A 1565 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes restrictions and requirements for use of fishing gear and conch, fishing, and lobster pots on artificial reefs.

This bill restricts most fishing methods within 300 feet of New Jersey's Sandy Hook and Axel Carlson artificial reef sites, allowing only rod-and-reel, hand line, spear, or gig fishing outside designated areas. It specifically permits commercial fishing (with limits) in small, defined sections of these reefs - using precise coordinates - to balance conservation and fishing access. Key provisions include capping lobster pots at 75 per area (25 per line), requiring weekly checks, banning lobster fishing November 1-December 15, and restricting other fish pots May 15-October 1 in those zones. The bill also mandates a new pot management plan within one year to regulate commercial use of these reefs.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Sean Kean
Sean Kean
RRepublican
NJ
30