Bill Text: NJ A3206 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Appropriates $5 million from General Fund to Dept. of Agriculture for financial assistance to fishermen affected by 2017 reduction in summer flounder and black sea bass harvest quotas.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [A3206 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A3206-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman R. BRUCE LAND
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Appropriates $5 million from General Fund to Dept. of Agriculture for financial assistance to fishermen affected by 2017 reduction in summer flounder and black sea bass harvest quotas.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning fishermen affected by the 2017 reduction in certain harvest quotas and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Agriculture shall provide grants, zero interest loans, low interest loans, or other forms of financial assistance to fishermen who have experienced demonstrated financial loss due to the reduction in the summer flounder and black sea bass harvest quotas for the 2017 fishing season. Eligibility for financial assistance shall be based upon financial need, the degree of financial loss, and other qualifying and application criteria as may be established by the Department of Agriculture. The terms and conditions of the financial assistance shall be established by the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury. Within 30 days after the effective date of this act, the Department of Agriculture shall publicize to the fishing community the availability of the financial assistance, and commence accepting applications therefor from interested parties.
b. The Secretary of Agriculture may adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary for implementation of this section; except that, notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the secretary may adopt, immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law, such rules and regulations deemed necessary to implement the provisions of this section, which rules and regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed one year following the effective date of this act and may thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted in accordance with the requirements of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture the sum of $5,000,000 to be used in accordance with section 1 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would appropriate $5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of providing grants, zero interest loans, low interest loans, and other forms of financial assistance to fishermen who have experienced demonstrated financial loss due to a reduction in the summer flounder and black sea bass harvest quotas for the 2017 fishing season.
Based on the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) recent assessments of summer flounder and black sea bass stock, the regional bodies tasked with regulating the harvest of summer flounder and black sea bass, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, have recommended a reduction in harvest quotas for the upcoming fishing season. Members of the New Jersey delegation to the United States Congress have expressed concern about the accuracy of the estimates contained in the assessments and have questioned the need to implement such drastic reductions in harvest quotas. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has expressed similar concerns, warning that the reduction in harvest quotas will devastate the recreational and commercial fishing industries in New Jersey and cause significant harm to the economy of the New Jersey shore.
Despite significant opposition and the potential for severe economic loss, at the end of December 2016, the NMFS adopted a rule implementing the recommended reduction in harvest quotas. By offering financial assistance to those harmed by the reduction, this bill would mitigate the financial loss suffered by the State's fishermen.
