Bill
Bill > S3423
summary
Introduced
02/09/2026
02/09/2026
In Committee
02/09/2026
02/09/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill would revise the law concerning the use of fish pumps to remove menhaden from purse seines in certain circumstances. This bill would allow a wet pump to be used to remove menhaden from a purse seine, provided that the fish pump is a wet pump, of either capsule or centrifugal design, and the pump discharge hose is placed at or below the vessel's water line in order to minimize the potential for excess aeration of surface waters in proximity to the fishing operation. Current law requires that the removal, from a purse seine, of fish harvested from the waters of the State be by brailing or dip net only and further provides that a fish pump may not be on board any vessel operating under a license for the purpose of taking menhaden for bait or human food purposes, unless the pump is completely covered and securely fastened with a brightly colored tarp or other material, and the pump intake or hose is disconnected from the pump and is securely stowed away from the pump so that it is not readily available for use when the vessel is fishing in State waters.
AI Summary
This bill allows commercial fishing vessels to use specific types of fish pumps, known as "wet pumps" (either capsule or centrifugal design), to remove menhaden, a type of fish, from purse seines, which are large fishing nets. This change modifies existing law that previously restricted the removal of fish from purse seines to only brailing or dip nets and required any fish pump on board to be unusable. The bill mandates that the pump's discharge hose must be placed at or below the vessel's waterline to prevent excessive aeration of the water, aiming to improve safety for crew members, increase efficiency in emptying nets, and reduce the risk of fish kills, while also noting that current regulations like Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) already manage menhaden catch levels and prevent overfishing.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee (on 02/09/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S3423 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S3500/3423_I1.HTM |
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