We all favor conservation and management, but we don’t need to impose a fee upon our anglers to get that job done.

TRENTON — When Gov. Chris Christie place his pen to paper Tue., Feb. 22, a bill became law that “creates a free of charge state saltwater fishing registry in New Jersey, 1 that will comply with federal specifications and will not monetarily influence the state’s saltwater anglers,” in accordance to a release from the Governor’s Office.

Commenting on his position in the legislation’s passage, First District Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) stated in a re-lease, “Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jeff Van Drew to produce a totally free state registry for saltwater recreational fishing and prevent residents from acquiring to spend a $ 15 federal fishing fee was signed into law these days by Gov. Chris Christie.”

“Legislation Assembly Democrats Nelson Albano, Matt Milam, Celeste Riley and Paul Moriarty sponsored to guarantee free recreational saltwater fishing continues in New Jersey was signed into law Tuesday,” according to a release from them.

Recreational Fishing Alliance-New Jersey also issued a release Wed., Feb. 23 on the law’s passage: “Gov. Chris Christie signed New Jersey’s no cost saltwater registry bill into law yesterday, which will permit coastal anglers to register their name and mobile phone number with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) at no price in 2011. By federal law, saltwater anglers are needed to register their identify and telephone quantity with the Na-tional Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on an yearly basis in buy to fish in coastal waters. In November, NMFS introduced that the price for registering with the National Saltwater Angler Registry will be $ 15 as of January one, a change affecting a lot of anglers and spear fishermen in Hawaii, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “

Extra the governor, “The creation of a state registry will let New Jersey anglers to stay away from a $ fifteen saltwater registration fee imposed by the federal federal government as of Jan. 1.

&quotFishing from our shores has been and should stay no cost to our citizens. Some basic pleasures in lifestyle should be not be topic to a new unfunded federal mandate,” mentioned Governor Christie.

Creation of a no cost State registry was lauded by the New Jersey Out of doors Alliance which labored intently with the Governor’s Workplace and the DEP on this problem.”

It continued, “Saltwater fishing is an important economic engine for New Jersey, providing 38,000 work and a $ one.two billion yearly improve to the state’s economic climate, noted Commissioner Martin.

&quotThe DEP recognizes the relevance of defending and managing our marine sources for the advantage of the en-vironment, hundreds of thousands of anglers who enjoy this resource, to our multi-billion dollar tourism indus-try out, and the thousands of jobs related to saltwater fishing,” explained Commissioner Martin, who thanked the New Jersey Outside Alliance for its efforts.

“Beginning on Jan. one, the Countrywide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration needed saltwater anglers in states like New Jersey without having a state saltwater fishing registry or saltwater fishing license to pay out $ 15 to register with that company. The registry requirement is part of an effort to boost the high quality of info used in fisheries guy-agement, in accordance to NOAA.

““This law will deliver a obvious concept to our citizens and to tourists that we are beginning to do business vary-ently right here in New Jersey – that even though other states are charging, recreational fishing in the Garden State will be no cost,” stated Van Drew.

“New Jersey, nonetheless, like all states, was provided the capability to avoid the fee evaluation by creating its very own registry and applying for exemption from the federal system. State Department of Environmental Protection officials had recommended making a state registry and charging a $ five fee, but Senator Van Drew remained adamant that registration ought to be no cost. He has extended thought the state could develop an Net registry for saltwater rec-reational anglers, which would demand minimum cost and be hassle-no cost,” sstated Van Drew.

The Senate authorized the bill by a vote of 36- in December. The Assembly version of the bill, A-823, spon-sored by Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam, D-Cape Might, Atlantic and Cumberland, cleared the lower home in January by a vote of 66-7-three.

The assemblymen additional, “We should not be charging individuals to fish the open sea,” explained Albano. “Fish conser-vation and management is important thing, but we don’t will need to be charging saltwater fisherman to attain it.”

“Fishing the ocean has usually been no cost in New Jersey and should stay that way forever,” said Milam. “We all favor conservation and management, but we don’t will need to impose a price on our anglers to get that career done.”

The RFA-NJ launch continued, “From a federal perspective, New Jersey Gov. Christie has just set forth a his-toric piece of legislation that aids memorialize the public’s correct to free of charge and open access to our nation’s public sources,” mentioned Jim Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance. “While there’s been a lot of public confusion more than the past few months in the state relating to this legislation, and we’re grateful that Gov-ernor Christie has taken the time to evaluate the facts, cutting by way of the red tape and bureaucracy surrounding the will need for a saltwater registry.”

“A big thank you to Senators Jeff Van Drew and Jennifer Beck, as effectively as Speaker Sheila Oliver and Chairman Nelson Albano for doing work throughout celebration lines to make this take place for New Jersey’s saltwater anglers,” mentioned Donofrio, even though incorporating “it took legislative assist to get this law passed, not to point out lots of grassroots political action of RFA members in the state of New Jersey, the very essence of the I Fish, I Vote motto utilized by RFA members for nearly 15 decades.”.

Currently, 22 of the nation’s 24 coastal states are exempted from the federal registration requirements because of existing state plans which provide the needed angler info to the National Saltwater Angler Registry. The new saltwater angler registry law now calls for DEP to set up a no cost angler registry program for the state of New Jersey, considerably the exact same as what the state of Delaware has accomplished through their Fisherman Identification Number (www.delaware-fin.com ) Donofrio said.

“We need to enhance tourism, and what much better way to do it than free of charge fishing?” mentioned Sen. Van Drew, key sponsor of S1122 and a driving force in getting the free of charge registry legislation signed into law in New Jersey. “It’s symbolic. New Jersey could be a genuine leader on this,” Van Drew not long ago advised Shore Information Today. “The bureau-crats are pushing for a tax and we’re declaring, ‘C’mon, this one particular time let’s allow the fishermen breathe.’ We would gain more profits back again for the state by undertaking some thing bold to encourage fishing. Consider of all the bait and tackle, fishing devices, restaurant dinners and every thing else fishermen get. A fee would damper the envi-ronment and that’s not excellent,” the senator additional.

“We’re tourism centered so it’s crucial to not drive individuals absent from the counter without making a purchase,” explained Cathy Algard of Sterling Harbor Bait and Tackle in Wildwood. “Too several neighborhood tackle shops have gone out of business in latest years, and yet another obstacle like a payment to fish would be devastating to our nearby busi-ness,” she stated.

Donofrio said finding the legislation passed in New Jersey has been a 4-year uphill climb, but he explained the leg-islators from Cape Might County who truly deserve a lot of the credit score for fighting to protect the rights of all of New Jersey’s coastal districts. “The coalition of Senator Van Drew and Assemblyman Albano along with As-semblyman Jeff Milam heard their constituents and specially from the coastal business group in assist of their legislation, and they weren’t about to get pushed off their mission to get this law signed,” stated Donofrio.
“With today’s signing, we assume to function intently with the Governor and the federal fisheries service to get a short-term exemption in spot until the DEP is ready to roll out the registry plan this season, but nowadays is undoubtedly a fantastic day to be an RFA member.”

The New Jersey chapter of the RFA (RFA-NJ) has been lively in supporting saltwater angler registry legislation actually given that federal law was modified in 2007 to contact for a virtual phonebook of saltwater anglers nationwide. “It’s a rather straightforward and easy law, which is why it’s had this sort of overpowering help during our coastal fishing group,” said Capt. Adam Nowalsky, chairman of the RFA-NJ.

“The majority of charter and social gathering boat captains all through New Jersey, along with our tackle stores and coastal anglers from right here in the state on out to Pennsylvania have been vocal in supporting this legislation along the way, and our chapter volunteers are thrilled that the Governor has identified that unified voice,” he explained.

&quotIt’s constant with what the governor has stated about not raising taxes and costs,&quot Donofrio mentioned. &quotWe’ve been working with the governor’s workplace to identify how to make this transpire, and we’re searching ahead to operating a lot more closely with his administration in the coming days to assist make certain that it takes place with the coastal commu-nity’s input and help.”