Law would have an impact on New Jersey Fish and Game Council

Plumsted Township has thousands of woodland acres with hundreds of streams, ponds and lakes that have provided generations of families fishing and hunting opportunities for recreation and food supply. However, pending state legislation could change what we have all been accustomed to and enjoyed.

State Assembly bill 3275 proposes major changes to the 1948 law that established the state Fish and Game Council. Under A-3275 there would be revisions in both the membership of the Fish and Game Council, as well as its authority.

Presently, and since 1948, the Fish and Game Council has been comprised of 11 members with knowledge and interest in the conservation of fish and game as follows: three farmers, recommended by the state agriculture convention; six sportsmen, recommended by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs; one citizen member knowledgeable in land use management and soil conservation practices; and the chairperson of the Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee.

Under A-3275, the Fish and Game Council membership would be reduced from 11 to seven members, all of whom would be politically appointed in the future with no requirement to have farmers or sportsmen on the council.

Additionally, A-3275 proposes to revise the authority of the Fish and Game Council by expanding its duties to investigate the use of "non-lethal alternatives for dealing with wildlife." Significantly, a major revision regarding the Fish and Game Council's authority to adopt a Fish and Game Code is proposed by removing the following phrase, "for use and development of fish and game for public recreation and food supply" and replacing it with new wording, "for the purpose of providing a properly managed and balanced system of protection, propagation, control and conservation of freshwater fish, game birds, game animals, and fur-bearing animals in this state."

Last, but not least, the Division of Fish and Game will not only have its name changed to Fish and "Wildlife" (removing all references to "game"), but the proposed new Division of Fish and Wildlife will no longer be defined as being in the state Department of Conservation and Economic Development, rather, in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). I look forward to personally hearing from and speaking with my constituents regarding A-3275.

Ron Dancer

state assemblyman

30th District

Plumsted