Lawmakers can't ignore vote on reef bill any longer | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

 

The fate of A-3986 in the state Legislature should prove to be fascinating material for high school civics and college political science students to study in the weeks ahead.

A-3986 is the bill that would ban the setting of fish and lobster traps on the state's artificial reefs. Only one Assembly session is left, Jan. 3, and the measure has not been posted for a vote on that day thus far.

A companion bill in the Senate — S-2635 — has been posted for a vote Jan. 7. If the Senate bill passes, and the Assembly measure is not posted, or posted and not voted favorably, the initiative will die.

Both bills have considerable public support and there is opposition only from a small group of commercial trap fishermen and their lobbying firm.

James A. Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, said the number of organizations that have an interest in the reefs for recreational fishing and diving purposes and conservation of marine life is huge.

"It reads like a who's who of organizations with an interest in the marine environment," he said. "They have given so much to the building of the reef system over the years."

Among them are the Atlantic County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, American Littoral Society, Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, Reef Rescue, Jersey Coast Anglers Association, New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Crestwood Village Fishing Club, Atlantic County Party and Charter Boat Association, Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club, Greater Point Pleasant Charterboat Association, Village Harbour Fishing Club, Atlantic County Reef Society, Cape May Party and Charter Boat Association, McGraw-Hill Foundation, Jersey Coast Shark Anglers, Shark River Surf Anglers, Spring Lake Live Liners Fishing Club, Asbury Park Fishing Club, Fish Hawks, and The New Jersey Artificial Reef Association.

Read Full Article: Lawmakers can't ignore vote on reef bill any longer | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

Deep Sea News : Deep coral happenings on Capitol Hill

 

We have a new state in this country! Welcome number 53. It's called "The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States"

Of course, it's not a state, really, in the Nunavut sense of the word. This is a federal deep-sea coral report prepared by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program to address the status of our knowledge about deep corals and the capacity of our federal government to manage deep coral habitat.

The "State of Deep Coral Ecosystems..." report was commissioned, in effect, by the President's Ocean Action Plan, so we take it seriously here at DSN. Seriously. It's a comprehensive, peer- reviewed report called for the President of the United States, written by a a dozen deep-sea biologists. How cool is that? I hope he reads it. We should ask Sylvia Earle to plant a copy on him next time they go for dinner. Maybe ship a box to the Congress.

Read Full Article: Deep Sea News : Deep coral happenings on Capitol Hill