Testa Proposes Renaming of Delaware Bay
Republican State Sen. Michael Testa of Vineland, who represents the state’s first district, introduced a bill late last month proposing that the name of the Delaware Bay be changed to the Bay of New Jersey. He introduced a second bill suggesting that New Jersey should reclaim a slice of land located on Salem County’s shoreline, which was deemed part of Delaware in the past in a border agreement.
“I look at the robust fishing industry—commercial fishing industry and recreational industry of the State of New Jersey,” Testa told the media. “I think that the fact that we have to call the bay that we fish in the Delaware Bay—they’ve had a claim to that long enough.”
He posted on X: “I’ve officially introduced legislation that will formally recognize the Delaware Bay as the BAY OF NEW JERSEY! It’s time to Make New Jersey Great Again!”
Testa became a state senator in 2019 after winning a special election for New Jersey’s 1st Legislative District, which was vacated by Jeff Van Drew when he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Testa has since been re-elected twice.
The preamble to the bill reads: “The body of water currently known as Delaware Bay shall be renamed and thereafter referred to as the Bay of New Jersey.”
The initial text directs all state agencies to cooperate with the renaming.
It says: “All State departments, agencies, and instrumentalities shall:
a. update their Internet websites to reflect this designation within 90 days of the effective date of [of this act], and
b. update official publications, signage, advertisements, and any other public indicators to reflect this designation before ordering replacement publications, signage, advertisements, or other public indicators.
c. The Department of State shall notify all relevant federal agencies, including but not limited to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Geological Survey, of this designation and shall request corresponding updates to federal publications and materials.
d. Whenever any reference is made in any law, rule, regulation, contract, or document to Delaware Bay, the same shall mean and refer to the Bay of New Jersey.”
A supplement to this bill seems to amend the language of all the current laws containing the term “Delaware Bay.” It begins by saying “The State Department of Conservation and Economic Development is hereby authorized and empowered to repair, reconstruct, or construct bulkheads, seawalls, breakwaters, groins, jetties, beach fills, dunes and any or all appurtenant structures and work, on any and every shore front along the Atlantic Ocean, in the State of New Jersey, or any shore front along the [Delaware bay] Bay of New Jersey.”
