NJDEP’s Fish and Wildlife is advising the public that a rulemaking proposal with amendments to rules governing Crab and Lobster Management, Commercial Atlantic Menhaden Fishery, Marine Fisheries, and Fishery Management in New Jersey has been published in the March 1, 2021, NJ Register, which commenced a 60-day comment period.

Proposed amendments include the following:

• Changes to the number of commercial crab pot/trot line licenses and crab dredge licenses, for both the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Coast, and allow licensees to transfer those licenses to any person, based upon the number of available licenses;
• Ability to modify certain fishery management measures by notice to remain in compliance with the mandated fishery management plans;
• A requirement for use of non-offset circle hooks in all New Jersey waters while recreationally fishing for striped bass with bait to maintain compliance with the Striped Bass Interstate Fishery Management Plan, and;
• Management measures for the commercial Atlantic menhaden fishery.

Full Proposal (pdf, DEP Site)

A copy of the official Notice and a link to the full proposal (above) are also available on the DEP Rules site.

Written comments may be submitted electronically at:
www.nj.gov/dep/rules/comments
or in hard copy to:

Ryan H. Knapick, Esq.
ATTN: DEP Docket No. 1-21-1
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Legal Affairs
Mail Code 401-04L; PO Box 402
401 East State Street, 7th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402

Comments must be submitted by April 30, 2021.