 p.m. at the Galloway Township Branch of the Atlantic County Library. The meeting at 306 East Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway is open to the public.



Of particular interest on the council agenda for saltwater anglers and RFA-NJ members is that "possible action" could be taken on 2015 management measures for striped bass, as well as proposed regulations by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) on the state's artificial reef program (click here for today's New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council Agenda).



The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) voted to reduce coastwide harvest of striped bass beginning in 2015, with all states looking at options to reduce the catch by 25% or better. As noted earlier this week in the Asbury Park Press, options to be discussed at Thursday's hearing in Galloway include nine original choices outlined by ASMFC, as well as two specific options formulated by the New Jersey Bureau of Marine Fisheries including one striper from 29 to 36 inches with another over 36 inches; and one bass from 28 to 42 inches with another over 42 inches.



Following today's Marine Fisheries Council meeting in Galloway, another public hearing on striped bass is set for Monday, January 12th at 7 p.m. at the Toms River Township Administrative Building, L.M. Hirshblond Room at 33 Washington Street in Toms River.



RFA and the RFA-NJ are also hopeful that discussion regarding New Jersey's artificial reef program and the ongoing issue with fixed gear will also will be more than productive on Thursday.



"After looking at the proposal laid out by the DEP to alleviate the commercial potting problem at New Jersey's artificial reefs, RFA is optimistic for 2015 being the year that the issue is ultimately addressed," said RFA executive director Jim Donofrio. "It's been an uphill battle in terms of both the legal and regulatory debate, but RFA appreciates the effort by the Christie administration and the DEP to see this thing through.



The state is proposing a regulatory amendment to existing code which would limit the use of lobster, fish and conch pots on artificial reefs in State waters, including the two existing New Jersey artificial reefs: the Sandy Hook Reef and the Axel J. Carlson Jr. Reef. The total reef area for both sites is close to 5-1/2 square miles, and the combined area where potters would be allowed to set gear would be 0.91 square miles total.



The DEP announced previously that a new reef site would be built off the Central Jersey coast to make up for any new 'full access zones' granted at Axel Carlson and Sandy Hook sites where both hook and line and fixed gear fishing would be allowed simultaneously.



"This proposal will make sure that the majority of these reef sites are free of pots and bottom runners that anglers have been snagging while drift fishing, it will protect the most valuable reef structure from further gear damage, and the new rule will also limit the number of pots deployed," Donofrio said. "It will be good to finally lay this problem to rest and move forward with the more important things, like building new reefs and catching more fish."