N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-14.7

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

Section 7:25-14.7 - Use of crab dredges

(a) An individual shall not catch or take crabs by dredges without having his or her valid crab dredge license in his or her possession. A Delaware Bay commercial crab dredge licensee may authorize an agent to operate the said licensee's crab dredge vessel if the agent is in possession of the said licensee's license and a letter of authorization from said licensee, issued and notarized by the Division, indicating the license number and vessel registration number of the vessel that the agent is authorized to operate. In addition to the agent, the commercial licensee shall be held liable and subject to the penalty provisions provided in N.J.A.C. 7:25-14.20 for the violation of provisions of this subchapter actually committed by the agent based upon the apparent authority of the agent to act for his or her principal.

1. No boat shall have more than four dredges working at the same time, except in Delaware Bay where no boat shall have more than two dredges working at the same time.

2. The maximum length of each tooth bar shall be 75 inches north of Route 36 (Highlands Bridge) and in the Atlantic Ocean, but if two or fewer dredges are in possession north of Route 36 (Highlands Bridge) or in the Atlantic Ocean then the maximum length of each tooth bar shall be 96 inches. The maximum length of each tooth bar shall be 54 inches in Delaware Bay, but if no more than one dredge is in possession in Delaware Bay then the maximum length of each tooth bar shall be 96 inches. The maximum length of the tooth bar in all other crab dredge areas shall be 38 inches.

3. The maximum weight of each dredge shall be 400 pounds north of Route 36 (Highlands Bridge) and in the Atlantic Ocean, but if two or fewer dredges are in possession north of Route 36 (Highlands Bridge) or in the Atlantic Ocean then the maximum weight of each dredge shall be 500 pounds. There is no weight limit for dredges used in Delaware Bay. The maximum weight of each dredge in all other crab dredge areas shall be 80 pounds. All weights refer to the weight of the dredge and collecting bag.

4. The maximum length of teeth shall be six inches north of Route 36 (Highlands Bridge), the Delaware Bay and in the Atlantic Ocean and three inches in all other crab dredge areas.

5. Shellfish harvested from Delaware Bay Areas 2 and 3 may be retained as provided under N.J.S.A. 50:3-16.13 and N.J.S.A. 50:3-16.20. Simultaneous possession of shellfish and a dredge larger than specified in N.J.S.A. 50:3-16.20 shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

6. The minimum space between teeth shall be two and three-quarters inches in all crab dredge areas, measured at the base.

7. A toothless bar shall be allowed in place of a tooth bar in all waters, provided each toothless bar is no greater in length than the tooth bar lengths, specified at (a)2 above.

8. Chains shall be allowed in place of a tooth bar or toothless bar in all waters provided that the width of each dredge opening or mouth and the distance between the chain attachment points on the dredge are no greater in width than the tooth bar lengths specified at (a)2 above.

9. The collecting bag of a dredge, if material, shall have mesh not less than two inches bar measure or four inches stretched measure; if wire, shall not be less than two inches bar mesh (inside measurement) or two and one-half inches inside diameter if circular; if metal, the O-rings shall not be less than two inches in diameter and shall be connected with no more than six "S" hooks that measure not less than two inches in length as measured to the inside of the "S" configuration.

10. Each dredge shall be independently and separately attached to a vessel by a single cable or tow line; except that two dredges can be towed by a single line in the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay and north of Route 36 (Highlands Bridge) provided that the dredges are not solidly attached to each other in any way and are fastened to the tow line by a bridle that allows the dredges to act independently of each other.

(b) No person shall catch, take, or attempt to take crabs by dredge from any area except the "crab dredge area" as defined in the definitions section. No person shall dredge or attempt to dredge crabs on any marked leased shellfish grounds. No person shall dredge or attempt to dredge crabs within 50 yards of any marked leased shellfish grounds.

(c) No person, while engaged in the catching and taking of crabs by dredge, shall have in his or her boat or possession any organisms other than crabs and conchs obtained from any source, except as provided under N.J.S.A. 50:3-16.13. Conchs may be retained in the crab dredge fishery. The possession of dredges and any organisms other than crabs and conchs simultaneously in the boat of any person shall constitute prima facie evidence of the violation of this section.

(d) No person shall catch, take or attempt to catch or take crabs or conchs by means of a crab dredge except from one-half hour after sunrise to one-half hour before sunset from November 15 through April 15 in Delaware Bay; and from December 1 through March 31 in all other waters. The possession of dredges and crabs or conchs simultaneously in the boat of any person when the crab dredge season is closed shall constitute prima facie evidence of the violation of this section.

(e) No person shall catch, take or attempt to catch or take crabs by means of a crab dredge at any time on Sunday except north of Route 36 (Highlands Bridge), in Delaware Bay, or in the Atlantic Ocean.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-14.7

New Rule, R.1994 d.152, effective 3/21/1994.
See: 25 New Jersey Register 4831(a), 26 New Jersey Register 1337(b).
Amended by R.1996 d.587, effective 12/16/1996 (operative January 1, 1997).
See: 28 New Jersey Register 3998(a), 28 New Jersey Register 5231(a).
Inserted references to Delaware Bay; inserted (a)5; and recodified former (a)5 through (a)8 as (a)6 through (a)9.
Amended by R.1998 d.40, effective 1/5/1998.
See: 29 New Jersey Register 4595(a), 30 New Jersey Register 226(a).
Inserted (a)8 and recodified (a)8 and 9 as 9 and 10.
Amended by R.2000 d.10, effective 1/3/2000.
See: 31 New Jersey Register 2555(a), 32 New Jersey Register 48(a).
In (a), inserted the last sentence in the introductory paragraph, and substituted a reference to two and three-quarters inches for a reference to three inches in 6; and rewrote (c).
Amended by R.2002 d.277, effective 8/19/2002.
See: 34 New Jersey Register 1375(a), 34 New Jersey Register 2995(a).
Rewrote (b); in (d), substituted "December" for "November".
Amended by R.2004 d.20, effective 1/5/2004.
See: 35 New Jersey Register 4224(b), 36 New Jersey Register 174(b).
In (a), substituted "the said licensee's" for "a" in the introductory paragraph; in (d), inserted "or conchs" following "take crabs", and added the last sentence.