AJR60

A Joint Resolution establishing the Saltwater Fisheries and Aquaculture Task Force.

Whereas, Although the commercial fishing industry is ranked fourth on the East Coast for value of commercial catch, revenues from New Jersey commercial fishing industries exceed $600 million annually, and there are 2,800 commercial fisherman and 180 licensed aquaculture farming operations in the State, the economic impact of commercial fishing and aquacultureis little recognized, and the State has provided little support compared to the economic value generated; and

Whereas, Although about one million recreational anglers spend over five million days fishing in New Jersey each year, and these anglers spend over $750 million supporting 20,000 full-time equivalent jobs and contribute $45 million in sales tax income to New Jersey each year, the economic impact of the recreational fishery is also little recognized, and the State has provided little support compared to the economic value generated; and

Whereas, A reliable source of data collection and information management could help reduce conflict between the commercial and recreational fisheries over fishery resources and access; and

Whereas, The finfish and shellfish industries in the State have not fully coordinated their efforts on research, marketing, or management of the various species; and

Whereas, To better promote the saltwater fishing and aquaculture industries, it is vitally important to unify and coordinate research, support, and regulatory activities among various academic institutions and governmental entities; and

Whereas, A task force that assembles the interested parties and provides a forum for focusing on developing a plan of action to address the needs of the commercial and recreational saltwater fishing and aquaculture industries would be beneficial not only to those industries but also to the general public who enjoy the fruit of the labor of those who harvest the bounty of the sea; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is established the Saltwater Fisheries and Aquaculture Task Force, to consist of 19 members as follows: three members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, of whom two shall be members of the Senate Environment Committee or its successor, and not more than two of the three shall be of the same political party; three members of the General Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, of whom two shall be members of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee or its successor, and not more than two of the three shall be of the same political party; two representatives of the commercial fishing industry, two representatives of the recreational fishing industry, one representative of the marine trades industry, one representative of the shellfish aquaculture industry, one representative of the seafood restaurant industry, one representative of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, The State University, one representative of the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory of the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University, one dean or similar official of a county college, and one representative of the Marine Fisheries Council, each of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; the Secretary of Agriculture; and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection. The Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall serve ex officio.

2. a. It shall be the duty of the task force to:

(1) examine and evaluate all aspects of the commercial and recreational saltwater fishing and aquaculture industries;

(2) identify the strengths and weaknesses of those industries and develop strategies to address any weaknesses that may be identified;

(3) determine whether consolidating and streamlining the management, support, and research efforts connected with the saltwater fishing and aquaculture industries under one organizational and administrative entity is in the best interest of those industries; and

(4) if determined to be in the best interest of the industries, identify the appropriate administrative entity to perform the task and the best methods to be employed by that entity.

b. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.

c. The task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

3. a. The task force shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members and shall elect from its members a chairman and vice-chairman. The chairman may appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.

b. The task force may meet at the call of its chairman at the times and in the places it may deem appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge. The task force may conduct public hearings in furtherance of its general purposes at such place or places as it shall designate.

4. The task force, within six months after its organization, shall issue a report of its findings and conclusions, together with any recommendations it may have for legislative or regulatory action, to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature. The task force shall expire on the 30th day after the date on which the report is issued.

5. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution establishes the 19-member Saltwater Fisheries and Aquaculture Task Force. The task force is charged with:

1) examining and evaluating all aspects of the commercial and recreational saltwater fishing and aquaculture industries;

2) identifying the strengths and weaknesses of those industries and develop strategies to address any weaknesses that may be identified;

3) determining whether consolidating and streamlining the management, support, and research efforts connected with the saltwater fishing and aquaculture industries under one organizational and administrative entity is in the best interest of those industries;

4) if determined to be in the best interest of the industries, identifying the appropriate administrative entity to perform the task and the best methods to be employed by that entity; and

5) within six months after its organization, issuing a report of its findings and conclusions, together with any recommendations it may have for legislative or regulatory action, to the Governor and the Legislature.

The membership of the task force would be as follows: three members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, of whom two shall be members of the Senate Environment Committee or its successor, and not more than two of the three shall be of the same political party; three members of the General Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, of whom two shall be members of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee or its successor, and not more than two of the three shall be of the same political party; two representatives of the commercial fishing industry, two representatives of the recreational fishing industry, one representative of the marine trades industry, one representative of the shellfish aquaculture industry, one representative of the seafood restaurant industry, one representative of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, The State University, one representative of the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory of the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University, one dean or similar official of a county college, and one representative of the Marine Fisheries Council, each of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; and the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, serving ex officio.