September 6, 2006

Congressman James Saxton

P.O. Box 795

Mount Holly, NJ 08060

Dear Congressman Saxton:

At the September 11, 2006 Board of Commissioners meeting, the Governing Body of the Borough of Beach Haven adopted Resolution #2006-176 addressing the imposition of fishing quota on summer flounder. The Governing Body does hereby request that more flexibility be given for the “summer flounder”/fluke species.

This resolution requesting review and redress of a specific species in no way seeks to compromise the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conversation and Management Act, an Act whose intent and integrity must be maintained. While we are a country of laws, the United States does not subscribe to the Napoleonic notion that everything is in “black and white”. Our system realizes that there are shades of gray and provides for interpretation, adjudication, revision and change. Wildlife hunting regulations permit the hunting of different species at different times, and for different lengths of time, so as to maintain some level of natural balance. Fishing regulations should attempt to achieve this same goal so as not to create a “man-made” imbalance that adversely impacts the environment due to over-population. Witness the current deleterious impact of “dogfish”. The decline of dogfish consumption by man has increased their population, thereby increasing dogfish feeding on other species’ offspring.

Currently, the summer flounder population has been rebuilt to the highest biomass ever recorded, certainly achieving the intent of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Further protections of this species can only cause harm throughout the marine ecosystem, endangering other species that the Act seeks to protect. An amendment specifically addressing summer flounder will prevent this while maintaining the integrity and intent of the Act.

An example the change we are seeking is exemplified by the relocation of bunker reduction boats three miles outside the New York Bight approximately three years ago. Previously, the boats were allowed to fish within this sensitive environmental area, ravaging the spawning grounds of the anadromous bunker. Now, the striped bass have made a substantial increase in three years time because they are again able to feed on bunker and nature is in balance.

Fishing is not only a historic activity that man has pursued for sustenance, but around which a significant economy has developed and prospered. The reduction of quotas for summer flounder will not only have an adverse impact on nature’s balance but undoubtedly will have a concomitant effect on the Jersey Shore’s economy also, specifically affecting “mom and pop” bait and tackle stores, marinas, hotels and restaurants – the backbone of our almost five billion dollar seashore economy.

It is for these reasons that our resolution seeks your attention, consideration and assistance in this issue.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. Stewart, Mayor

Borough of Beach Haven

Enclosure

Cc:

President George W. Bush

Governor John Corzine

Senator Frank Lautenberg

Senator Robert Menendez

Congressman Wayne Gilchrest

Senator Leonard T. Connors

The Honorable Christopher Connors

The Honorable Brian Rumpf