Bureau of Marine Fisheries
Bureau of Shellfisheries
Bureau of Marine Fisheries
Thomas McCloy, Chief
Living marine resources support important recreational and commercial fisheries in New Jersey. The Bureau of Marine Fisheries is responsible for management programs which protect, conserve and enhance these resources. The bureau conducts research and inventory projects to provide data on fishery resources and various user groups to develop and implement sound management plans. The bureau protects habitat through reviews and comments on various development proposals that may impact the marine resources.
During 1997 total commercial landings for New Jersey were in excess of 168 million pounds with a dockside value of approximately $98 million. Cape May continued to be one of the nation’s leading commercial fishing ports with landings of more than 71 million pounds worth nearly $32 million. The bureau issued approximately 7,068 netting licenses of which gill nets comprised 43% and bait net licenses comprised 32%. The other 25% consisted of licenses for otter trawls, purse seines, haul seines, fyke nets, pounds nets, parallel nets and lobster pots. In addition, licenses were issued to more than 397 commercial crab potters, 252 crab dredgers, and 6,400 recreational crab pot users. Revenue from all licenses exceeded $270,000.
National Marine Fisheries Service data showed that New Jersey has an estimated 900,000 saltwater anglers who made 5.5 million fishing trips during the year. Four species had harvests of more than one million fish. Summer flounder was the species most frequently harvested with a catch of 3.7 million during the year, black sea bass was next with a harvest of 3.4 million, followed by Atlantic mackerel with 1.1 million and weakfish, 1 million.
Marine Fisheries Council
The Marine Fisheries Council advises the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on various issues and management programs related to fishery resources. The Council has 11 members representing recreational and commercial anglers, fish processors, the general public and the Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay sections of the Shellfisheries Council.
The Marine Fisheries Council is unique in state government in that it can veto marine fishery regulations proposed by the DEP Commissioner. The Council also contributes to fishery management plans, holds public hearings on marine fishery issues, convenes species-related citizen panels as appropriate and advises the commissioner on policies and planning related to marine resources.
During the year the Council developed a number of amendments to regulations to implement or modify management measures for horseshoe crabs, blue crabs, American eel, weakfish, tautog, summer flounder, black sea bass and Atlantic herring. Some of these amendments were proposed to come into compliance with coastwide management plans of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, while others addressed angler concerns.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)
Bureau personnel serve as New Jersey’s voting representative on ASMFC technical committees and management boards. These groups develop and implement fishery management plans for striped bass, weakfish, bluefish, summer flounder, winter flounder, Atlantic menhaden, American lobster, Atlantic herring, American shad, Atlantic sturgeon, scup, black sea bass, American eel, tautog and horseshoe crab. Biologists also participate in interstate working groups and subcommittees designed to monitor striped bass tagging and stocking, artificial reef programs and the collection of recreational and commercial fishery statistics.
Bureau personnel participated in public hearings jointly conducted by the ASMFC and the division within New Jersey on the interstate fisheries management plan for striped bass.
Ocean Stock Assessment Program
The Division monitors the abundance and distribution of fish and other marine animals in New Jersey’s coastal waters with a trawl survey program that is now entering its 11th year of operation. Samples are collected from 1800 square miles of Atlantic Ocean off New Jersey five times a year. Volunteers from the Wildlife Conservation Corps gain a unique experience and play a vital role in the program by working with state biologists aboard a research vessel and gain a unique experience for themselves.
The need for or the success of management actions, such as seasonal fishing restrictions, minimum sizes, and catch limits, can often be identified by results from the trawl survey. The survey also helps measure attainment of the Division’s goals of restoring and maintaining healthy, plentiful stocks of saltwater fish for recreational anglers, commercial fishermen and seafood lovers.
Inter and Intra-State Investigation of Coastal Marine Fish Species — Winter Flounder
Estimates of current fishing mortality are being developed to assess compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Fishery Management Plan for Winter Flounder. Several years of aging data will provide an estimate of long-term mortality on New Jersey’s stocks of winter flounder. Overall relative abundance estimates of winter flounder have increased since 1995.
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Program — Port Sampling
Dockside sampling at commercial fishing ports for size and age data is conducted to enhance the National Marine Fisheries Service database. This will promote future management decisions that more closely reflect conditions in New Jersey. This is particularly important due to the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act of 1993 that mandates all states come into and remain in compliance with fishery management plans approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission or face a moratorium. Species of concern include summer flounder, winter flounder, scup and black seabass.
Striped Bass Tagging Program
In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the bureau and other coastal agencies have been tagging the coastal migratory population of striped bass since 1989. The coastwide tagging program was developed to estimate fishing mortality, the primary information guiding the Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for Striped Bass. Marine fisheries personnel tagged a total of 1,259 bass from July 1997 to June 1998.
From late February through April, a total of 852 striped bass were tagged in the Delaware Bay. These fish ranged in size from 17 to 38 inches, with an average size of 26 inches. Ages ranged from 3 to 11 years, with the majority of fish being 4 to 7 years old. Recapture locations were from the coast of North Carolina to the Casco Bay in Maine. Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey accounted for over 75% of the recapture sites.
Striped Bass Sportfishery Investigations
The total recreational catch (including released fish) of striped bass in marine waters during 1997 was estimated at 801,465 fish. The total harvest of striped bass (excluding releases) was 168,432 (827,295 pounds). The harvest for 1996 was estimated at 1,728,372 pounds.
The Bonus Striped Bass Program was amended in June 1995 to allow participating anglers to take 1 additional striped bass measuring not less than 28" along the coast. To participate in the bonus fish program, anglers first must obtain a “fish possession card” and follow a detailed format of tagging their bonus fish, checking the fish at selected bait and tackle shops (for biological data) and submitting end-of-season activity reports.
In 1997, the majority of striped bass harvested were in the Delaware Bay/Cape May area. The largest effort was by surf/jetty anglers while private boaters harvested the most fish. There are currently more than 6,000 anglers enrolled in the program; the overall catch per effort was more than one fish per trip.
Striped Bass Young-of-Year Recruitment Survey of the Delaware River
This program was initiated in 1980 to assess yearly striped bass spawning success and the capability of the Delaware to serve as striped bass nursery habitat.
Numerous stations were sampled bi-monthly. During 1997, 53,363 fish were collected comprising 43 estuarine and freshwater species. The most abundant species were bay anchovy, Atlantic menhaden, white perch, blueback herring, and banded killifish. The striped bass young-of-year recruitment index was 2.3 young-of-year per sample, the seventh highest value on record during the 18 year history of the survey.
Artificial Reef Program
For the past 15 years the division has been involved in an intensive program of artificial reef construction. This project has created a network of 14 reef sites strategically located along the coast, with at least one artificial reef within easy boat range of all New Jersey ocean inlets. These sites provide habitat for fish, shellfish and crustaceans, fishing grounds for anglers, and underwater structures for scuba divers.
Artificial reefs are constructed by placing dense materials, such as old ships and barges, concrete-ballasted tire units, concrete and steel demolition debris, obsolete army vehicles and dredge rock within designated reef sites.
During the past year, 102 patch reefs were constructed from 3,450 cubic yards of rock, 1,023 concrete ballasted tire units, 85 obsolete army tanks, and 10 ships and barges. A patch reef is a one-half to 5-acre area where material has been deployed. More than 1,200 patch reefs have been constructed since the program began. Reefs are now used extensively by party, charter and private boat anglers and divers who catch sea bass, blackfish, porgy and lobster.
Technical Assistance
A team of seven regionally-assigned biologists reviewed and provided recommendations on Waterfront Development Permits that had the potential to adversely impact the state’s fishery resources. Staff also served on intra- and interstate committees responsible for the development of environmental guidelines and standards, such as the Delaware Basin Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative, as well as the National Estuary Program’s committees for Delaware Bay and Barnegat Bay. Areas for which input was provided included New York Harbor channel deepening and dredge material disposal options, numerous shore protection projects, and the development of emergency response contingency plans for coastal oil spill clean-ups and to monitor for a potential Pfiesteria-related fishkill.
Horseshoe Crab Management
The conservation and management of horseshoe crabs and the migratory shorebirds that feed on their eggs were the focus of resource managers both within New Jersey and along the Atlantic coast. Two amendments to New Jersey’s Horseshoe Crab Rule, N.J.A.C. 7:25-18.16, were developed and adopted to reduce fishing pressure on the horseshoe crab resource. Additional area and seasonal closures, as well as gear restrictions, were established for the horseshoe crab fishery.
American Shad Investigations
A multi-agency cooperative tagging program for American shad was initiated in 1995. Principal areas of study are the Hudson River and Delaware Bay. A total of 5,960 fish have been tagged in the Hudson while 865 have been tagged in Delaware Bay. To date, 127 (2.1%) recaptures have been from Hudson River tagged fish while 52 (6.0%) of shad tagged in Delaware Bay were recovered.
The majority of tag returns from shad tagged in the Hudson River (87.6%) were recovered from that system. The rest were recovered by commercial fishermen from Virginia to Canada. In contrast, Delaware Bay tag recoveries were distributed from the St. Lawrence River, Canada to the Santee River in South Carolina. The majority of tag returns, however, came from the Delaware Bay and River (46.5%).
Additionally, New Jersey is required by ASMFC to provide a compliance report for American shad and river herring including commercial ocean intercept fishery landings and anadromous alosid restoration projects in New Jersey. Total commercial landings for American shad in 1997 was 234,730 pounds of which 157,279 pounds (67%) were taken in coastal waters.
Clean Vessel Act Program
In 1992, the Clean Vessel Act was passed by Congress to provide funds to states for the construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of vessel sewage pumpout and dump stations. The New Jersey Clean Vessel Program was designed by a coalition which included representatives from state, county, regional, educational and private industry groups. This Steering Committee has set a goal to provide adequate and reasonably available pumpout stations to recreational boaters throughout the New Jersey coastal zone; the committee agreed that a ratio of one — a total of 195 facilities. Fifty marinas have completed construction and their sewage pumpout units are now in service. Another 57 applications have been received and approved and are at various stages of completion.
Bureau of Shellfisheries
James W. Joseph, Chief
The Bureau of Shellfisheries directs shellfish programs and projects on both the Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay. Bureau personnel work with the Bureau of Marine Fisheries, the Marine Enforcement Unit and other state agencies to form and implement plans for the protection and wise use of marine habitat and the state’s shellfish resources.
With the Shellfisheries Council, the bureau administers the shellfish leasing program. Fiscal year 1998 revealed slight increases in shellfish license sales and in total acreage leased for aquaculture and relay purposes in comparison to FY97. In 1997-98, 2,980 acres were leased on the Atlantic Coast and 29,151 acres leased in Delaware Bay. There were 1,236 commercial clam licenses, 6,100 resident recreational clam licenses, 696 non-resident recreational clam licenses and 831 juvenile recreational clam licenses sold. Clamming license sales provided $138,382 for the Shellfisheries Law Enforcement Fund for the protection and management of shellfish resources. Sea clam license and landing fees amounted to $112,359. Delaware Bay oyster landing fees provided $171,761 for the Oyster Resource Development Account, a dedicated fund for the enhancement and management of the oyster resource in Delaware Bay. Revenue for the year from all sources was $462,684, and increase of $73,411 over FY97.
Shellfisheries Council
Under statutory authority (Title 50), the Shellfisheries Council acts as advisor to the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. The Council has nine members who are shellfishers from the coastal counties and is divided into Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay sections. Both sections hold monthly meetings at which shellfish lease applications and management issues are discussed. Council has the sole authority to grant shellfish leases. Staff from the Bureau of Shellfisheries work with both sections of the Council, transmitting Council recommendations and advice on shellfish-related issued to the Department. Council meetings are attended by shellfishers who advise the Department’s personnel on policies and actions.
Habitat Protection
One the bureau’s major responsibilities is the review of coastal development projects to assess potential impacts on shellfisheries habitat and resources. The bureau reviews 200-300 permit applications annually and provides resource information to the Land Use Regulation Program to assist in the permit process. Bureau personnel regularly provide expert testimony at Administrative Law Hearings related to permit appeals. Finally, bureau staff are continually involved with other Department staff in revisions to the Rules on Coastal Zone Management to ensure that shellfish resources and coastal habitat are protected despite persistent development pressures.
Leasing
The bureau supports private aquaculture activities via the leasing of bay bottom. Statewide, 32,131 acres (an increase of 9% over FY97) of bay bottom are leased by commercial interests for the culture of oysters and hard clams.
Prior to the issuance of any shellfish lease within the Atlantic Coast Section, the bureau performs a biological investigation to assess the area’s natural productivity. Normally, the Bureau annually performs 30-50 investigations of perspective leases. However, only eleven new leases were investigated in FY98 before a moratorium, due to budget constraints and vacant positions, was enacted in December, 1997 on new leases.
Naturally productive areas are not leased because the Bureau and the Atlantic Coast Shell Fisheries Council (empowered by statute to grant shellfish leases) want these areas to remain open for all shellfishers to use. This process facilitates aquaculture development while ensuring that naturally productive areas remain available for use by all State residents.
Hard Clam Relay and Depuration
The relay and depuration programs allow hard clams from moderately polluted waters to be utilized. Clams from such waters are transplanted to clean bay waters or processed in a state-approved depuration plant for purification. Harvest for the programs continued in the waters of Raritan and Sandy Hook bays, and the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers.
The total reported harvest for both programs in FY98 was 33.7 million clams, an increase of approximately 5% over the FY97 harvest. Sandy Hook and eastern Raritan bays continue to provide the majority of the harvest. The average catch per unit effort (CPE) for both programs was 2,666 clams per person per day, a 0.6% decrease from the previous year. While the FY98 harvest was larger than FY97 (which was larger than FY96), this is the first time in over three years that the current average CPE was less than the previous year’s average CPE.
Oyster Investigation — Atlantic Coast
The annual sampling of the Mullica River oyster seed beds is performed to monitor setting success, survival and overall bed condition. The fall sampling of the seed beds revealed a notable increase in the overall conditions compared to the previous year. However, bed conditions still remained below historical averages.
Oyster Industry - Delaware Bay
The oyster industry of Delaware Bay continued limited direct marketing of oysters from natural seed beds during fall 1997 and spring 1998. This program began in the spring of 1996 when the industry elected to forego the traditional transplant program as a means of circumventing disease problems which have plagued the leased grounds since the 1950s. Prior to this plan, the seed beds were worked intensely during a limited period in the spring; as a result large volumes of oysters were transplanted and perished on leased grounds in the lower bay.
For the fall 1997 direct market season, the Shell Fisheries Council recommended an individual vessel allocation that was eventually increased to 2,500 bushels due to good seed bed conditions and high market demand. Forty-eight vessels participated with a total harvest of 81,750 bushels of oysters. The dockside value of the harvest exceeded $1,600,000.
The spring 1998 direct market program had a vessel allocation of 1,000 bushels. Fifty-two vessels participated with a total reported harvest of 43,300 bushels. This harvest had a dockside value of approximately $822,000.
Enhancements programs conducted by the industry and Division received considerable boosts from the direct market harvest program, which contributed approximately $156,000 to the “Oyster Resource Development Fund” through an industry-paid fee of $1.25 on each bushel landed. The money was used to transplant oysters to seed beds which are primarily used in the direct market program. A total of 44,500 bushels of oysters were moved during this “intermediate transplant”. The money was also used to purchase and plant clean cultch (shell) material, an ideal surface to which young oysters attach, on selected areas to enhance the setting of oyster larvae. Approximately 167,000 bushels were planted in 1997 resulting in one of the most intense sets of the past decade; in 1998 approximately 186,000 bushels of shell were planted.
Juvenile Finfish Trawl Survey - Delaware Bay
The Bureau of Shellfisheries conducts a trawl survey for juvenile finfish in Delaware Bay below the Cohansey River in Cumberland County. This estuary is considered to be an important spawning/nursery area for many fish of commercial and recreational importance. All finfish and other organisms are identified and enumerated. This information provides the basis for comparing the strength of the year class for each individual species over time and can be used for monitoring stock conditions and the impact of fishery management programs. Data can be used to forecast future seasonal characteristics and harvest potential for blue crabs in Delaware Bay.
During the 1997 survey, a total of 25,700 individuals, representing 39 different taxa, were collected. This total is an increase of 6,360 individuals over the previous sampling year. Bay anchovies weakfish and blue crabs accounted for most of this increase. The total number of Atlantic croakers declined from in 1997. However, the numbers of individuals collected in 1997 is still substantially greater than in the early 1990s. The abundance indices for bay anchovy, weakfish and blue crab are the highest since the program began in 1991.
Inventory of New Jersey’s Surf Clam Resource
The surf clam fishery is one of New Jersey’s most valuable, accounting for 67% by weight of the state’s total molluscan commercial landings in 1997. Preliminary figures show that 84% of the total Mid-Atlantic and New England area catch of surf clams in calendar year 1997 was landed in New Jersey with a value of more than $27 million. An annual inventory is conducted in New Jersey territorial waters to provide information on the status of the resource. This data is used to develop such management measures as harvest quotas and conservation zones.
The surf clam standing stock for New Jersey territorial waters was estimated to be 17,400,000 industry bushels (26,320,000 US standard bushels). This estimate was derived from bottom samples taken at 322 stations from Cape May Inlet to the Shark River Inlet.
The 1997-1998 surf clam harvest season yielded a total of 467,567 bushels. For the first time since the early 1970s, a significant portion of the harvest (23.7%) was from the waters off Cape May County. The surf clam inventory for fiscal year 1999 will determine what impacts this harvest may have on the resource and to monitor the recruitment of smaller, younger clams to the population.
Belmar Borrow Site Monitoring
The maintenance of New Jersey’s beaches for shore protection and tourism frequently involves the dredging of large quantities of sand from offshore borrow sites. The Army Corps of Engineers beach nourishment plan includes the removal of nearly four million cubic yards of sand from sites within three miles off Belmar for beaches from Asbury Park to Manasquan. Since these borrow areas often contain commercially important surf clam resources, the Bureau has expressed concern to state and federal agencies over potential short and long term impacts. To assess this impact, a three-year study will monitor the borrow area. This data will be compared to samples taken prior to the dredging of the borrow site.
In conjunction with the surf clam inventory project, surf clam dredging is also conducted within the borrow site and an adjacent reference area to determine the size distribution and population estimates of surf clams. Results from this study will help determine impacts of the sand removal on surf clam populations.
