A2152

An Act creating an Advisory Committee on New Jersey’s Historic Commercial Fishing Grounds.

Be It Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is created, within the Division of Fish and Wildlife of the Department of Environmental Protection, the "Advisory Committee on New Jersey’s Historic Commercial Fishing Grounds."

b. The advisory committee shall consist of 11 members to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, of whom four shall represent and be knowledgeable of the interests of commercial fishermen, two shall represent recreational fishermen, one shall be an active fish processor, one shall represent the general public, and three shall be active members of the Marine Fisheries Council. Of the members of the Marine Fisheries Council appointed to the advisory committee, two shall represent commercial fishing interests and one shall represent recreational fishing interests. The Governor shall appoint a chairperson and vice-chairperson of the advisory committee from among its members.

c. Any vacancy on the advisory committee shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

d. The advisory committee shall organize within three months after the appointment of a majority of its members. The committee shall convene a minimum of three times.

e. Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the advisory committee for this purpose.

f. A majority of the members of the advisory committee shall constitute a quorum, and no action of the advisory committee shall be taken except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the entire advisory committee.

g. The Department of Environmental Protection shall provide primary staff support to the advisory committee.

2. The Advisory Committee on New Jersey’s Historic Commercial Fishing Grounds shall, within one year after the appointment of a majority of its members:

a. Study and analyze economic, social, and ecological data relating to underwater sand mounds in New Jersey;

b. Examine, consider, and make recommendations pertaining to the conservation and management of underwater sand mounds in the State;

c. Establish the locations of New Jersey’s historic commercial fishing grounds; and

d. Submit to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection a report with any recommendations for legislation, new rules and regulations, or revisions to existing rules and regulations which the advisory committee deems necessary for the proper protection of underwater sand mounds for commercial fishing. A copy of the report shall be transmitted to the Legislature in accordance with the requirements of section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).

3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the 30th day after submission by the advisory committee of its report.

STATEMENT

This bill would create the “Advisory Committee on New Jersey’s Historic Commercial Fishing Grounds” within the Division of Fish and Wildlife of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The advisory committee would consist of 11 members to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, of whom four would represent and be knowledgeable of the interests of commercial fishermen, two would represent recreational fishermen, one would be an active fish processor, one would represent the general public, and three would be active members of the Marine Fisheries Council. Of the members of the Marine Fisheries Council appointed to the advisory committee, two would represent commercial fishing interests and one would represent recreational fishing interests. The Governor would appoint a chairperson and vice-chairperson of the advisory committee from among its members.

Members of the advisory committee would serve without compensation, but would be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties. The DEP would be required to provide primary staff support to the advisory committee.

Within one year after the appointment of a majority of its members, the “Advisory Committee on New Jersey’s Historic Commercial Fishing Grounds” would:

1. Study and analyze economic, social, and ecological data relating to underwater sand mounds in New Jersey;

2. Examine, consider, and make recommendations pertaining to the conservation and management of underwater sand mounds in the State;

3. Establish the locations of New Jersey’s historic commercial fishing grounds; and

4. Submit to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection a report with any recommendations for legislation, new rules and regulations, or revisions to existing rules and regulations which the advisory committee deems necessary for the proper protection of underwater sand mounds for commercial fishing.