ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 183

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 5, 1996

      The Assembly Environment, Science and Technology Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 183.

      This bill would amend the legal minimum size restrictions for the taking of lobster to bring them into conformance with the standards and requirements set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) as authorized by federal law. New Jersey is a member of the ASMFC.

      The bill would also give the Department of Environmental Protection the authority to adopt rules and regulations providing for the taking and management of lobsters of the genus and species Homarus americanus, more commonly known as American lobster, in and upon the marine waters of the State, which rules and regulations may include provisions differing from, superseding, or supplementing the provisions of the current statutory law as amended by the bill.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996-1997 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.