23:2B-7. Powers and duties of commissioner

The commissioner shall have the following powers and duties:

a. Administer and enforce the laws, rules and regulations relating to fisheries resources;

b. Appoint the chief administrative officer of the marine fisheries program and all other necessary employees, including enforcement personnel, within the limits of available revenues;

c. Develop and implement a program for the management of fisheries resources, including such species related management plans as may be appropriate;

d. Acquire by gift or purchase and hold real property in the name of the State, or any right or interest therein, including, but not limited to, easements or rights of access;

e. Accept for the State any Federal funds apportioned under Federal law related to authorized programs of the department and to do such acts as are necessary for the purpose of carrying out such Federal laws; and to accept from any other agency or government, individual, group, or corporation, such funds, gifts, or devises as may be available to carry out the purposes of this act;

f. Make periodic reports to the Governor and the Legislature, including therein such recommendations for changes and amendments in existing law and licensing procedures as are warranted by investigations and research;

g. Conduct or sponsor a program or programs for research and development of fisheries resources of the State, in cooperation, where appropriate, with Rutgers, The State University, the Marine Sciences Consortium, and other responsible research or academic agencies, which programs shall include, but not be limited to biological, chemical, technological, hydrological, processing, marketing, financial, economic, and promotional research and development. The department may carry out such a program or programs in cooperation with other State agencies, Federal, regional, and local governmental entities, or with private institutions or persons;

h. Establish programs for public education concerning the conservation, utilization, development, and enhancement of fisheries resources;

i. Acquire, introduce, and propagate marine fish species in such manner as will carry out the fisheries resources management programs;

j. To coordinate and integrate the marine fisheries program established herein with the activities of all other State agencies which affect fisheries resources, and access thereto including but not limited to, freshwater fisheries, coastal zone management, water pollution control and marine law enforcement; and,

k. To encourage every agency which operates a bridge or road over any of the marine waters of this State to construct a fishing platform on each such bridge.

L.1979, c. 199, s. 7, eff. Sept. 19, 1979.