The bill giving DEC regulatory authority over whelks, extending the Department's regulatory authority over squid, and establishing a resident landing lobster permit passed both houses and waits delivery to the Governor. The Council supported this bill.

A bill conveying to DEC regulatory authority over monkfish in state waters also passed both houses and has been delivered to Governor Pataki.

The Legislature took no action on a bill that would extent and broaden DEC's current limited regulatory authority over lobster. The Council had not adopted a position on this bill.

The Legislature took no action on several bills that would have banned harvesting striped bass from the Hudson River for commercial purposes.

A bill creating a Marine and Coastal District License Plate, which had been supported by the Council, passed both houses and was sent to the Governor.

A bill to establish special recreational harvests permits for fluke, scup and black sea bass was not passed by the Legislature. The Council had opposed this legislation.

The Governor's program bill to authorize designation of natural heritage areas passed both houses of the Legislature and will be signed by the Governor.

The bill creating a special state habitat conservation vehicle license plate passed both houses and has been sent to the Governor.

A bill extending the prohibition on possession of bay scallops for food purposes from September 15 to the first Monday in October, which is the open season for harvesting bay scallops, was passed and delivered to the Governor.