Among the many motions to come out of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission winter meetings held last week in Alexandria, Va. was the one to find New Jersey out of compliance with the ASMFC when it comes to its coastal shark management plan.
That motion begins the process by which New Jersey shark fishery can be shut down.
Here it is as contained in ASMFC meeting summary:
"Move that the Spiny Dogfish & Coastal Sharks Management Board recommend to the ISFMP Policy Board that the state of New Jersey be found out of compliance for not fully and effectively implementing and enforcing the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. New Jersey has not implemented the regulations of the Interstate FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The implementation of these regulations is necessary to achieve the conservation goals and objectives of the FMP to rebuild depleted shark species and ensure sustainable harvest of others. In order to come back into compliance the state of New Jersey must implement all measures contained in the Interstate FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks."