N.J. Stat. tit. 23, ch. 2

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-2 Powers and duties of board; annual report

The duties of the board shall be the protection and propagation of fish, birds and game animals, enforcement of the laws relating thereto, propagation and distribution of food fish and the keeping up of the supply thereof in the waters of the state. The board may close streams or parts of streams for forty-eight hours immediately following the stocking of same by the board, and may revoke the license of any person who shall violate the regulation so prescribed. The board may permit persons, when duly authorized by the board, to carry firearms in the woods and fields at any time when necessary for the conservation of wild life. The board shall have the conduct and control of all hatching stations owned and operated by the state. It may investigate any complaint made to it, at all times inspect any dam, weir, fish basket, net or other illegal apparatus for taking fish, and forthwith remove the same, and, on view or information, enforce the laws for the protection and propagation of fish, birds and game animals in this state, by arrest and prosecution of the offender, without complaint or warrant. It shall make a full report to the legislature annually, at its meeting, of all its official operations for the year ending on June thirtieth preceding, with any suggestions and recommendations it deems useful.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-2.1 Open season suspended or curtailed by proclamation closing lands to entry; new open season

Whenever pursuant to law the Governor shall, by proclamation, close any forests, woodlands or open lands to entry, and any open season for taking fish, game birds, game animals or fur-bearing animals or any of them, shall have been suspended or curtailed thereby, the Fish and Game Council, at the expiration of the period of such closure, may, subject to the approval of the State Commissioner of Conservation, by order provide for a new open season or for an extension of such open season curtailed, within the limits of the area affected by the Governor's proclamation, for a period not exceeding that during which said open season was suspended or curtailed. L.1948, c. 39, p. 113, s. 1, eff. April 29, 1948.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-3 Stocking with fish, birds and game restricted to certain places

The board may stock with fish, birds and game only such lands and waters of the state as are open to all anglers and hunters holding a hunting and fishing license issued by the board, or that are specifically designated as public sanctuaries closed to all fishing or hunting. The board may stock with fish any body of water in this state that is under the control of and for the use of such organizations known as the Boy Scouts, Young Men's Christian Association, Young Women's Christian Association or other similar public organizations, but only during the time such camps are in operation.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-4 Protector, assistant protector and wardens; appointment; compensation

The division may appoint such number of competent men as may be determined to be necessary, within the limits of available appropriations therefor, and subject to Title 11 of the Revised Statutes, Civil Service, who shall be known as fish and game wardens, with the powers and duties hereinafter enumerated. The division shall designate one of the wardens as the fish and game protector, who shall, under the supervision of the division, have the direction, supervision and control of the other wardens. It shall designate from the whole number of wardens such other supervisory personnel as may be necessary, subject to Title 11 of the Revised Statutes, Civil Service. The compensation of the protector, assistant protectors and wardens shall be the amounts fixed by statute or as otherwise determinable by authority of law. Each warden shall give his entire time to the duties prescribed for wardens and shall not be engaged in any other business or occupation. Amended by L.1953, c. 335, p. 1891, s. 1, eff. July 29, 1953.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-5 Payment of compensation and expenses

The compensation and expenses incurred under this title may be paid by the state treasurer, on warrants of the state comptroller, on bills properly approved by the board out of the resident license fund and other receipts of the board, received through the board, or otherwise.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-6 Powers and duties of protector and wardens

The wardens shall enforce all the laws of this state for the protection of fish, birds and game animals, and may execute all processes issued for the violation of these laws, and serve subpoenas issued for the examination, investigation or trial of all offenses against these laws. Each warden shall keep a daily record of his official acts, and at the close of each month make a summary of the record with such statements in detail as shall be necessary for the information of the board, and report the same to it. The protector shall report to the board any negligence or dereliction of duty or incompetency on the part of any of the wardens, with the facts relating thereto, shall report monthly to the board the operation of his department during the preceding month, and make any further report the board requires. Every warden shall seize, remove and forthwith destroy any net, pound or other device for taking fish found in or upon any of the waters of this state, or upon the shores or islands of those waters where fishing with nets is prohibited or illegal. Such nets, pounds or other devices are declared to be a public nuisance, and may be abated and summarily destroyed by any warden. No action for damages shall lie or be maintained against a warden for the seizure or destruction.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-7 Wardens may be armed

The board, with the approval of the governor, may in writing authorize any of its salaried wardens to have in possession and carry a revolver, club, billy, handcuffs and twisters, or any other weapon or article required in the performance of their official duty.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-8 Summary arrest; aid by peace officers

23:2-8. The council, the wardens, the deputy wardens and the protector shall have the power of summary arrest in cases of flagrant violation of this Title, or of the provisions of the State Fish and Game Code, and may, in the discharge of their duties, call in the aid of a sheriff or other peace officer when deemed necessary. An officer neglecting or refusing to aid when so required shall forfeit twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to be recovered in a civil action. Amended by L.1948, c. 448, p. 1804, s. 42; L.1953, c. 23, p. 450, s. 1, eff. March 19, 1953; amended 2023, c.250, s.24.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-9 Payment of appropriations

All moneys appropriated for the compensation of the protector, the wardens and the general and incidental expenses of the board shall be paid by the treasurer of the state, on the warrant of the comptroller.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-10 Deputy wardens; appointment

The board may appoint such deputy fish and game wardens as it deems necessary for the better enforcement of the laws regulating the taking of fish, game and birds.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-11 Power and authority.

23:2-11. The deputy conservation police officers shall have the power and authority of conservation police officers to enforce Title 23 and the Fish and Game Code, and shall be subject to the regulations provided by law for the enforcement of the Title and Code, but shall receive no salary or other compensation from the State for the performance of duties of law enforcement. amended 1953, c.95; 1977, c.167, s.2; 2019, c.407, s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-12 Impersonating warden; penalty

A person who, not being a warden or a deputy warden of this state, shall: a. Falsely pretend that he is such; or b. Impersonate a warden or a deputy warden; or c. Attempt, by any means, to induce another to believe that he is such-- Shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-13 Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program.

1. a. There is established in the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife, a Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program, which shall be based on a national program developed by the Future Fisherman Foundation that encourages school-aged children to avoid drug usage by providing alternative activities that involve learning to fish, appreciating aquatic and environmental resources, and developing positive life skills. The division shall assign staff to develop strategies for assisting school districts or other interested public service organizations in implementing this program throughout the State. Statewide program implementation shall be modeled after the pilot program implemented in Ocean County in calendar year 2000, which may include, but not be limited to, the distribution of materials to promote and operate the program throughout the State. To the maximum extent possible, the division shall implement and operate the program in every county in the State. b. The division may work with educational, public safety and environmental groups in order to promote volunteerism among these groups for the purpose of acting as program instructors, mentors or advisors. The division may also work with public service organizations, sportsman groups and local merchants to encourage the donation of technical, material and financial assistance to the program. L.2012, c.46, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-14 Collection, maintenance of data; annual report.

2. The division shall collect and maintain data on the Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program and provide an annual report to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), including information on the number of school districts or municipalities that have implemented the program and the number of pupils that are participating in the program. The report shall also include information on the effectiveness of the program in terms of drug usage avoidance or incidents among participating students. L.2012, c.46, s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 23:2-15 Rules, regulations.

3. The Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act. L.2012, c.46, s.3.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026