By Jessica Ercolino, Staff Writer
MILLSTONE A group of 800 outdoor enthusiasts flooded the Clarksburg Inn on Sunday for a rally to counter two proposed state bills that would alter fishing and hunting standards in New Jersey and change the makeup of the state’s Fish and Game Council.
The New Jersey Outdoor Association, a political action committee, organized the rally to oppose two bills introduced last year by Assemblyman Michael Panter, D-12th, with Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, D-14th, and Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-12th.
Under current law, the Fish and Game Council consists of 11 members: three farmers, six sportsmen and two commercial fishermen. These representatives are chosen based on their geographic region, where one farmer and two sportsmen are selected from northern, central and southern New Jersey.
The bills propose a seven-member Fish and Game Council, consisting of two farmers, selected without regard to geographic locale.
Anthony Mauro Sr., chairman of the NJOA, said that the regional representation element is imperative to the council. A group of people from an urban area such as Newark may not necessarily know what’s best for those in more rural or southern regions of the state, he said.
Mr. Panter said Tuesday that the council should be geographically diverse and no region should be excluded, but that reserving posts for specific regions might not be necessary.
Diversifying the council also means changing the makeup of the council, assuring that no one group has a majority, he said. Instead, environmental groups, farmers, hunters and fishermen would all have equal stakes in the council.
The bills state that the governor would make the appointments to the Fish and Game Council, but Mr. Panter said an amendment is being considered that would allow groups to create a list of nominees from which the governor would select. This would allow hunters or fishermen to have a seat they think best represents their interests, he said.
Additionally, the bills expand the duties of the Fish and Game Council to encourage nonlethal means of handling wildlife conflict, explore eco-tourism opportunities and pursue opportunities to preserve land for wildlife habitat.
This legislation would “delete consideration for use and development of fish and game for public recreation and food supply,” according to the bill, which the opposition believes would completely ban fishing and hunting in the state of New Jersey.
Mr. Mauro said the bills, if passed, will adversely affect people who rely on fishing and hunting for food supply or recreation.
Mr. Panter said that these activities would not be banned or curtailed, but because nonlethal means for wildlife management had not been actively pursued, the legislation would propose such initiatives be explored.
The bills are a work in progress, he said, and that the language would be changed to ameliorate misconceptions it has caused.
”To ban all hunting and fishing would be ludicrous,” he said. “The responsibilities of the council would change, but if (the bill) was misconstrued to take a step away from hunting or fishing, that’s not our objective.”
Former Township Committeeman Cory Wingerter, who attended the rally, said it was a big success. He said the legislators responsible for the bills are acting with disregard for the environment of New Jersey.
”(The bills) are nothing more than a backroom attempt to empower an extreme left wing activist group with the ability to eliminate fishing and hunting in the state,” he said. “We do not need animal rights-backed legislators introducing their vegan agenda into the Fish and Game Council.”
Mr. Panter said membership provisions in the bill would ensure that no one appointed to the council would bring in his or her own agenda.
A rally to support the bills was held Saturday in Freehold Township, with approximately 75 activists in attendance.
Mr. Mauro said a number of officials oppose the bills and attended the following day’s rally, including President of New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs Ed Markowski, President of the United Bowhunters of New Jersey Jack Spoto and President of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association John Toth.
He also said that Sen. Robert Singer and Assemblywoman Alison McHose plan to sponsor an amendment to the state constitution ensuring hunting and fishing rights be preserved.
Moreover, Ms. Greenstein, who is listed as a co-sponsor to the bill, sent Mr. Mauro a letter on Oct. 12 expressing her recent disapproval of the legislation and her intent to remove her name from the bill at the earliest possible date.
”I have subsequently learned the concerns of groups and individuals who fear that, if passed, (this bill) will create a board that has the potential to silence the opinions of hunters, fisherman and farmers,” she said.
Mr. Mauro is urging people to contact their senators and assemblymen and assemblywomen to demonstrate opposition to the bill. Mr. Panter said he applauds those who voice their views, whether supporting or opposing the bill, and recognizes that the issues at hand require further discussion.

