Artificial Reef Program
SFEC began working with the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife in 1999 to help fund and build artificial reefs in coastal New Jersey waters. The objective of the program is to construct hard-substrate reef habitat in the ocean for certain species of fish and shellfish, providing new fishing grounds for anglers and underwater structures for scuba divers. All of these efforts are designed to provide a habitat for fish on the bottom of the ocean that is otherwise flat and featureless. Artificial reefs provide a breeding ground for fish and a place where small fish can find shelter in order to mature into adults.
SFEC’s first reef programs were funded by donations made by individuals, foundations, businesses and other sources outside SFEC’s treasury. Initially, the Club named our reef the Strathmere Reef site. At this stage many barge loads of demolition materials from the old Longport Bridge and the new replacement bridge were placed on the reef. SFEC has actively lobbied to obtain discarded subway cars from New York and to fund the placement of Reef Balls at the site.
After the death our our past president, Jack Clements, SFEC renamed the reef “The Jack Clements Artificial Reef Site”. At the request of his family, many donations have been made in Jack’s memory to our reef program to continue building the reef. Since that time, there have been many drops of new material onto the reef, including reef balls, junction and septic boxes, and many tons of concrete pipe.
SFEC has worked closely with Home Ports Maritime Charts to literally put the Jack Clements Artificial Reef onto the map. This reef is charted on their charts. The last several seasons have seen excellent flounder, sea bass and tautog fishing at this site. The SFEC sponsorship of the Jack Clements Artificial reef site will continue for many years to come.
Jack’s Reef
Letter to the Editor of the Press of Atlantic City:
To NJ Artificial Reef Program Director Hugh Carberry
NJ Fish and Wildlife – 1.26.08
Regarding Pots Off NJ Reefs Legislation
In its most recent board meeting The Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club voted unanimously to suspend temporarily funding for the New Jersey artificial reef program. This vote reflects our disappointment in The NJ Assembly tabling legislation that would have addressed fish traps monopolizing our artificial reefs.
SFEC has supported the OC reef and Townsend Inlet reef through the donation of our time, public and member education, and approximately $8,000.00 in donations. SFEC currently has $7,000.00 earmarked for future NJ artificial reef programs. Those funds are temporarily frozen until pots off reefs legislation moves through both the Senate and Assembly in a manner that represents a full and fair discussion.
We commend Senator Kean and Senator Van Drew for sponsoring a new 2008, pots off reef bill {S336} that now that will first have to be approved by the Senate environmental committee and in the Assembly by the Agricultural and Natural resources Committee.
We firmly support our long time partner in NJ reef development Bill Figley NJ DEP, when he says the reefs were designed for everyone in the public, residents and non-residents, to use with hook and line. They were not designed to be monopolized by highly efficient trap-fishing gear. The SFEC will encourage other fishing and dive organizations to take similar action.
Sincerely,
Randy Roash
Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club President
Cc SFEC membership 191, Senator Jeff Van Drew, Assemblyman Nelson Albano and Matt Milan, RFA Director Jim Donifrio, Editor AC Press