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Changes to Fish and Game Council would threaten hunting . . .
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/13/07
BY ANTHONY P. MAURO SR.
Instituting a law to prohibit fishing would be unimaginable only a generation ago. Fishing is so intertwined in New Jersey's recreational and economic past and present that it is hard to imagine living without it. Sadly, Monmouth County politicians may outlaw this essential part of our outdoor heritage.
Legislative bills A-3275 and S-2041 have been introduced by Assemblyman Michael Panter and Sen. Ellen Karcher, both D-Monmouth. These bills will eliminate freshwater fishing, hunting and trapping in New Jersey. It will be achieved by changing the structure of the Fish and Game Council.
The council now includes 11 people knowledgeable about conservation principles and wildlife management techniques. Represented are farmers, sportsmen, a person with an understanding of land management and soil conservation, and the chairman of the Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee. To ensure the integrity of the selection process, people are recommended by the state agricultural convention and the state Federation of Sportsman's Clubs to the governor.
Under the proposed bills, there would be little or no requirement for people versed in conservation principles and wildlife management techniques. The council would be pared to seven members, only two of whom would be farmers. All members would be chosen by the recommendation and advice of the Senate, instead of an unbiased and legitimate commissions. This politicizes the selection process, which could be easily exploited by those with an agenda.
The current statute governing the Fish and Game Council provides for conserving freshwater fish, game birds, game animals and fur-bearing animals for public recreation and food supply. The proposed bills change the council's purpose by deleting all consideration for the use and development of fish and game for public recreation and food supply. Since freshwater fishing, hunting and trapping are all recreation-based and largely driven by a need for food supply, the bills ostensibly eliminate these activities.
Controlling the things we eat is not new for Panter and Karcher. Both are vegetarians. Both initiated the ban on goose liver sales and trans fats. Interestingly, both represent constituents in District 12 — home to a network of animal rights activism.
The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance of Manalapan operates a nonprofit organization that claims dedication to ending animal exploitation. But this is no folksy protest group. Its director is listed as a press officer for the Animal Liberation Press Office, a publication set up to relay information to the media about action undertaken by the Animal Liberation Front and other radical animal-rights groups. The FBI has identified ALF as one of America's primary domestic terrorist threats.
The Animal Protection PAC, also based in Manalapan. was established to advance the animal rights agenda through donations to like-minded politicians. In 2005, it donated nearly $1,700 to Panter's re-election campaign. On Sunday, it will host a vegan-catered party for Panter, his running mate Amy Mallet and Karcher.
Also contributing to Panter's campaign is Humane USA, the political action committee of the Humane Society of the United States. Testimony provided to the U.S. Senate by the director of research for the Center for Consumer Freedom revealed the Humane Society funded the operation of an Internet server used to issue ALF-related communications.
Humane USA boasts on its Web site that its state-level giving was not only meaningful, but that Panter would not have been re-elected but for Humane USA's support.
Karcher is the recipient of donations from Panter's political action committee. It is fair to say the funds she received may have originated from the pockets of animal activists.
It is apparent that our representatives in District 12 believe our personal choices should be determined by Trenton elitists. Sponsoring legislation that is directed at changing the Fish and Game Council to advance the interests of a few at the expense of responsible oversight of our state's natural resources is reckless and unconscionable. New Jersey is already experiencing high populations of deer, geese, bear and coyotes due to political interference of wildlife policy.
The current model governing the structure of the council has served our state extraordinarily well. I request that Panter and Karcher remove their misguided bills from consideration and that they refund all forms of donations given by Animal Protection PAC and Humane USA.
Anthony P. Mauro Sr., Colts Neck, is chairman of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.
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Looks like the Herd there needs culling...
