N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-14.17

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:25-14.17 - Lobster pot tag program

(a) All lobster pots as defined under N.J.A.C. 7:25-18.5(g)11 in State or Federal waters or aboard a vessel shall be tagged with appropriate tags to be issued by the Federal or State agency given authority for the pot tag program.

1. Pot tags shall be placed on the pot bridge or main cross member clearly visible for inspection.

2. Pot tags shall be a permanently affixed and not transferable to another pot once attached to a pot.

3. A person or permitted lobster pot vessel shall only have on board or lift pots that have the valid identification as assigned to said person or vessel.

4. A person or vessel shall not have on board or fish more lobster pots than that vessel is allocated under the permittee's New Jersey Lobster Pot Permit.

5. Pot tags shall be issued annually and shall be valid for one year.

6. Permit holders shall be issued tags based upon their allocation of tags plus 10 percent to cover routine losses.

7. Catastrophic tag loss shall be defined as losses above the 10 percent routine loss rate established by the issuing authority due to gear conflicts, storms or other circumstance which may be accepted at the discretion of the Federal or State agency given authority for the pot tag program.

i. When a catastrophic loss occurs, an entirely new allotment of tags shall be dispersed and the original tags shall be invalid upon replacement.

ii. Permittees shall be allowed to fish new pots with a letter of exemption from the issuing authority until new tags are re-issued for a time period not be exceed two months.

iii. The issuing authority shall have the right to invoke emergency measures to suspend pot tag regulations in the event of area-wide catastrophic losses, for a time period not to exceed two months.

8. Permittees shall purchase pot tags only from the issuing authority.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-14.17

New Rule, R.2000 d.395, effective 10/2/2000.
See: 31 New Jersey Register 2555(a), 32 New Jersey Register 3592(b).