Party and charter boat captains and guides help form the backbone of our recreational fishing industry. Without them, there are lots of people whose ability to fish for many of our key species would be severely limited. They also play a vital role in our region’s economy, and like many other businesses all over the country, their ability to survive the current closure becomes increasingly tenuous the longer they remain tied to the dock. Despite their loss of income and the financial strains placed on their families and those who work for them, they all understand the importance of keeping COVID-19 under control. As reopening dates loom closer and plans for contact tracing take shape, the potential for opening these services with strict guidelines that ensure employees and passengers are protected, appear more realistic than they did just a week or two ago. As a result, proposals outlining how they would address health concerns and combatting any spread of the virus are being submitted to the state. Among the proposals are one by the Captree Boatmen’s Association. It includes the following suggested plan of action:
When we are permitted to resume sailing with passengers, we will follow all State mandates as well as CDC guidance. Captree Boatmen’s Association vessels will be required to comply with these policies until social distancing regulations are ended.
All trips aboard Captree Boatmen’s Association Vessels will be limited to 25 percent of each individual vessel’s Coast Guard capacity and recommended social distancing will be maintained during the trip. Reservations will be required for all trips so as to not exceed individual boat capacity passenger counts with proper social distancing.
Passengers will be required to wear a face mask or covering from prior to boarding the vessel, throughout the duration of the trip, and until they disembark the vessel at the end of the trip. All deck crew members will be required to wear face masks or coverings for the duration of the trip as well.
The crew will be frequently sanitizing bathrooms and common surfaces. All bathrooms will have running water and soap for customers to wash their hands. Customers will also be encouraged to bring their own sanitizer. Vessels will be deep cleaned and disinfected between all trips.
Vessels will take measures through audible announcements and signage to promote etiquette for when a passenger needs to cough or sneeze, promote proper hand washing techniques, provide soap and water and other sanitizing products as needed to promote proper hygiene amongst passengers and crew. Vessel owners will require sick employees to stay home and take appropriate measures should one appear ill in any way.
Capt. Tony DiLernia, one of New York’s representatives on the Mid Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, is proposing a system of measuring the amount of rail space on open boats and then dividing it by six to determine carrying capacity for reopening. Six pack charter boats would be limited to four passengers under his proposal.
United Boatmen of New Jersey and the Recreational Fishing Alliance have submitted a plan to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who commented during a news interview late last week that he would seriously consider the reopening of Jersey’s for-hire industry. The hope is that any reopening will become part of the unified approach proposed by Governor Cuomo for NJ, CT and NY.
Making fishing accessible to the public has its benefits. A press release from NYDEC titled NEW YORK’S OUTDOORS ARE OPEN included the following: During the current COVID-19 public health crisis, getting outdoors and connecting with nature is a way to help maintain our mental and physical health. Scientific studies show that time outside in nature significantly reduces stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, improves mood, energy, and sleep, and boosts the immune system. It is also a food source for many of those who fish aboard open and charter boats.
