New Jersey’s Artificial Reef Program was originally developed with our State’s Department of Environmental Protection and the recreational community. The 15 reefs, 2 in our waters and the other 13 directly outside our borders in federal waters, provide recreational anglers and divers increased opportunities to catch bottom dwelling fish who are attracted to these types of structures as safe breeding grounds and because of the shelter they provide from predators. These reefs have been a success story for recreational anglers, divers and our State’s DEP.

However, in recent years the artificial reefs have been taken over by commercial fishermen who have overrun our reef areas with a proliferation of fish traps and pots on reef sites that were specifically built for hook and line fishing and diving. This gear has restricted access to hook and line anglers, interfered with the goals and objectives of the Artificial Reef Program and has also hindered additional reef construction efforts. Once an isolated problem on the northern most reefs, the lack of restrictions on the number of pots a commercial fisherman can fish has allowed the problem to rapidly expand to every reef along the entire Jersey coast. Essentially, the reefs have become dominated by a relatively small group of commercial fishermen which was not the original intention of the Artificial Reef Program.

This issue is now at a critical stage and we need your help! The New Jersey State Assembly and Senate are considering bills that would limit fishing gear on reefs to “hook and line, and spear only” which would in effect remove pots and traps. Assembly Bill 3986 passed out of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee 4-1 on May 21 and now must be posted by Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts for final Assembly vote. The corresponding Senate bill, S 2635, will be referred to the Senate Environment Committee in the coming weeks and once released, will need to be posted by Senate President Richard Codey for final vote before the Senate.

Without a doubt commercial fishermen will be there at every step with strong opposition and if they are successful in defeating the bills, we may forever lose access to the reefs. Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA), New Jersey Council of Diving Clubs (NJCDC) and Reef Rescue will be there fighting to get the pots and traps off the reefs, but it is critically important that Assembly Speaker Roberts and Senate President Codey hear from the recreational fishing and diving communities.

Your support of these bills is essential! The commercial industry has paid lobbyists to promote its agenda. The only force that can overcome their money is the voice of the voters, lots of them. Please sign the enclosed letters to key legislators and mail them in the enclosed envelopes. Thank you for your much needed help! Additional information on the Artificial Reef Program can be obtained by going to www.njreefrescue.com.

Letter to Senate President Codey
Letter to Assembly Speaker Roberts

Sincerely,

Jim Donofrio, RFA

John Toth, JCAA

Glenn A. Arthur, NJCDC

Pete Grimbilas, Reef Rescue