Nobody Ever Transferred Title to Them

To The Editor:
In reference to the picture on page 1 and the article on page 3 of the April 13 Herald I would like to address these recreational fishermen:
“What do you mean “Give you back your reefs? They can only be “yours” if you have a title to them. And nobody, I repeat, nobody, transferred title to you or any group of recreational fishermen, period.”
Those reefs were, and still are the property of the public. They (even the ones in state waters) are federally permitted areas that are under construction and management by the State of New Jersey as authorized by a federal permit issued by the Army Corps of Engineers to the NJDEP. Just because recreational fishermen donated funds and materials, and the State of New Jersey received grants of previously collected tax funds from the Wallop-Breaux, Sport Fishing Restoration Trust Fund, to construct those reefs, doesn’t mean that they are recreational reefs. To the contrary, they are still public property, and according to the U.S. Government that issued the permit for their construction and management, they must be managed in accordance with federal guidelines.
Those guidelines dictate that commercial activity must be allowed to continue (no matter where the money came from to construct the reef). Using Wallop-Breaux funds only means that the project (reefs) must benefit recreational fishermen. So do a reality check, sportsmen: they do. But because federal law dictates that the purpose of allowing reef construction is to benefit both recreational and commercial fishermen, both sectors must come together to help the state formulate an appropriate management plan whereby both sectors can continue to share the benefits of the reefs.
They can lobby and picket local politicians all they want, it’s not going to change the federal law that is going to require the Army Corps of Engineers to revoke New Jersey’s permit if a law is passed changing the reef access rules without Corps approval. Could be that Mr. Albano understands that fact and is saving New Jersey from losing its reef permit.
WALTER CHEW
Court House