New Jersey saltwater fishermen must pay a $15 fee sign up by midnight 2011
Saltwater fishermen have until midnight Friday to register for a mandatory fish census for free or they will have to pay $15 in 2011.
This fishing registry, supervised by the National Marine Fisheries Service, is designed to improve the tracking and management of fish caught by recreational fishermen in New Jersey.
State lawmakers failed to pass a bill this month creating a state registry, which would have replaced the federal system. New Jersey and Hawaii were the last states in the country that had not joined the registry or created one of their own.
The federal agency allows New Jersey fishermen to sign up for free before Jan. 1.
"Beginning Jan. 1, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will chargen New Jersey anglers $15 to register. Ayone who goes to the site before New Year's can register for one year for free," said Larry Ragonese, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The DEP and U.S. Coast Guard will enforce the registry in New Jersey waters next year. That includes the possibility of fines under federal law.
But National Marine Fisheries Service spokeswoman Christine Patrick said the agency will focus on education during this first year.
"NOAA's intention is to encourage recreational fishers to be in the registry, rather than penalize them for failing to do so," she said. "There is no penalty schedule set for the regulation, so it is at the discretion of the individual agent."
Anglers 16 or older who plan to fish for striped bass and other saltwater fish that spend part of their lives in freshwater rivers, or who plan to fish in federal waters 3 miles from shore, must sign up unless they fish exclusively through a charter boat or other licensed company.
State lawmakers are still working on a state registry that would supplant the federal one. The Senate's version has been sent back to the Assembly for agreement on amendments.
Some fishermen were surprised to learn about this new obligation. Unlike states such as North Carolina, New Jersey does not require a saltwater fishing license.
"It is what it is. I don't know that locals will be able to fight the federal government," Lower Township fisherman Robert Jackson said.
"I believe that people should be able to go down to the beach and catch a fish or two for their table," he said. "Every citizen should be able to go down to the ocean and fish for dinner for free.
"As long as I'm only taking enough for my meal, I shouldn't have to pay a dime."
Patrick said the registry is not a license, per se, but pays for research to help federal regulators manage bluefish, weakfish and other species. The registry is in the best interest of recreational fishermen, she said.
If the agency has more accurate harvest numbers, it can improve fish management - possibly reducing future restrictions on the size and limit of catches.
Without good data, the agency's scientists have to make conservative estimates that perhaps have led to tighter restrictions than necessary on popular fish such as fluke or striped bass, she said.
"Stock assessments are very heavily reliant on data we get from commercial fisherman," she said. "It's very hard to guess how many fish recreational fishermen take. This is a way to get a more accurate count."
Random fishermen who sign up for the registry will get a call from a statistician inquiring about their annual catch.
Some anglers said they fear the registry could spur New Jersey to adopt a saltwater fishing license.
"We're a little skeptical about it. Eastern states have adopted saltwater fishing licenses," Surf City fisherman Kevin Cook said.
"We figured this was a precursor to that. Once the state gets a hold of these federal numbers and sees how many people sign up for it, they're going to realize they can get hundreds of thousands per year and make a dent in their deficit."
Cook said he planned to sign up for the registry this week before he and his wife have to pay $15 apiece on Saturday.
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