SWAINTON – Cape May County Chamber of Commerce hosted a dredging forum Oct. 19.
Speakers included Freeholder E. Marie Hayes, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd), Lou Chiarella (Habitat Conservation NOAA), Sam Reynolds (Army Corps Engineers), and Mark Davis (NJDEP). They discussed the future dredging needs of the county.
Local fishermen, marine organizations, marina owners, and concerned citizens packed the Stone Harbor Golf Club with concerns about dredging needs.
Capt. Bob Rush, party boat owner and representative of the United Boatman of New Jersey explained the urgent need of back bay dredging, “At low tide boats are running aground and cannot even get out of marinas”.
According to Hayes, “We are in crisis mode,” commercial fishing provides 30,000-plus jobs in the State of New Jersey generating $2.4 billion per year.”
She explained there are over 500 marinas in the state generating approximately $2.2 billion in annual income and, thus, the need for dredging is critical to the local economy.
With boats being grounded and unable to operate the economy will suffer making dredging an urgent matter. The goal, according to Hayes, is to find “A common sense, science-based approach to help Trenton to help us.”
Due to time of year restrictions, mostly for preservation of winter flounder, dredging has been restricted and not permitted after Jan. 1. With new research being submitted, the Essential Fish Habitat shows that winter flounder do not exist south of Absecon.
For those south of Absecon Inlet, permit modifications can be submitted to request removal of time-of-year restrictions for dredging.
The crowd cheered the news, which can bring huge changes to dredging regulations for Cape May County.
Anticipated timing for the changes is March 2016. The regulations are designated for many species in the area, not only winter flounder, which requires the Army Corps of Engineers to consult with NOAA fisheries prior to any permit issues.
To contact Johanna Hovik, email jhovik@cmcherald.com.
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