NEWS RELEASE
MARCH 29, 2007

State Needs to Shore Up Its Proposed Coastal Protections
New Jersey Coastal Reform Effort Underway; More Work Required for Success

TRENTON (March 29, 2007) –A coalition of state and federal environmental groups today called on New Jersey to take strong action to protect its coastal and ocean resources. The call came at a hearing held by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on proposed changes to the state’s Coastal Permit Program and Coastal Zone Management rules. These rules were last updated more than 25 years ago.

The DEP proposal recognizes “accumulating evidence and growing national concern that the oceans are at risk from nonpoint and point source pollution, climate change, overfishing and the effects of coastal development.” The groups said that the proposal does not go far enough to address this risk or the recommendations of the recent national ocean commissions.

“New Jersey’s identity is strongly tied to its coast, and has a strong economic and ecological connection to its ocean resources. We are encouraged that the DEP is exploring ways to strengthen its coastal resource protections, but more needs to be done,” said John Weber of the Surfrider Foundation. “We should not pretend that one hearing in Trenton gives the public and stakeholders ample opportunity to comment. Let’s have a series of hearings from Sandy Hook to Cape May.” The Joint Initiative’s U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card earlier this year gave the nation a C- grade on ocean policy reform, while a number of other coastal states and regions received an A- for their efforts. These efforts include passage of ocean protection acts in both California and New York and proposed ocean legislation in Massachusetts. There are also regional efforts underway, including the Gulf States’ Gulf of Mexico Alliance and one between the governors of Oregon, Washington and California.

“Our oceans are in a wave of trouble and NJ is going to let our greatest resource go out with the tides,” said Jeff Tittel Director of NJ Sierra Club. “The State has failed to meet its obligation to protect our coast.” “New Jersey should be at the forefront of ocean protection efforts in this country,” said Benson Chiles of the Coastal Ocean Coalition, a group state and national environmental organizations. “In some respects this proposal is a missed opportunity.”

“The DEP needs to fully integrate ecosystem-based management into their ocean resources management so that they are making decisions based on the health of the entire ecosystem, not just one species” said Sarah Chasis, ocean initiative director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “We want New Jersey to lead the nation in protecting these resources for the future.” Ecosystem-based management (EBM) moves beyond traditional species-by-species, problem-by-problem, management approaches to take account of factors such as the interplay between and among different species, including food web interactions, and availability of suitable habitat for ocean life.