If you’ve ever wanted to get directly involved in coastal fisheries, sitting through long, drawn out meetings while poring over reams of statistical analysis and befuddling bureaucratic red tape, here’s your chance. The New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife (Division) recently posted a job opening at njfishandwildlife.com for NJ Governor’s Appointee to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).
Among the many job perks, you’d personally represent the governor at ASMFC meetings, balancing the issues and concerns of both recreational and commercial fishing interests (i.e., painting a target on your back for intense criticism and scorn), and except for travel expenses, you won’t get paid a dime. Presently, Tom Fote holds that position, a volunteer role he’s held for many years across both democrat and republican administrations. However, at the apparent behest of the commercial fishing sector, Governor Murphy is holding an open casting call for his next appointee.
ASMFC oversees management of 27 nearshore fish species through a cooperative pact between 15 Atlantic coastal states working together within the commission, and as per the job posting “Each state is represented on the Commission by three Commissioners: the director of the state’s marine fisheries management agency, a state legislator, and an individual appointed by the state’s governor to represent stakeholder interests.” Except that’s not what’s actually happening right now!
Currently New Jersey has only had two commissioners representing fish, fishermen and the fishing industry at the ASMFC. That’s because when 11th Legislative District Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling lost his reelection bid last November, it left the ASMFC legislative post vacant; Gov. Murphy has yet to approve a successor in Trenton, which means longtime proxy Capt. Adam Nowalsky has no one to proxy for and is now sitting on the sidelines.
The way I see it, the commercial sector desires one of those seats; in turn, commercial lobbyists have put the full court press on the governor to have their own hand-picked representative to ASMFC for New Jersey, either as Murphy’s right hand, or as proxy to a yet to be named state legislator. This is pretty much what I’d refer to as a “nuclear option” in that the entire process has been blown apart to force a political decision. Commercial fishing lobbyists have pressured the governor to make a move, thus the selection of a New Jersey legislator to replace Houghtaling at ASMFC has stalled. Meanwhile the governor is beating the bushes to see what “other” names shake out.
As it stands now, when the ASMFC convenes from August 2-4, New Jersey fishermen will be shortchanged at least one recreational fisherman because of what appears to be undue political tampering in the governor’s office. It’s safe to say we can all give thanks to commercial fishing lobbyists for this fiasco; who knows, perhaps they’re also responsible for Gov. Murphy’s blatant refusal to deal with the two empty seats on the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (one “sportfish” rep and one “at large” member of the public) which has given the comms a council super-majority.
As with most nuclear strikes, the fallout could see infinitely more damage. As per the stated job posting, “The State of New Jersey is seeking a candidate for the governor’s appointee from the commercial, recreational or ‘other’ sector who has demonstrated knowledge and experience with marine resources and/or socio-economic issues related to ecological matters” (the emphasis above on other.)
You see, there are actually three sectors – commercial, recreational and other. As per the job listing, “The State is committed to inclusive and diverse representation on Commissions and Boards and strongly encourage peoples from all backgrounds to apply for consideration.” And if that “other” ends up being neither commercial nor recreational, with the governor instead prioritizing “all backgrounds” instead of “fishing backgrounds,” then all New Jersey fishermen may be getting dropkicked to the curb down the road.
