LOCAL LEGISLATION TO PROTECT FISHING INDUSTRY PASSES ASSEMBLY

Legislation Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam sponsored to better protect the commercial fishing docks and fish processing facilities so important to New Jersey’s economy and the Cape May region was approved 73-4 Thursday by the Assembly. The bill would establish a conflict resolution procedure – similar to the Right to Farm Act for farmers – for complaints against commercial fishing docks and fish processing facilities. The bill would direct the Department of Agriculture to develop and adopt commercial fishing industry practices, and any commercial fishing dock or fish processing facility conforming to those practices would benefit from an irrefutable presumption that they do not constitute a public or private nuisance, nor do they invade or interfere with the use and enjoyment of any other land or property. The bill goes to the Senate for more consideration.