N.J. holding hearings on beach access rule changes

New Jersey environmental officials are holding public hearings on proposed changes to the state’s beach access rules.

The sessions in Avalon and Long Branch today will let people comment on changes that include protecting off-hours access to the shoreline for fishermen.

But beach access advocates say the state is giving too much control over who can reach the beach — and where they can do it — to shore towns that have a history of trying to keep outsiders off their sand.

It was Avalon’s court case that overturned the old rules that imposed more stringent access rules on shore towns.