Tag Archives: U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo

N.J.’s ocean canyons: Will these treasures be preserved like national parks?

Because about 75 to 100 miles off the coast of New Jersey — where the continental shelf divides shallow coastal waters and the deep sea — a tale of two canyons is in play involving these geological hot spots. The Baltimore Canyon and the Hudson Canyon, both considered national treasures, are among about 70 such areas along the Mid-Atlantic coastline that are prized by fishermen for their rich species diversity and abundance of marine life. “The canyons are where the fish are … they’re important resources that support our fisheries,” said Michael Luisi, chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, a Dover, Del.-based fishery management group representing the interests of commercial fishermen from New York to North Carolina. “By blocking this designation, the fishing industry is being selfish and only hurting themselves in the long run,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. Read the story here 13:30

Dredging restrictions on winter flounder habitat to be lifted because they don’t live there!

NOAA ScientistSTONE HARBOR – The big announcement at a dredging forum sponsored by the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce Monday, Oct. 19, was that restrictions on dredging related to winter flounder are going to be lifted locally.  LoBiondo said the announcement came as the result of a renewed commitment on the part of state and federal governments with work with local officials. LoBiondo said it was the work of a local task force that convinced the NMFS that the winter flounder don’t live here.  Read the rest here 13:32