06-18-2003, 12:31 AM
[#ffffcc][font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size 3][#ffffff]New Jersey Freedom To Fish Act In Peril[/#ffffff][/size][/font][/#ffffcc] [font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size 2]
[#000000]TRENTON, NJ--Environmental organizations are voicing opposition to the New Jersey Freedom-to-Fish Act, which was first covered in the May 27 e-newsletter, in an attempt to derail standards for "No Fishing" marine protected areas (MPAs) in state waters. [/#000000][/size][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]One environmental group, The Ocean Conservancy, opposes the act on the grounds that tog (blackfish) and black seabass are currently classified as overfished. This fails to recognize, however, that tog, seabass and every other stock in New Jersey is rebuilding as a result of well-developed fishery management plans. These plans use traditional management measures to prevent overfishing and enhance recovery efforts that include minimum size limits, bag limits, seasonal closures and quotas. [/size][/#000000][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]The Recreational Fishing Alliance is encouraging all New Jersey anglers to contact their state senator and their two members of the General Assembly and ask them to support New Jersey's Freedom-to-Fish Act. Legislators can be found at [url "http://www.njleg.state.nj.us"][#0000ff]www.njleg.state.nj.us[/#0000ff][/url], by clicking on "Find Your Legislator." [/size][/#000000][/font]
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[#000000]TRENTON, NJ--Environmental organizations are voicing opposition to the New Jersey Freedom-to-Fish Act, which was first covered in the May 27 e-newsletter, in an attempt to derail standards for "No Fishing" marine protected areas (MPAs) in state waters. [/#000000][/size][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]One environmental group, The Ocean Conservancy, opposes the act on the grounds that tog (blackfish) and black seabass are currently classified as overfished. This fails to recognize, however, that tog, seabass and every other stock in New Jersey is rebuilding as a result of well-developed fishery management plans. These plans use traditional management measures to prevent overfishing and enhance recovery efforts that include minimum size limits, bag limits, seasonal closures and quotas. [/size][/#000000][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]The Recreational Fishing Alliance is encouraging all New Jersey anglers to contact their state senator and their two members of the General Assembly and ask them to support New Jersey's Freedom-to-Fish Act. Legislators can be found at [url "http://www.njleg.state.nj.us"][#0000ff]www.njleg.state.nj.us[/#0000ff][/url], by clicking on "Find Your Legislator." [/size][/#000000][/font]
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