DEP Release: Christie Administration Will Create Artificial Reef for Recreational Fi

[stevelikes2fish]

Originally Posted by Capt Joe

Nothing to discuss get your goddamn pots of the artificial reefs that WE paid for.
End of discussion

Well stated Capt. !!!!!

[Greg DiDomenico]

Just thought I would offer a brief response to the previous posts;

1) In 1984, the NJDEP created the State Artificial Reef Program. The initial program was started with over $400,000 of funding from the Oyster Creek Generating Station to offset fish kills associated with meeting the facility’s need for cooling water. The money was split between the recreational and commercial sectors and both agreed to support the Artificial Reef Program.

2) Since the begining of the program over 29 commercial fishing vessels have been donated and sunk on reefs.

Greg DiDomenico
Garden State Seafood Association

[njdiver]

Both those points and many others were dealt with during the testimony on Senate Bill S336 at the Senate Environment Committee Meeting of Thursday, February 21, 2008. If you would like to listen to the hearing it is still available at:

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/a...p?SESSION=2008


Here are a few quotes from that hearing:

(Snip)

Senator Robert Smith:
“Mr. Figley, a question for you. The Garden State Seafood Association, I thought one of its arguments was that they have paid for the reef or are participants in paying for the artificial reefs. How do you respond to that argument?”

Mr. William Figley:
“In the twenty two years that I was coordinator for the reef program I never received any monetary donations from the commercial fishery. “

Senator Robert Smith:
“What do you believe to be your financial contribution to the artificial reef program?”

Mr. Jeff Reichle (Lund's Fisheries, President Garden State Seafood Association):
“Yes Mr. Chairman, it’s a fact that commercial fishermen don’t write checks to the reef program. That’s absolutely the truth.”

(Snip)


(Snip)

Senator Smith:
“Mr. Figley’s testimony is devastating…the evidence he presents, to me, at least is devastating.”

“I do think the case for the individual anglers is very strong.”

(Snip)


The NJ Senate later voted to pass on the legislation to the Assembly which in turn placed it in their Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee where it has never been allowed to be heard by its Chairman Assemblyman Albano.