Highlights Fish and Game Council Meeting
February 9, 2010
By David Burke, Councilman – Southern Region
Council Attendance: Brummer, Burke, Kertz, Messeroll, Wolgast and Vreeland answered the roll call. Acting Chairwoman Vreeland presided over the meeting.
January Minutes: Approved with minor changes. (Approved minutes are posted on the Division website after approval.)
Director Chanda’s Comments: The Division is generally within its’ current year budget. (25% of the Division’s positions are vacant.) Marine Fisheries has a deficit of $100,000. The Garden State Deer Classic was a success and the awards presentation was attended by 150 sportsmen on the last day of the show. Results of the Deer Classic are on the Division and Federation websites. Director Chanda will attend a "Teaming with Wildlife" meeting in Washington DC on February 23 and 24. The meeting provides the opportunity to discuss wildlife related issues with our elected representatives.
Legislation: John Messeroll and Paulette Nelson (Division staff) reported that numerous bills were re-introduced for the current legislation session. A long list of bills was provided to the Council. The Council positions on the bills were the same as the previous session. Additional information on the bills will be available through the State Federation and NJOA.
Wildlife Management (Asst. Director Herrighty): The Council approved a Community Based Deer Management Program for Watchung Reservation, Union County. Twelve volunteer agents will cull deer from March 1 to 3. Agents shoot deer from elevated stands over bait. The program goal is to remove 50 to 100 deer this year. Deer are processed and the venison is donated to the Community Food Bank of NJ. The program began in 1994 and has been successful in reducing and maintaining the deer population at an acceptable level. Hunters are reminded to submit their turkey permit applications by February 22. Research results on the estimated bear population, conducted by East Stroudsburg University, should be available in March. The results will be included in the updated/draft bear management policy document later in March. Bear sightings, damage and nuisance complaints were up 5.59% in 2009 compared to 2008.
Freshwater Fisheries: Chief Barno reported that the South Jersey Fisheries Forum will be held at 10 am on February 27 at Batsto Village. Fisheries management and research updates will be presented and the public is invited to provide input and ask questions. Directions and additional information are available on the Division website. Tuckahoe Lake (Cape May County) was added to the trout stocking list. Dennisville Lake and West Pond (both in Cape May County) were dropped from the stocking program. 450 bonus brood stock trout will be stocked at Birch Grove Park Pond (Atlantic County), 500 will be stocked at Shaws Mill Pond (Cumberland County) and 390 will be stocked in Grenloch Lake (Gloucester/Camden Counties). Most spring trout allocations for South Jersey are similar to 2009. Freshwater Fishing Digests are available at license agents.
Law Enforcement: Chief Cussen reported that in addition to the information contained in the monthly report, officers had confiscated and removed a rattlesnake, cobra and alligator from individuals. (The cobra was taken from a fish tank in baby’s room.) Appropriate summonses were issued. From the monthly report, officers performed 677 inspections and issued 48 summonses in the southern region. Several summonses were issued for deer hunting violations such as failing to tag deer, hunting at night, killing deer in the wrong zone and shooting a deer with a firearm during winter bow season.
Information and Education: Chief Sciascia presented final hunting license, permit and stamp sales information for 2009. Archery license sales were up 7.7% and firearm license sales were down 0.8%. Deer permit sales increased by 2%. Pheasant and quail stamp sales were down 4.6%. I & E will host an Outdoor Writers meeting on March 18 and host an open house at Pequest on March 27 & 28.
Lands Management: Chief Petrongolo reported that no additional lands had been added to the WMA system this month. Work continues on forest stewardship plans for Whitings, Greenwood and Peaslee WMAs. Division staff is also working with the Landis Sewage Authority and the Quail Group on habitat management on the 1800 acre area near the Union Lake WMA. A firewood salvage cut is being conducted on Buckshootem WMA.
Public Comments: Five animal rights advocates attended the meeting and voiced opposition to hunting, sportsmen, Division and Council.
Executive Session: The Council closed the public meeting in order to discuss several law suits including the bear lawsuit.
The above is a summary of only a few of the reports (written and oral) provided at the meeting.
The Game Committee of the Council will meet on March 16 regarding the 2011-12 Game Code. Additional suggestions for regulation changes should be submitted to the Division and Council ASAP.
Marine anglers 16 and older are reminded to register for the Federal Government’s National Saltwater Registry Program before fishing in 2010 (www.countmyfish.noaa.gov or 888-674-7411. There is no fee and registering is easy.
The next Council meeting will be held beginning at 10 am on March 9 at the Central Region Office, Robbinsville. Meeting agendas are available on the Division website.
The South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council needs someone to help us plant wildlife habitat for our Team Habitat Program. Here's information on this program at http://teamhabitat.sjrcd.org/
Ken Teaffe, Corrdinator
South Jersey RC&D
Columbs USDA Service Center
1971 Jackson-Jobstown Road
Coulumbus, NJ 08022
609-267-1639 X110
South Amboy Venison Buffet
Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 5 P.M.
Secred Heart Annex
Main Street
South Amboy, NJ
Tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased at the door or call
South Amboy Fire Department - 732-727-0550 or
Jim Larkin at 732-429-9602
N.J. fishermen facing a potential shutdown of shark fishing
KIRK MOORE • TOMS RIVER BUREAU • January 30, 2010
New Jersey fishermen could see a shutdown of the summer shark fishery - and the
suspension of big-money shark fishing tournaments - because a two-year-old revision of the state's marine fishing regulations was not approved before former governor Jon Corzine left office, industry advocates say.
Now they are afraid the regulations could be delayed again by Gov. Christie's declaration of a 90-day moratorium on new regulations and rulemaking.
""Because of Governor Corzine's failure to act on the package, New Jersey is facing a potentially damaging shutdown of our shark fishery,'' the Recreational Fishing Alliance says in a letter sent today to the governor's office. ""The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is scheduled to meet in Alexandria, Virginia, from February 1-4, and during those meetings New Jersey is expected to be voted out of compliance on our shark regulations, which will begin the process of shutting down our shark fishery.''
The ASMFC is an interstate compact that binds East Coast states in cooperative
conservation measures. States that don't comply with those management plans can have their fisheries closed, a step that would be enforced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Coast Guard.
Back in 2007 the state Department of Environmental Protection prepared a sweeping revision of the state's regulations to comply with ASMFC requirements, but it languished during legal reviews and was ready for publication in the state Register last fall, according to the RFA, and has been awaiting approval at the governor's office.
___________________________________________________________________________
New Jersey Waterfowlers 40th Anniversary Dinner
Holiday Inn
Route 72 & Route 9
Manahawken, NJ
Saturday, March 6, 2010
6:30 PM - Cocktails till 7:30
Dinner Following - Choice ... To Be Determined
Price ... To Be Determined
CALL: Frank Thomas @Work 732.741.1216 @Home 732.872.1006
MAIL Reservations: Frank Thomas c/o Custom Woodwork
9 Catherine Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Up, Up, and Away!
The Federation goes on the Air Waves!
Yesterday, the Federation launched its first radio ad on WSNJ 1240 AM in Bridgeton, Cumberland County. Host George Moore aired the ad on the Sportsmen's Hotline Show. The ad will run for the month of December.
If you want to hear the ad, listen on your computer at www.wsnjam.com on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Attention
Notice of Change!
The deadline for nominations to the "Annual Federation Awards" has been change to April 1, 2009
Please return all nominations to President Ed Cuneo by this new date.
The Annual Federation Awards
Please be aware that the Federation now has three annual awards which will be awarded each year at the Annual New Jersey State Federation Convention to deserving individuals for outstanding work and contributions made by them to the federation. They are:
The Keith Griffith Memorial Award
The Frank Valgenti Award
The George Howard Conservation Award
The Keith Griffiths Award is named in honor of the late Keith Griffiths who was a dedicated Federation member from Sussex County. The award is given to a Federation member that exemplifies the principles and dedication that Keith brought to the Federation in making it a better organization for all sportsmen and women of New Jersey.
The Frank Valgenti Award is named in memory of the New Jersey sportsman who was responsible for the creation of the Fish and Game Council and for the language that provided the Federation with the ability to name six sportsmen to the Council. This award would honor anyone who furthers the cause of hunting, fishing and trapping in the state of New Jersey.
The George Howard Conservation Award is named after the Federation’s Conservation Directior and former Fish and Game Director and Counil member. This award would honor anyone who exemplifies George’s spirit in the conservation and wise-use of New Jersey’s natural resources.
We are now taking nominations for persons who you feel are worthy of these awards. The nominees for the Frank Valgenti and George Howard awards do not have to be Federation members. However, awarding of the winners is at the discretion of the Federation Convention Committee.
If you are interested in nominating someone, please contact Ed Cuneo at farmeredcuneo@yahoo.com or at 609-567-9082.
All nominations must be submitted by May 1, 2010.
New Jersey County Fair Schedules 2009 and 2010
Looking for New Members?
Man your booths at the County Fairs!
Start Your Planning Now!
DEER ZONE Status Change
Requested by the Southern Region
November 19, 2009
The Southern Region of the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs requests that the Fish and Game Council change the deer zone designation for the White Oak Wildlife Management Area from zone 25 to zone 65. The White Oak WMA, because of the ease of accessibility to hunters and a problem with feral hogs, has undergone a rapid decline in its deer population. In order to reverse this alarming trend we ask that you consider removing the White Oak WMA from zone 25 and placing it in zone 65, which has more restrictive harvest goals. This would allow the deer population in this area to return to its former levels in due time.
This is the third request this year the Southern Region has made for a reduction in deer harvest by down zoning an area to a lower regulation set. The Southern Area has a good track record for wildlife conservation, even at the cost of reducing their success in the harvest.
The Fish & Game Council is beginning work on the next Game Code revision. If you or your clubs have any recommendation for change to the Fish & Game Council’s next Game Code, now is the time to start thinking about it and start writing down your ideas. Don’t wait for the last minute and possible lose out because you forgot or were not proactive in getting your request in. As soon as you get your written version done, submitted it to your regional delegates so they can bring it to the next regional meeting and get as much support as you can. The next best thing is to develop it into a resolution and process it though the resolution committee. This builds momentum and gets you support.
If you wish you can go directly to the Fish & Game Council with your request, but you may or may not get the support you need. That’s your choice!
EM/JAS
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey
Explorations E-Magazine
The Complete Article on the Seminar of
Conserve Wildlife Foundation forges
"Global Warming and Wildlife Initiative"
by Margaret O'Gorman
Click here for the Article
Report from a Workshop Seminar on
"New Jersey, Wildlife and Global Warming"
October 2, 2009
Sponsored by the Conservation Resources, Inc.
Hosted by National Wildlife Federation, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, and the Conservation Wildlife Foundation. Partners in the workshop are the American Littoral Society, The Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Audubon Society, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance. Brief: The seminar covered the effects of Global Warming and Climate Changes with regard to wildlife in New Jersey. We reviewed Climate Change, the Effects of Global Warming, the Green House Effects, and Green House Gases. There were many maps, images, and proposed images of the near future and beyond.
Dave Chanda, spoke about the State Wildlife Action Plan, and the work of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. "Although we do a good job of it, we can do it alone", he said. His emphasis on the need for collaboration and partnerships with other agencies and organizations are necessary.
Congressman Rush Holts, spoke about the America Clean Energy and Security Act to protect the environment and the need for three or four decades to reduce 80% of the carbon dioxide emissions.
Hector Galbrath of the Manomet Center for Conservation Science gave us an overview of what is Climate Change; How will the climate change affect the North East USA; What are the impacts on ecology; What can we do now and in the future (Adaptation); and finally; What are the urgent steps now! His conclusions are the following:
a. Adaptation Planning – Biological changes needed to suit the environment.
b. The need for a Vulnerability Study
c. Adoption of Regional Factors
d. On-the-Ground Tools and Solutions
Dave Robinson, NJ Climatologist for Rutgers U. spoke about Climate Change and its impact on our freshwater supply for the State of New Jersey. The Hydrologic Cycle has to deal with more extremes than normal. Flooding, droughts. erosion, runoff, seawater intrusion, increases in population and quality of our water supply.
Rick Lathrop, Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Special Analysis at Rutgers U. covered the affects of wildlife and the climate changes taking place. Using a chart presentation, he showed how the climate change impacts wildlife. The warmer weather forces certain wildlife to move in a more northerly direction. They may be forced to move into or out of the forest for example. The problem is, the forest does not move and this becomes a habitat change for wildlife sometimes with great consequences. If the climate becomes extremely warm, it may force wildlife north beyond the tree line of the forest.
The coastal vulnerability is even greater. With a sea level rise of 0.6 to 1.2 meters projected, great amounts of the coastal marshes will be under water. This then becomes a catastrophic catastrophe in New Jersey’s littoral area and for resident and migrating birds and creatures.
Tim Dillingham spoke on developing a "Vulnerability Analysis" for the Coast. He used GIS charts in his presentation to show the coastal areas of New Jersey and how development has impacted it. He said;" Nearly 64% of the coast is urbanized and we need to make changes before it’s too late."
Robert Loveland, Professor from Rutgers U. discussed the Horseshoe Crab impact on over harvesting. They are a hearty bunch of critters with over 450 million years in the evolutionary system, but over harvesting has taken its toll. He said; "We need to manage our 127 miles of beaches and we need to do it with long range planning." ATV’s destroy the eggs that lie just below the surface of the sands and can kill millions of eggs in a single event. "It takes a million eggs to produce just one horseshoe crab," he said. The rest are consumed or dead on the beaches. He stressed the need for new land use laws in this state. "We can’t change the results of climate change, but we can manage the impacts of change," he said.
Sherry Morgan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife spoke on "Regional Resources Adaptation Planning." It included things like: Landscape Conservation; Funding; Regional Adaptation; Ground Tools; Strategic Planning; and a possible web site. She said: "Make a shift to include "Climate Change" into our daily lives and develop an adaptation plan to cope with the impacts of global warming."
Jeanne Herb, NJDEP, She spoke about the "Ongoing Climate Change Initiatives" in NJ. New Jersey is leading the way in Adaptation and Mitigation, she said. The "Green House Gases Initiatives" is one of the top ten in the Northeast States.
Mike Catania, Conservation Resources, Inc., spoke about "How do we pay for it."
1. Possible sources.
a. Potential Federal Sources List.
b. Potential State Sources List.
c. Open Space Bonding Issue on the Ballot this year. Support it!
d. Potential Private Sources
2. Challenges to Addressing Public and Private Funding
a. The Conservation Exchange.
b. CRI is a non-profit grant maker.
c. Regulatory Contributions
d. Established Sources.
e. New Sources.
3. "Managing Lands in the Future is not going to be the same as the past."
4. Measuring Impacts and Results.
5. Increasing Resilience and Resistance
6. Scientific Approach.
7. Implementation, Trials, and Testing.
8. How do we work together.
9. Funding
10. Coordination.
11. Partnering.
12. Measurement of Success.
My Conclusions: Not only do we need to rethink our position on "Climate Change and its effects on "Wildlife" we also need to rethink our position as a Federation and our view in the current state of affairs, which is getting narrower each day. It’s a big world out there and it’s changing. We must change with it or suffer the consequences.
Here are a few famous quotes that I bound together and keep in front of me all the time and it goes like this;
"One must never lose time in vainly regretting nor in complaining about the changes which cause us discomfort, for change is the very essence of life."
"Continuous change therefore becomes comfortable change, the past is then the guide to the future."
"However, when you are through changing, you are through." Authors unknown
This seminar on Friday October 2, 2009 really got me thinking. Hunting, Fishing and Trapping is very important to us and we wish to maintain those cherished hobbies/rights forever, but like the seminar I’m reporting on today; we can’t do it alone anymore. We must expand the base of our pyramid in the sand or we will wind up - upside down. We must become a nation of conservation pyramids with very wide bases and very high peaks and we don’t have a couple thousand years to do it. Let’s get the sand out of our eyes, before we become bind and can’t build our pyramid in the sand.
James A. Soden
US Fish & Wildlife Rule Change on
Waterfowl & Coots
TRENTON - The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife is advising waterfowl hunters that the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has published a final rule approving tungsten-iron-fluoropolymer shot for hunting waterfowl and coots. The final rule is effective immediately.
The ban on lead shot for hunting waterfowl became nationwide in 1991. Nontoxic shot regulations apply only to waterfowl and coots and is defined as any shot type that does not cause sickness and death when ingested by migratory birds.
A printable version of the list of approved shot can be found on the division's website at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2009/nontoxicshot.htm . Additional information can be found on the FWS website at www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/nontoxic.htm . Information on waterfowl and waterfowl hunting in New Jersey, including a new video on waterfowl hunting safety, can be found at www.njfishandwildlife.com/waterfowl_info.htm .
Special - A Blast from the Past! (1953)
NEW JERSEY FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS
Earl H. Heide, Daniel D. Warfield
President. Secretary
Southern Region
THE JOB
Is NOT YET FINISHED
To date we have been very successful in our conservation efforts, thanks to a majority -of our Fish and Game Council. our Govemor, our Assembly and Senate and a great numbe of civic groups. It is very evident that more people in New Jersey are conservation-minded than ever before. BUT, our fight is just beginning.
First, we are the only sportsmen's group recognized by law in the State. We are gaining strength every day, and gaining the respect and cooperation of our neighbors. We must admit, however, that we have a little cleaning of our own back yard to do. Some of our members must be taught the meaning of conservation and wildlife management, and to voice their opinions only after considerable, open-minded thought, with consideration toward all phases of sportsmen's activities.
Let's be open-minded, long range and objective in our thinking and efforts. We mentioned a couple of years ago "Rabbits, Quail, Deer and Pheasants are feeding today where industrial, commercial and housing developments will be built tomorrow." Tomorrow is "now" in some parts ·of South Jersey. Camden County, for example, cannot find enough open land this year to accommodate one-half of its allotment of quail and pheasants. The balance will go to some other county which has open hunting land. How does the immediate future of your county look from the sportsman's point of view? And what are yougoing to do about it? .
A law preventing, we hope, the netting of striped bass in our inland coastal waters is now in effect. The Game Council does not have the money, manpower or equipment to even partially enforce it. Is it our job to fight for ~ Tide Water, or Salt Water license not only to enforce the striper law, but to provide funds for research, propagation of other tide water fish?
New Jersey is about the only state not having a big game license. The deer licensing bill was defeated last year. This year the Council gave out numerous deer permits because they do not have the funds to provide repellent, fencing, diversionary food patches or trapping service in overpopulated deer areas. A deer license, in addition to the revenue it would provide, would mean $30,000. from R-P funds for deer management. Some nurseryman or farmer will probably kill YOUR deer this year because it nipped his crops or seedlings. There are no funds to prevent it. What do you intend to do about this? .
The new Garden State Parkway, paralleling the Jersey Coast, now under construction, will make easy access to some of our finest hunting, fishing and wildfowl areas for inumerable hunters and fishermen from the thickly populated northern and out-of-state cities. Is there. anything we should do to make more public hunting lands available?
. Salem County Sportsmen's Club
With the prices of South Jersey lands at a premium, the Salem County Sportsmen's Club purchased a farm located on South Jersey's best and longest strip of bass water.
The Salem Canal is about twenty-eight miles long and we now own a goodly footage along the, north side of it.' . .
Watch for our open house in the near future.
Glen Young, Secretary
OCTOBER, 1953
Operation Game Thief