Bill Text: NJ A615 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Changes law regulating size limits of lobsters.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [A615 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A615-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID W. WOLFE
District 10 (Ocean)
Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN
District 10 (Ocean)
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman R. BRUCE LAND
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Changes law regulating size limits of lobsters.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning lobster fishing in State marine waters and amending R.S.23:5-9.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.23:5-9 is amended to read as follows:
23:5-9. a. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2002, c.57).
b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2002, c.57).
c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2002, c.57).
d. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2002, c.57).
e. (1) The Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations providing for the taking and management of the lobster of the genus and species Homarus americanus in the State.
(2) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall regulate the lobster fishery in accordance with State policy as set forth in section 2 of P.L.1979, c.199 (C.23:2B-2).
(3) The department shall prepare and issue an annual report on the taking, management, and status of lobster in the State. Copies of the report shall be transmitted to the chairpersons of the Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, or their successors as designated by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, respectively, and shall be made available to the public upon request.
(4) Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any limitation or restriction on the import, export, possession, purchase, sale, or offer to purchase or sell lobsters based upon size limits set for Lobster Management Areas identified by the department shall apply only to lobsters taken from the marine waters of the State.
(cf: P.L.2002, c.57, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends current law authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate the size limits of lobsters caught for commercial and personal use. The bill provides that the size limits for lobsters set by the department would apply only to lobsters taken from the marine waters of the State. The marine waters of the State are all the salt waters of the State, from the shore to three miles out, including the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and all bays, inlets and estuarine waters located below the mouth of any fresh water river, stream or creek.
