Official Site of The State of New Jersey
The Marine Fisheries Council is one of several councils and committees involved in managing our fish and wildlife resources. This council advises the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on various issues and management programs related to marine fishery resources. The Council has 11 members representing recreational and commercial fishermen, fish processors, the general public and the Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay sections of the Shellfisheries Council.
The Marine Fisheries Council is unique in state government in that it can veto marine fishery regulations proposed by the DEP Commissioner. Along with shared authority, the Council also contributes to the preparation and revision of fishery management plans, holds public hearings on marine fishery issues, convenes species-related citizen panels as appropriate, and advises the commissioner on departmental policies and planning related to marine resources.
The Marine Fisheries Council assembles Council Advisory Committees to discuss issues for a particular species, group of species, gear type, or other fishery management topic. These Committees consist of three to five Council members and several citizen advisors. The Committees advise the Council on the assessments and specifications contained in each fishery within the state, current trends and developments in fishery matters, the effect of such fishery management plans on local economies and social structures, potential conflicts between user groups of a given fishery resource, enforcement problems peculiar to each fishery with emphasis on the expected need for enforcement resources, and other information as requested.
Council Advisory Committees (pdf, 165kb)
Prospective advisors must apply for appointment by completing an Advisory Committee Application that will provide the applicant’s background, experience and reason for interest to be an advisor.
Marine Fisheries Council Committee Advisor Letter and Application (pdf, 303kb)
For more information, please refer to New Jersey’s Marine Fisheries Council Administrative Guidelines (pdf, 175kb)
Members of the various councils and committees can be found on the NJ Fish & Wildlife Council and Committee Members page. Members can be contacted via the Division of Fish and Wildlife office:
PO Box 418 (USPS)
360 N. New York Rd. (Rt. 9)
Port Republic, NJ 08241
609-748-2020
Fax: 609-984-1408
marinefisheriescouncil@dep.nj.gov
