Sponsored by:
Assemblyman R. BRUCE LAND
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman MATTHEW W. MILAM
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman JOHN ARMATO
District 2 (Atlantic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Mazzeo
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Catch and Cook program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a Catch and Cook program and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
“Department” means the Department of Health; and
“Permit” means a Catch and Cook permit issued pursuant to this section.
“Restaurant” means a business that sells or provides food for consumption on the premises, and includes, but is not limited to, any restaurant, café, delicatessen, or coffee shop.”
b. The department, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall develop and implement a Catch and Cook program to permit restaurants to receive, prepare, and serve for consumption a freshwater or saltwater fish legally taken by a person holding a valid New Jersey recreational fishing license.
c. A restaurant may receive, prepare, and serve a freshwater or saltwater fish legally taken by a recreational fisherman for consumption by that recreational fishermen or any person in their party only pursuant to a permit issued pursuant to this section. A restaurant shall apply to the department in a manner prescribed pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the department to implement this section.
d. The restaurant that has been issued a permit pursuant to this section shall:
(1) receive only fish that has been cleaned and filleted, placed in a clean single-serve packaging, and properly refrigerated;
(2) inspect the fish for freshness and proper temperature;
(3) ensure the freshwater or saltwater fish is properly labeled with the date, time, and name of the recreational fisherman that brought the freshwater or saltwater fish to the restaurant;
(4) store, prepare, and handle the fish separately from products being prepared for and served to the general public;
(5) serve the fish within four hours of receipt of the fish at the restaurant;
(6) properly clean and sanitize in a manner prescribed by the department all containers, preparation tables, cutting boards, utensils, and other food preparation equipment used to prepare and serve the fish;
(7) require a recreational fisherman who brings in a fish to be prepared and served by that restaurant to sign an assumption of risk form to be provided by the department. The restaurant shall retain all signed forms for a period of not less than 90 days after the date on which the form was signed; and
(8) post a copy of the permit in the same manner as required for public health notices.
e. The department, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to implement the Catch and Cook program. A permit issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance, and may be renewed for additional one year periods in accordance with application procedures prescribed by the department. The department shall not charge a fee for the issuance of a permit pursuant to this section.
f. The department may suspend or revoke any Catch and Cook permit for any violation of the provisions of this section or the rules and regulations adopted by the department or upon the recommendation of the Department of Environmental Protection or the local public health official.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill requires the Department of Health, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection, to develop and implement a Catch and Cook program to permit restaurants to receive, prepare, and serve a freshwater or saltwater fish caught by a licensed recreational fishermen for consumption by the licensed recreational fishermen or any person in their party.