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| JERSEY COAST ANGLERS ASSOCIATION Working For the Saltwater Resource and Marine Anglers 1201 Route 37 East, Toms River NJ 08753 Phone 732-506-6565 Fax 732-506-6975 Web Site http://www.jcaa.org |
NEW JERSEY FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN’S CLUBS Working For The 150,000 Sportepersons Of New Jersey 190 Oberlin Road North, Lakewood NJ 08701 Phone 732-905-0755 Fax 732-905-5261 Web Site http://www.njsfsc.org |
To the Coalition:
The glass eel bill A675/S457 was defeated yesterday by a vote of 21 to 5.
Here is a Christmas Story with a happy ending. We have added that happy ending. Thanks for
all the hard work you have put in on this issue. It shows what can be accomplished when we
put in the necessary time. It also demonstrates what can be accomplished if we all work
together and focus on the problem. Seventeen or eighteen years from now when you are
frustrated in your work to protect the environment, you can think of this victory. You can
think of all those eels from New Jersey and neighboring states that are heading out to
spawn and know you had a large part in allowing this to happen. Because of all your hard
work the 1998 and the 1999-year classes of immature eels have been allowed to come back
into our waters to grow and take their place in the ecosystem. Mother Nature thanks you.
This is when you feel that all the volunteer time that you have put in on an issue is well
worth it and you can make a difference. We also need to thank all 21 Senators who voted
against the bill. Those names will be at our web page and in this month's JCAA newspaper.
A special thanks needs to go to Senator Louis Bassano who led the battle against the bill
in the legislature and in the Republican Caucus. We give a special thanks to Senator
Joseph Vitale who spoke against this bill on the Senate floor and Senator John Adler and
Senator Joseph Vitale who spoke against the bill to the Democratic Caucus.
Next year Jersey Coast Anglers Association and the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen Clubs will call on you to fight more battles to protect the environment. Remember this victory and answer the call. You can make the difference in winning or losing. The menhaden issue is next and we will need your help to protect this resource. Again, thank you and have a Happy Holiday. This will probably be the best present I receive this holiday season.
Again thanks and have a prosperous New Year
Thomas P. Fote
Legislative Chairman JCAA & NJSFSC
22 Cruiser Court, Toms River NJ, 08753
732-270-9102 Fax 732-506-6409
Email tfote@jcaa.org
Release For Tomorrow
Tom Fote
