New Jersey Assemblymen O’Donnell Newest Co-Sponsor of Save Our Reefs Pro-Fishing Bill

New Jersey Assemblymen O’Donnell Newest Co-Sponsor of Save Our Reefs Pro-Fishing Bill
The NJOA has been a strong supporter of hunting and gun rights causes in NJ and now they need the support of us to help get commercial fishing gear off reefs built with your tax money. Act Now! – AmmoLand

TRENTON, NJ –-(Ammoland.com)- The NJOA has been informed that Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell, (D) District 31, requested to be added as Co-Sponsor of Bill A1152, which prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.

Assemblyman O’Donnell becomes the 16th supporter of the Bill.

Anthony P. Mauro, Chair, NJOA (CF), said, “It is exciting to see the democratic process slowly working, with respect to removing fixed gear from the artificial reefs. As I’ve said before, the need to remove the traps and pots from the reefs and have Federal funding restored to the NJ Reef Program is not a partisan issue – it is a moral issue. The list of Co-Sponsors of Bill A1152 is growing. That’s why it’s frustrating to know that the bill is being blocked from an up-and-down vote by one person — the Chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Perhaps the full power in the democratic process will soon be realized and the Bill will be allowed to be heard.”

Captain Pete Grimbilas, Co-Founder, Reef Rescue and President, NJOA (CF) said, “There is near universal support for removing fixed gear from the reefs. It’s hard to believe that 20 trappers are able to lobby a single legislator to block a hearing on a Bill that would not only restore Federal funding to our state’s reef program but would also allow access to the reefs by nearly 800,000 anglers and divers. These anglers and divers pay for the reefs with excise taxes on gear purchases. The trappers pay nothing. Allowing a hearing on the Bill should be a no-brainer.”

On behalf of the outdoor community the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (CF) thanks Assembly members for recognizing that removing fixed gear (traps and pots) is simply the right thing to do. We suggest that outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen call and thank them.

The list that follows includes the Assembly members who are Primary Sponsors and Co-Sponsors of Bill A1152.

Assembly Sponsors and Co-Sponsors:

Rible, David P. as Primary Sponsor (R)
Angelini, Mary Pat as Primary Sponsor (R)
Albano, Nelson T. as Co-Sponsor (D)
Wolfe, David W. as Co-Sponsor (R)
Holzapfel, James W. as Co-Sponsor (R)
Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. as Co-Sponsor (D)
McHose, Alison Littell as Co-Sponsor (R)
Greenwald, Louis D. as Co-Sponsor (D)
Rumana, Scott T. as Co-Sponsor (R)
Amodeo, John F. as Co-Sponsor (R)
Voss, Joan M. as Co-Sponsor (D) *
Wagner, Connie Co-Sponsor (D) *
DeAngelo, Wayne P. as Co-Sponsor (D) *
Casagrande, Caroline as Co-Sponsor (R) *
DiCicco, Domenick Jr as Co-Sponsor (R) *
O’Donnell, Jason as Co-Sponsor (D) *
(* signing on as a Co-Sponsor)

You can contact your Assemblyperson and ask that they become a Co-Sponsor too – or thank them if they are already a Primary Sponsor or Co-Sponsor by taking the following steps:

1. Go to the following link and click on the town where you live. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/municipalities.asp
2. Click on the District where you live.
3. Call the phone number next to your Assembly representatives (there are two).
4. Ask them to be a Co-Sponsor of Bill A1152 (Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs). Let them know that you support Bill A1152.

It’s that easy.

You can also write your legislator!
People can use the link that follows to send a prewritten letter requesting that bill A-1152 be heard in the Assembly, which allows for public access (hook and line, and spear fishing) to ocean reefs as intended by the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Act.

https://capwiz.com/njoutdooralliance/issues/alert/?alertid=36620501&PROCESS=Take+Action

NJOA (CF) Council members supporting “Traps Off the Reefs” are:

– New Jersey Outdoor Alliance
– Reef Rescue
– NJ Council Diving Clubs
– Jersey Coast Anglers Association
– NJ Trout Unlimited
– NJ Beach Buggy Association
– Hudson River Fishermen’s Association
– Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association
– Jersey Coast Shark Anglers
– Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association
– NJ State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
– Hi-Mar Striper Club

Non Council Members supporting “Traps Off the Reefs”:

– Saltwater Anglers of Bergen County
– The Regency Fishing Club
– Manasquan Fishing Club
– Sunrise Bay Anglers Fishing Club
– Village Harbour Fishing Club
– Penn-Jersey Saltwater Anglers
– Absecon Saltwater Sportsmen
– South Jersey Saltwater Anglers
– Forked River Tuna Club
– Newark Bait and Flycasting Club
– Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club

There are additional saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, hunting and conservation groups that support “Traps Off the Reefs.” The list will be updated on an ongoing basis.

JOIN NJOA: https://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earths resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org