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A Special Report
Congressman Jim Saxton Visits Barnegat Light
A Special Report by S.Alnutt
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United States Representative Jim Saxton, R-3rd District, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation,Wildlife, and Oceans, addressed the Barnegat Light Taxpayers Association on Saturday, September 12, 1998, and had some interesting things to say regarding the local commercial fishing industry. |
About scalloping, he noted that the industry as a whole is overcapitalized. There are just too many scallopers out there, beginning in New England where many who were previously fishermen have turned to scalloping. Saxton is working to reduce the pressure on both the scallopers and the fishermen. He is trying to (1) open Georges Bank, which is now closed, to scalloping, (2) reduce the number of days at sea per year to a sustainable level for the scallopers to make a living and the supply of scallops to be replenished, and (3) implement industry buy-outs to reduce the number of boats at sea.
With regard to long-line fishing, Saxton also is working to reduce the number of boats at sea. There are just not enough fish out there for the number of boats fishing for them. He intends to introduce legislation to make it more difficult for newcomers to get into long-lining, while allowing those already in the business to remain. He also will introduce buy-out programs for long-lining. He will do everything possible to avoid putting our fishermen out of business.
During the meeting our mayor, Kirk Larson, also had an opportunity to speak to the problems the fishermen are having with government regulators. Government statistics differ markedly with industry statistics on the supply of fish available. To complicate matters, the fishermen disagree among themselves about the issues. Without a united front, all stand to lose.
Another speaker, Nelson Beideman, noted that long-liners are working with Saxton to promote both fishing and environmental interests. He further spoke to the point that international fishery regulations are largely political. Only 5% of the total Atlantic harvest is caught by United States fishermen, both commercial and recreational. United States fishermen are disadvantaged against foreign fishermen who are mostly, if not wholly, unregulated. Because of this, some United States fishermen have taken their expertise to foreign fisheries and are fishing there unregulated.
When asked if, in view of the disadvantages our fisheries face with foreign competition, our government could limit imports, Saxton reminded the audience that to do so we would need leverage. Pressure on the international community remains an idea, pending creation of some sort of leverage in the future.
On another subject of interest to both fishermen and boaters, Saxton has convinced the Coast Guard to replace the old north jetty marker with a large, visible new one and not just a buoy. For financial and engineering reasons, the replacement won't be possible before spring of 1999. Further, the Coast Guard will be working to provide a safer channel as well as to raise the north jetty to improve its visibility, but that will be a 4- to 6-year process.
