Legislation Assembly Democrats Nelson Albano, Matt Milam, Celeste Riley and Paul Moriarty sponsored to ensure free recreational saltwater fishing continues in New Jersey received Senate approval on Monday.
The bill (A-823) shields New Jersey from a federal law that authorized the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to charge saltwater anglers a fee to cover costs associated with a new saltwater angler registry.
It was approved 54-16 by the Assembly in March and 36-0 by the Senate on Monday. The Senate made technical amendments to the bill, so the Assembly must give it final legislative approval before it goes to the governor. The Assembly will likely consider it in early January.
“We should not be charging people to fish the open sea,” said Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “Fish conservation and management is important thing, but we don’t “This has always been free in New Jersey and should remain that way forever,” said Milam (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “We all favor conservation and management, but we don’t need to impose a fee upon our anglers to get that job done.”
