Bill Text: NJ SR30 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges US Fish and Wildlife Service and DEP to resolve conflict between protection of red knot shorebird and economic viability of State's oyster industry.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-16 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [SR30 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SR30-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Urges US Fish and Wildlife Service and DEP to resolve conflict between protection of red knot shorebird and economic viability of State's oyster industry.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to take action to resolve any conflict between protection of the red knot and the economic viability of the State's oyster industry.
Whereas, The red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) is a small shorebird that migrates from wintering areas as far south as Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America to breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic; and
Whereas, The Delaware Bayshore, which stretches along the southwestern coast of New Jersey in Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties, is home or a critical migratory stopover for over 300 species of birds, including many threatened and endangered species, and each year supports the second-largest shorebird congregation in North America; and
Whereas, The region also contains the world's largest population of horseshoe crabs, which march up bay beaches each spring to lay their eggs, and these eggs, in turn, provide food for thousands of shorebirds traveling from South America to the Arctic; and
Whereas, In particular, the Delaware Bayshore is an important stopover during the red knot's spring migration, providing a critical food resource - horseshoe crab eggs - which red knots can quickly metabolize into fat, allowing the red knots to gain sufficient weight in a brief period to continue their migration north to their Arctic breeding grounds, survive until food becomes available, and successfully reproduce; and
Whereas, In 2012, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection listed the red knot as an endangered species on the State's list of threatened and endangered species, and in December 2014, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service designated the red knot as "threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act; and
Whereas, In addition to its unique ecological importance, the Delaware Bayshore region is also home to much of the State's shellfish production, including the State's growing oyster industry, which contributes millions of dollars in economic activity for the State each year; and
Whereas, The State once had a tremendous oyster industry that was devastated by disease and other causes, and is now, through much effort, growing slowly but surely toward recovery through aquaculture and scientific research; and
Whereas, Disturbance from beach recreation activities, off-road vehicles, and oyster farming activities can reduce survival of the red knot by impacting their foraging and resting grounds; and
Whereas, The designation by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service of the red knot as a threatened species will likely result in guidelines intended to reduce human activity along tidal areas, and such limitations on activities and access to the tidal flats may adversely impact the oyster aquaculture industry in the region; and
Whereas, Oyster aquaculture requires regular access to the tidal flats in order to maintain the bag-and-rack systems used to grow oysters, including daily access to the racks to pressure-wash the oysters to keep them healthy; and
Whereas, It is necessary and proper for the State and federal government to balance the protections needed to ensure the viability of the red knot population with the needs of the State's growing oyster industry; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to take action to resolve any conflict between protection of the red knot and the economic viability of the State's oyster industry.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Regional Director of the Northeast Region of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the United States Department of the Interior, and the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to take action to resolve any conflict between protection of the red knot (a type of shorebird) and the economic viability of the State's oyster industry.
The Delaware Bayshore, which stretches along the southwestern coast of New Jersey in Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties, is home or a critical migratory stopover for over 300 species of birds, and each year supports the second-largest shorebird congregation in North America. The region also contains the world's largest remaining population of horseshoe crabs, which lay their eggs on the beaches each spring, and these eggs, in turn, provide food for thousands of shorebirds, and in particular, the red knot. In 2012, the NJDEP listed the red knot as an endangered species on the State's list of threatened and endangered species, and in December 2014, the USF&WS designated the red knot as "threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Delaware Bayshore also is home to most of the State's shellfish production, including the State's growing oyster industry, which contributes millions of dollars in economic activity for the State each year. The federal designation of the red knot as a threatened species may result in guidelines intended to reduce human activity along tidal areas, and limitations on activities and access to the tidal flats may adversely impact the operations of the oyster aquaculture industry in the region. This resolution asks for a balance to be struck between conservation measures for the red knot and the needs of the oyster industry.
