Fish On
Regional Commission mandates drastic reduction
RON NUZZOLO
Time is running out for New Jersey recreational anglers. Just when fishing seemed to be healthy in all categories, theAtlantic StatesMarine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) mandates a reduction in blackfish by almost 26 percent.

On March 7, New Jersey has 60 days in which to come up with a plan agreed by ASMFC or the fishery will be shut down.

States such asMassachusetts and Rhode Islandwere forced to cut back and settled on a 12 percent reduction.

The problemiswith the commercial fishermen who pot and net blackfish for the live blackfishmarket and will not be affected by the 26 percent reduction or shutdown.

This is where it gets heated. How can anyone in their right mind think or assume that recreational fishermen can reduce the overall stock biomass over the impact of commercial potters and netters. This is mind-boggling to all fishermen when there already is a four-fish, 14-inch limit in place. One pot can catch a dozen and one net can catch several dozen.Where is the logic in all this?

To add even more salt to the wound, the ASMFC's tautog (blackfish) board has quoted that recreational fishermen are responsible for 90 percent of the blackfish harvest. I personally find this to be a disturbing uphill battle.

The true issue is the illegal trade in the live blackfishmarket. JamesA.Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, is upset due to the constant pressure applied to recreational anglerswhen all around us are illegal and undocumented trade in live blackfish throughout the coast.

According to Mr. Donofrio, "There were no problems with blackfish until that live market opened up." Commercial potters, roller-riggers, trawlers- none of themwere interested in blackfish years ago. There was no market for blackfish- live or dead."

Mr.Donofrio also reported thatNewJersey officials do not know how many fishermen are involved in the commercial fishery or howmuch gear the licensed fishermen are employing.

"They have no idea whether some of these people have 10 pots or 10,000 pots out there," he said.

His answer is to make the blackfish a game fish by state law, and prohibit the possession of any live blackfish.

True story, if a grandfather takes his grandchildren fishing or crabbing and is approached by a game warden and fined $200 for each 5-inch crab or a short fluke in his bucket, what kind of example are we really setting. I agree rules are rules but there are ethics and education that need to be applied on both ends. The recreational market in New Jersey is what most shore town businesses and charter captains live on.We need to give them some room and look the other way.Commercial and illegalmarkets are the true culprits that impact the stocks, and that to me is common sense. Our tax dollars and resources are looking in thewrong direction.