New Jersey One of Just Two States Not a Member of the Nationwide Compact to Crack Down on Abusers of Hunting, Fishing, Trapping Laws
Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo has introduced legislation with broad support from sportsmen, environmental and animal rights advocates that would enter New Jersey in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, a move that would help crack down on those who violate hunting, fishing and trapping laws in other states.
The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) is an agreement among participating states to provide reciprocal sharing of information regarding hunting, fishing, and trapping violations. The IWVC requires participating states to report wildlife violation convictions to compact members. When New Jersey receives notices of violations of hunters, fishers and trappers from other states, the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife would review the conviction and determine if the violation meets the requirements for suspension in New Jersey.
“Under this bill we’re cracking down on the bad actors who abuse hunting, fishing and trapping laws not just in New Jersey but across the nation,” said Mazzeo (D-Atlantic). “I am proud of the broad support for this legislation by hunters, fishermen, environmentalists and animal rights groups. The heart of this compact is about the sharing of information, which in turn allows our conservation officers to do their jobs more easily and freely. New Jersey will now join the rest of the nation in having better means to hold violators accountable while continuing to respect the thousands of hunters, fishers and trappers who exercise their rights in a respectful and law abiding way.”
The legislation has received broad support from all walks of the outdoor community including the New Jersey Conservation Officers Association, the New Jersey Recreational Fishing Alliance, the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, The Sierra Club, The Humane Society of New Jersey and Environment New Jersey.
New Jersey is one of just two states in the nation that have not yet joined this compact. This bill would enter the state into the IWVC and provide the state Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection with the authority to determine the suspensions of interstate violations and if necessary, withdraw from the compact.
The bill (A-2763) was introduced last week and has been referred to the Assembly Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee.