NJ S3423

Authorizes commercial menhaden bait fishing vessels in New Jersey state waters to use wet fish pumps (capsule or centrifugal design) to remove fish from purse seines, with discharge hoses placed at or below the waterline to minimize surface water aeration

Amends current law that only permits brailing or dip nets for removing fish from purse seines and requires fish pumps to be covered, disconnected, and stowed when fishing in state waters

Maintains consistency with existing regulations that already permit fish pump use beyond three nautical miles of the coastline

Cites worker safety benefits, noting that fish pumps reduce crew injury risk and allow nets to be emptied more effectively, preventing fish kills from broken nets during manual brailing

Notes that the Individual Transferable Quota system already controls menhaden harvest amounts, eliminating concerns about overfishing from increased harvesting efficiency