How can it be almost the end of March when there’s so little fishing to report? In the meanwhile, there’s still plenty to think about.
The Drag Island Access Preservation Association (DIAPA), recently founded by several local interested citizens and fishermen, is a group formed and determined to fight for continued foot access to Drag Island located at the base of the Garden State Parkway and Beesley’s Point bridges in Somers Point. The State of New Jersey plans to build a new southbound Parkway bridge and demolish the Beesley’s Point Bridge in its entirety, leaving no access to Drag Island for fishermen, crabbers, folks who like to jog or walk, and nature lovers. Access has been in existence to Drag Island for 85 years since the Beesley’s Point bridge opened in 1928.
The DEP has issued permits for this project to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The New Jersey Coastal Rules and Regulations, Title 7, Page 204 and 205 in the New Jersey Administrative Code, specifically provide for access to be maintained involving a project of this scope. However, the plans for the project call for no foot access from the new bridge and with the complete demolishment of the Beesley’s Point bridge scheduled, all foot access to Drag Island will be forever taken away, thus violating the DEP’s own rules.
DIAPA seeks to maintain foot access by keeping opened the flat bridge that services Drag Island from Somers Point. Based on the DEP rules and the Public Trust Doctrine, the Association believes that the State has the legal responsibility to maintain access and by keeping this part of the bridge opened, the Parkway project is unaffected. The Association also has fought for the creation of a fishing pier out of the old Beesley’s Point bridge , but only for the portion of the bridge facing South from Drag Island.
If you are interested in helping save access, DIAPA has an online petition available on both the Channel 40 and bassbarn.com websites. More support is necessary to make an impact. If access to this area is taken away, the public will suffer yet another example of progress taking priority over the rights of citizens. Make your voice heard and contact the DEP, the Turnpike Authority and your local politicians and demand that access be provided to Drag Island like it has for the past 85 years. Go to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-drag-island-access/
The State Marine Fisheries Council announced the regulations for summer flounder on March 7. The size and number of fish caught is the same as last year, five (5) fish at 17.5 inches but the season is 25 days shorter from May 18 to Sept. 16. There is a slight possibility of an extension.
Good friend Ed Cunningham wants to remind our readers that while boating is fun, it can also be dangerous. In New Jersey it is the law to take an 8 hour course on Safe Boating. If you are stopped by the Marine Police and you did not take this course, there is a costly fine and you must dock or take your boat out of the water until you take this class. The course covers many aspects of boating, from getting to know your boat, being a more courteous operator, regulations you must follow, how to navigate your boat in narrow areas and what to do in an emergency. Get the classroom work out of the way before the boating season gets underway. Lower Township Coast Guard Auxiliary offers classes April 6, May 4, and June 1. Call Ed at 889 2236 or ed3622@Comcast.net
What are you doing to celebrate Environmental Education Week, Earth Day and Earth Week? The NJ DEP administered the Earth Day NJ website for over ten years and the site attracts over 40,000 visitors in April-May, each year. One purpose of the site is to showcase the diverse lessons, programs and projects that NJ students and groups are doing in classrooms and communities statewide during Environmental Education Week (April 14 – 20) and Earth Week (April 21 – 27). Submit information about your activities to www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/earthday/calsub.htm#eew
The other purpose of the site is to promote NJ Earth Day and green community festivals that occur on or around Earth Day, April 22. Submit details about your public environmental event to www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/earthday/calsub.htm#cal
Send your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. Column and pictures are posted online at
www.capemaycountyherald.com.
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