Akea Cader, MS Student, Virginia Tech, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation requested a meeting with the NJOA
to assist them in their Virginia Tech Project on Recreational Fishing.
The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech, is a public landgrant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.
NJOA assigned Trustee Anthony Pensabene to talk New Jersey Summer Flounder Recreational Fishing with the student.
Akea and Anthony met at Mariners Cove Restaurant in
Brielle for a relaxing breakfast on June 23rd.
Questions and comments were far-ranging and at times intense.
They talked about Fishermen and Women acting as Conservationist’s first and foremost who practice sustainable fishing practices…to the relaxing (and sometimes frustrating) fishing-up of quality protein to feed family and friends that tastes great !
The Science and at times shortfalls in collecting quality comprehensive data from the NJ recreational side were also discussed. Here we agreed that greater participation in NJ’s Saltwater Recreational Registry Program could likely lead to growing the underlying data base to strengthen quality data collection over time, which could eventually lead to improving the science around quotas.
Akea asked quality questions around the composition of NJ’s Summer Flounder fishermen / women, how many from the surf, how many on private boats, how many on Charter Boats etc. They also discussed the increasing thus concerning expenses around NJ recreational fishing.
Questions were also raised as to how / who is involved in Marine Fisheries management. Acknowledgments were made to our own NJ DEP / NJ Fish & Wildlife to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and to
Federal agencies NOAA & NMFS. Clearly we all want the agencies to succeed in protecting marine species, ensuring vibrant fisheries, and resilient ecosystems.
Akea admitted that previous fact-finding on her part discovered that respondents pointed out that NJ Marine Law Enforcement might not be staffed at a level to assure reasonable asset protection. Discussion migrated to a lack of legislative priority and consequently and sadly State funding shortfalls.
After 90 minutes the check was presented. Time to say thanks and goodbye. Akea asked would the NJOA be available to provide additional Project input in the future. Anthony responded in traditional NJOA fashion “We’ve got your back”
Thank you,
NJOA, Board of Trustee’s