Hunting and Fishing News: Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center Workshops
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Field Experience Application Cover Page (.doc, 52kb)
Internship Opportunity at Sedge Island
Conserve Wildlife Foundation Contest Winners Visit Sedge Island (nj.com video report)
WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES
Interested in earning professional development credits in a fun and unique setting while learning about NJ's remarkable estuarine environment? We have the opportunity for you! The New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife offers an extraordinary learning experience at our Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center, located within NJ's first Marine Conservation Zone, just off Island Beach State Park in Barnegat Bay. A 15-minute ride to the island within the Sedge Islands Wildlife Management Area via the Division's pontoon boat sets the stage for the experience.
The shallow water surrounding the group of islands serves as a nursery for many species of marine animals. Blue claw crabs, hard clams and fish abound. In fact, crabbing and clamming are just two of the many hands-on activities used to teach about the ecology and culture of the bay. In season, striped bass, weakfish, summer flounder and many other species of fin-fish provide some of the best fishing on the coast. A small grove of pine and cedar trees on Sedge Island provides nesting and resting sites for many birds. The WMA's location within the Atlantic Flyway ensures exciting birding year-round.
THE FACILITY
During the three-day/two-night workshop you will stay in the Sedge House, a renovated duck-hunting lodge, which is equipped with a common room, 7 bunkrooms (you will have to share a room), a full
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WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
The workshop explores both the natural and cultural history of the Barnegat Bay area using hands-on methods including marsh walks, kayak tours, and conventional fishing, crabbing, and clamming techniques. Further investigation of the marine environment will be done using nets, microscopes, field guides, and more. Whether it's seining near an eel grass bed to observe the importance of submerged aquatic vegetation or having a built in anatomy lesson while cleaning and preparing a meal of fresh caught seafood, the activities offered provide first-hand insight to the wise use of New Jersey's natural resources, their importance and the role the Division plays in their management. |
You will leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of the entire ecosystem that you will be able to convey to your students.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Division is a registered provider with the DOE; professional development credit will be granted for the three-day/two-night workshop. The workshop fulfills core curriculum standards in both science (5.12) and social studies (6.9).
Science: wetlands ecology, wildlife biology (both game and non-game species), meteorology and coastal geomorphology.
Social Studies: human impact on fragile salt marsh, history of New Jersey's barrier islands and public policy decisions concerning management of game and non-game species.
FOOD
You are responsible for all your food during the two-night stay. There is a gas range stove and refrigerator, a gas grill and a quick steamer for preparing the day's harvest, as well cooking utensils you may need.
| COST
The cost of a three day program is $135 per adult, $85 per student (2 nights, minimum of 10 participants - maximum 14 per group). A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to secure a date. Cost includes transportation to and from the island, instruction, equipment and facility use. Participants provide their own meals and bedding. (Rates for length of stay other than standard three day program available upon request.) WHO CAN BOOK a DATE and HOW? Classroom teachers or other educators who wish to gain experience and knowledge of marine environments and/or are interested in earning professional development credit, or a group of teachers and students who are embarking on a special course of study or leadership training, are our priority groups. |
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We cannot offer open enrollment dates. You will be responsible for putting together a group of 10-14 participants before booking a date.
Only limited dates are available, so don't wait to book one for your group! For more information or reservations write to NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, P.O. Box 418, Port Republic, NJ 08241 Attn: Sedge Island Reservations or e-mail [email protected].
Deadline to Claim Awarded Turkey Permits is Monday, March 28
March 24, 2011
The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds hunters that those who were awarded Spring Turkey Hunting Permits have until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 28 to claim their awarded permits. Those who applied for permits through the lottery should have already received notifications of their results in the lottery. Applicants that did not receive an e-mail or postcard notification can check to see if they were successful in obtaining a permit through the online license and permit Web site.
Awarded permits that remain unclaimed after 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 28 WILL be reallocated and become available for the Over-The-Counter Sale of Leftover Permits. All leftover and unclaimed permits will be available on a first come first serve basis beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 4.
Leftover permits can be purchased at license agents and/or via the license website. Permits will be available as long as the permit supply lasts or the season ends. If you decide to use the Internet you cannot print the permits from home. They must be mailed, and can take 7 - 10 business days (additional shipping charges apply.) An up-to-date chart of all leftover permits will become available atwww.wildlifelicense.com/nj/ALS/unit_report.php.
Many of the more popular zone and period combinations sold out in the lottery, and depending upon how many awarded permits are claimed, they may not be available for over the counter sales. These include: 12 A, 12 B, 12E, 14A, 14B, 14E, 15A, 15B, 15E, 16A, 16E, 20A, 20E, 21A, 21E, 22A, 22B and 22E. Hunters who were hoping to obtain permits for these zone and period combinations are urged to remember to apply for the lottery next year.
The table below shows the number of permits that were not awarded in the lottery. This DOES NOT accurately reflect the number of permits available for sale for the Over-the-Counter Sales. The number of permits should not decrease and will likely increase once any unclaimed awarded permits are reallocated. The best and most reliable list of permits available for sale will be posted atwww.wildlifelicense.com/nj/ALS/unit_report.php. That page is continually updated to account for real time permit sales.
Alexandria, VA - The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board has initiated development of Draft Addendum III with the goals of reducing striped bass fishing mortality (F) up to 40% and further protecting spawning stock when it is concentrated and vulnerable. The addendum was initiated in order to allow managers to promptly respond to the results of the stock assessment update in the fall if necessary. Provisions of the addendum, if passed, could be implemented prior to the start of the 2012 fishing year.
The Board's action responds to recent trends in the fishery and resource,
including a 66% decline in estimated recreational catch from 2006 to 2009; a 25% decline in estimated striped bass abundance from 2004 to 2008; and lowered recruitment in recent years. Additionally, states in the northern extent of the fishery have expressed concern over decreased availability of striped bass as a result of the diminished water quality in the
Chesapeake Bay during the summer months that may also contribute to increased prevalence of mycobacteriosis in striped bass.
Draft Addendum III will propose a range of fishing management measures including, but not limited to, adjustments to commercial and recreational minimum size (for jurisdictions outside Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River), reductions in annual coastal commercial allocation, reductions in recreational bag limits, revisions to the target F rate (for
Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River), and reductions on fishing for striped bass in known spawning areas during the spawning season by at least 50% (for jurisdictions bordering the Hudson River, Delaware River, Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River).
The commercial and recreational fishery is currently managed through Amendment 6 to the Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan. The Amendment, passed in 2003, allocates the coastal commercial quota and set a two fish bag limit and a 28 inch size minimum for the recreational fishery, with the exception of the Chesapeake Bay fisheries, Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River fisheries, and states with approved alternative regulations.
The Draft Addendum will be developed for preliminary review by the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board in August. For more information, please contact Kate Taylor, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected] or 703.842.0740.