Bill Text: NJ A1152 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [A1152 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A1152-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID P. RIBLE
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblywoman MARY PAT ANGELINI
District 11 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Albano, Wolfe, Holzapfel, Diegnan, Assemblywoman McHose, Assemblymen Greenwald, Rumana and Amodeo
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act prohibiting the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs and supplementing P.L.1979, c.199 (C.23:2B-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. No person, within the marine waters of the State, may use, leave unattended, set or deploy fishing gear, other than rod-and-reel, hand line, spear, or recreational gig within 100 feet of any area for which the department, or any other State agency, has been issued a permit by the United States Army Corp of Engineers for the construction of an artificial reef.
2. The department shall apply, within three months from the date of enactment of this act, to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to designate all artificial reefs constructed under the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's Artificial Reef Program within federal waters as Special Management Zones pursuant to section 648.146 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would prohibit, within the marine waters of the State, any person from using, leaving unattended, setting, or deploying fishing gear, other than rod-and-reel, hand line, spear, or recreational gig, within 100 feet of artificial reefs created under the Division of Fish and Wildlife's artificial reef program. Violators would be subject to the penalties established for violations of the Marine Fisheries Management and Commercial Fisheries Act.
The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection to apply to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to designate New Jersey artificial reefs in federal waters as Special Management Zones. The purpose of this application would be to limit commercial fishing taking place on New Jersey's artificial reefs in federal waters.
The overall purpose of the bill is to reduce gear conflicts and the hazards associated with commercial fishing gear being utilized near artificial reef sites.
