Bill Text: NJ SR68 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to reject mandatory regionalization for 2015 under summer flounder management program.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-19 - Reported from Senate Committee, 2nd Reading [SR68 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SR68-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator BOB SMITH
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to reject mandatory regionalization for 2015 under summer flounder management program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to reject mandatory regionalization for 2015 under the summer flounder management program.
Whereas, Summer flounder are among the most sought after commercial and recreational fish along the Atlantic Coast and, in particular, New Jersey; and
Whereas, Summer flounder fisheries are managed cooperatively by the states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in state waters; and
Whereas, The ASMFC is responsible for developing summer flounder fishery regulations, as part of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan; and
Whereas, The plan seeks to ensure the protection and maintenance of the summer flounder resource, primarily through harvest limits, which are divided between commercial and recreational fisheries in each state; and
Whereas, Since 2001, the plan has allowed for, and the ASMFC has utilized, a state-by-state allocation formula for recreational fishing, based on estimates of state recreational landings from 1998, to establish individual state harvest limits; and
Whereas, Under the plan, each state has flexibility to devise conservation equivalent management measures, including minimum fish size limits, bag limits, and seasons, to reach its target harvest limit; and
Whereas, Previously, states were permitted to voluntarily combine their harvest limits with other states to create a region, which could mitigate the potential disproportionate impacts resulting from coast-wide management measures; and
Whereas, Nevertheless, there was concern among some states that the regulations set forth under the plan were not providing recreational fishermen in some states along the coast with equitable access to the summer flounder fishery; and
Whereas, Consequently, the ASMFC adopted Addendum XXV to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, which imposed mandatory regionalization on certain states, including New Jersey; and
Whereas, Under Addendum XXV, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut must combine their summer flounder quotas and adopt regional management measures that meet the recreational harvest limit for the 2014 season; and
Whereas, Although Addendum XXV states that regionalization "allows states the flexibility to mitigate potential disproportionate impacts" and "pursue more equitable harvest opportunities," it does not explain what those impacts are, or how regionalization is the most effective and fair method for improving management; and
Whereas, To date, there has been no formal explanation as to why regionalization is the best response; and
Whereas, Imposing mandatory regionalization, while perhaps addressing the concerns of some states, has the undue effect of reducing New Jersey's and other states' harvest limits, thus hurting fishermen all along the Atlantic Coast; and
Whereas, New Jersey anglers are projected to lose approximately 20 percent of their flounder catch in 2014 due to mandatory regionalization; and
Whereas, The ASMFC first proposed Addendum XXV at its December 2013 meeting, and approved it on February 4, 2014, leaving interested parties with little or no time to consider the consequences of this radical departure from previous management measures; and
Whereas, A short public comment period was held, along with several public hearings, and the vast majority of parties, including three of New Jersey's largest recreational fishing organizations, opposed mandatory regionalization; and
Whereas, On January 22, 2014, two members of New Jersey's Congressional delegation published a letter calling on the ASMFC to oppose regionalization until a thorough, inclusive evaluation of the plan could be carried out; and
Whereas, Despite this, two federal agencies with voting rights on the ASMFC, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), cast deciding votes in favor of the measure; and
Whereas, NMFS and USFWS undertook this action with no explanation, and with little or no evaluation of the adverse economic impacts of the new measures on New Jersey anglers; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is respectfully urged to reject mandatory regionalization in 2015 under the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. The commission is also urged to re-examine the voting rights of the National Marine Fisheries Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and every member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to reject mandatory regionalization in 2015 under the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan.
Summer flounder fisheries are managed cooperatively by the states through the ASMFC in state waters. The ASMFC is responsible for developing summer flounder fishery regulations, as part of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. The plan utilizes a state-by-state allocation formula for recreational fishing, based on estimates of state recreational landings in 1998, to establish individual state harvest limits. Under the plan, each state has flexibility to devise conservation equivalent management measures, including minimum fish size limits and bag limits, to reach its target harvest limit. Previously, states were permitted to voluntarily combine their harvest limits with other states to create a region, which could mitigate the potential disproportionate impacts resulting from coast-wide management.
Nevertheless, there was concern among some states that the regulations set forth under the plan were not providing recreational fishermen in some states along the coast with equitable access to the summer flounder fishery. Consequently, the ASMFC adopted Addendum XXV, which imposed mandatory regionalization on certain states. Under Addendum XXV, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut must combine their summer flounder quotas and adopt regional management measures that meet the recreational harvest limit for the 2014 season. To date, there has been no formal explanation of how this new measure impacts flounder fishermen, or of how it is the most effective and fair method for improving management. In fact, imposing mandatory regionalization has the undue effect of reducing New Jersey's and other states' harvest limits, thus hurting fishermen all along the Atlantic Coast.
The ASMFC adopted Addendum XXV with little public input, and in spite of serious opposition. The ASMFC first proposed Addendum XXV at its December 2013 meeting, and approved it on February 4, 2014, leaving interested parties with little or no time to consider the consequences of the measure. A short public comment period was held, along with several public hearings, and the vast majority of parties, including three of New Jersey's largest recreational fishing organizations, opposed regionalization. Two members of New Jersey's Congressional delegation also opposed the measure. Despite this, and with little or no substantive evaluation, the two federal agencies with voting rights on the ASMFC, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), cast deciding votes in favor of the measure.
For this reason, the resolution also urges the ASMFC to re-examine the voting rights of NMFS and USFWS.
