We need your help - NJ Surf Fisherman are on the verge of losing our beach access

[msba]

Sudsy - for those of us out of the loop - can you give us more info?

Thanks....

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by msba

Sudsy - for those of us out of the loop - can you give us more info?

Thanks....

That was me

[Sudsy]

The short and sweet of it is that our State government is selling out to the special interests and rewording state law as to how beach access is dealt with.

They're going to let each individual town write and enforce their own rules. This includes many towns that have historically tried to limit beach access.

All reference to the Public Trust Doctrine is being removed from State law (if you're not familiar with the Public Trust Doctrine, you should be, it affects everyone that wants to access tidal waters and dates back 1,500 years)

There's even wording that will give towns the ability to make fishing off the rocks and jetties illegal - saying it's too dangerous

They are taking responsibility for enforcement of public access rules away from the DEP. The DEP has always been the hammer we've counted on to reopen access when it has been illegally taken away.
Many of you might remember the battle with the Coast Guard when they fenced off the Rip at Sandy Hook. That was a huge fight. If not for the DEP the single most famous surf fishing location in all of NJ would be lost to us. If this passes, the Coast Guard could rebuild that fence and now there is nothing that we could do about it.

[Sudsy]

Want to hear some real BS - look what the state is trying to pull now
I'm pretty sure it's not even legal
Just got it from John Weber with Surfrider

Just to let you know how serious the state is about pushing this through

We have learned that the state is lobbying local governments about the "benefits" of this rule and encouraging them to speak in favor at the public hearings. My own mayor confirmed receiving such a letter from Trenton. This state lobbying for it's own rules being done with taxpayer money. A waste not mention unfair.

Proof that the state is all in on this issue
If we don't stand together and be heard, every one of us, we are going to lose this fight

[Stewie]

So, We're supposed to pay for everything the government wants to do and they keep taking away the things we live for. I'm ashamed to live among people who vote these pinheads into office. I'll write the letter out longhand and mail it tomorrow, Sudsy.