Local fishermen are calling for a fishing advisory committee, a working group to study the economic impact of the fishing industry and access issues, which was promised as part of an agreement by Brookhaven officials to reopen the town's facilities at Shoreham Beach to fishermen. Brookhaven officials had banned fishing at Shoreham Beach for about a year after receiving complaints from residents in the surrounding area about noise, littering and vagrancy, drawing the ire of area fishermen.
Officials on both sides of the debate arrived at an agreement in June that allowed anglers back to the beach, though with proper identification only; anglers must now obtain a fishing access sticker by providing proof of residency and valid identification. And the beach was added to the list of night fishing spots; however, permits are only available to residents.
Some anglers are pointing their finger at 2nd District Councilwoman Jane Bonner, a Conservative who caucuses with Republicans, for holding up the formation of the advisory committee. Ms. Bonner, who would serve as the committee's liaison to the Town Board, has not supplied all the names of the proposed members to the office of Supervisor Mark Lesko, a Democrat whose office helped iron out the agreement's details.
"She's not working with us, and we will support people who are for fishing access," said Stan Hentschel, owner of the Rocky Point Fishing Stop, during an Aug. 25 rally outside his shop. Mr. Lesko joined the rally, along with his aide, John Leonard, who is looking to unseat Ms. Bonner in November's election. The rally was also attended by representatives of the New York Coalition for Recreational Fishing and the Montauk Surfcasters Association, two of the largest fishing advocacy groups that lobby access issues associated with the recreational fishing industry.
Ms. Bonner, who also worked with the supervisor's office on the Shoreham Beach agreement, disagreed and pointed out that she has not received all of the proposed names for the committee from the other council members.
"I'll inquire again in a couple of days," Ms. Bonner said. "I'm certainly not holding it up."
Mr. Hentschel noted he had to lay off staff members at his shop last year and needed to take $65,000 out of his savings due to the combined effects of the economy and the closure of Shoreham Beach. Since the beach has been reopened to anglers, Mr. Hentschel has been able to rehire his staff, and he credited Mr. Lesko's administration for the way they handled the issue.
Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, who now serves as the part-time liaison to the town's Economic Development Division, will be exploring ways the fishing industry can be used to promote economic development and revitalization in downtown areas with empty storefronts such as Rocky Point, according to Mr. Lesko.
"To turn your back on fishing is to turn your back on the history of Long Island," Mr. Lesko said.
Ms. Bonner said she is supportive of any ongoing effort to revitalize any downtown.
"A thriving business community is important," she said.
Tom Farrell, vice president of the New York Coalition for Recreational Fishing, who also helped iron out the agreement with Brookhaven officials, said that prior to Mr. Lesko's arrival, the fishermen felt stone-walled.
"[Brookhaven] wouldn't do anything for us -- it fell on deaf ears," Mr. Farrell said. "It was a battle to the last day."
Mr. Leonard said he supports a tie between the fishing industry and the downtown areas as part of Brookhaven's economic development plan.
"Fishing is one of Long Island's most honored pastimes," Mr. Leonard said.
Mr. Leonard noted how there already is a natural tie between the two -- with noted fishing areas like Port Jefferson, Patchogue and Sayville having thriving downtowns -- but that the town might need to look at different ways the fishing industry could be boosted and then used as part of a revitalization effort.
"As a candidate for Town Council, you will have a friend," Mr. Leonard said to the fishermen on hand. "You guys are a part of the economy. We honor and respect that."
The fishermen and Mr. Leonard might give Ms. Bonner a run for her money come Election Day, according to Mr. Lesko.
"The battle's not over until Nov. 3," he said.
Ms. Bonner wasn't bothered by the comments in the least.
"It sounds to me like my opponents -- the supervisor and his running mate are running their campaign by press conference, when I am actually doing my job," Ms. Bonner said.
peggy@northshoresun.com