Chairman Wise led the Council through a list of priority DEC marine resources program needs developed by the Subcommittee on Marine Resource Program Financing Needs in consultation with staff from the Bureau of Marine Resources. Subcommittee membership included Councilors Dave Relyea, Melissa Dearborn, Bob Danielson, and John Davi, and Chairman Wise. The Subcommittee routinely met with Mr. Colvin and Ms. Peggy Rourke, the administrative finance manager of the Bureau of Marine Resources. The Subcommittee also met with the heads of the different sections within the bureau of Marine Resources. The list identifies program priorities/needs in each of the Bureau’s sections (Finfish & Crustaceans, Shellfish, and Habitat Protection) that are either incompletely or completely unmet under current budget and staffing levels. The total estimated cost of meeting all the stated needs exceeds $4 million, much of which would be an annual requirement, as opposed to one-time infusions of money. Mr. Wise asked the Council to review the needs and identify those which it sees as especially high priority.

Councilor Freierman pointed out that, in the coastwide allocation of allowable catches for many species, New York is hurt because of poor estimates of total harvests in the state, including state-licensed commercial boat, party/charter boats, and recreational fisheries. She would like to see a determination of the number of people fishing, commercially and recreationally, in the Marine District in New York. Mr. Colvin responded that, presently, one DEC staff member is working on commercial statistics whereas no staff resources are focused on the recreational side. Under a DEC partnership with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Cornell Cooperative Extension, two years’ of funding is available through the Atlantic Cooperative Coastal Statistics Program (ACCSP) to implement trip reporting and other reporting.

Chairman Wise noted that, under Objective BM012 in the Finfish & Crustaceans Section (add staff position on power plant issues), utility companies have vast resources at their disposal and can hire world-renowned experts in various issues to support them in power plant licensing hearings and meetings. The suggested additional staff, at the senior scientist level, would help level the playing field in these discussions and proceedings. Mr. Colvin observed that the Bureau staff involved in the power plant reviews also have other responsibilities and they basically have to beg, borrow, and steal to find a day to go to meetings; this disrupts the Department’s continuity in these proceedings. This job is important enough to warrant a full-time position.

Councilor Davi stated that he would like to see more money and resources devoted to marine law enforcement. Chairman Wise asked Captain Otterstedt of the Division of Law Enforcement to summarize the current staffing levels and non-personnel resources dedicated to enforcing marine laws and regulations. Captain Otterstedt replied that, currently, 35 staff are involved in marine law enforcement in DEC Regions 1, 2, and 3, including investigative staff. He felt that, overall, and while additional resources can always be used, the Department’s marine law enforcement program is doing a great job.

Councilor Yaxa suggested the need to develop a second sampling crew to conduct sanitary surveys of shellfish growing waters is a high priority; the Department has a legal requirement to conduct these surveys and doing them is a matter of public health. Mr. Yaxa also asked about the recommended buoying of certified growing waters and conducting periodic chemical assays of shellfish. DEC staff pointed out that neither of these were requirements under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program and neither is presently being done. Mr. Yaxa questioned the stated need to hire a biologist to oversee the Department’s aquaculture program; he was unaware of any such program in the State of New York. DEC staff explained that the Department has a variety of town-operated shellfish hatcheries, a variety of clam relay and seeding programs and this position would be a coordinator for both state waters & town waters. Mr. Yaxa agreed this was an important need.

Councilor Freierman asked for clarification on the estimated cost figures associated with proposed fishery-independent trawl surveys in state waters. Do these figures imply cooperative research with existing fishing vessels? Chairman Wise stated that the proposed ocean trawl survey would be similar to the annual New Jersey state survey in ocean waters off that state. Mr. Colvin noted that New Jersey DEP contracts with Stony Brook University to use its research vessel, a converted commercial fishing vessel, for the trawl survey along the ocean waters off New Jersey and it seemed logical to look into the cost of simply expanding the geographical scope of that survey to cover the waters off Long Island.

Councilor Mason asked about sewage treatment plant monitoring along Long Island’s South Shore, which doesn't appear explicitly on the list. Mr. Colvin replied that the routine monitoring of waste water discharge is a responsibility of another division in the DEC, the Division of Water. The impact of those discharges on the marine environment is part of several of the items on the list under the Marine Habitat Protection section.

Councilor Davi stated that he would like to see a study documenting the cause and effect of pesticide spraying. Ms. Karen Chytalo, head of the Marine Habitat Protection section, stated that Suffolk County is writing an environmental impact statement on monitoring spraying. Councilor Freierman asked if this would examine any cause and effect documentation. The impact statement will attempt this but making clear-cut connections between mosquito spraying and damage to the marine environment can be very difficult and expensive.

Chairman Wise said the Subcommittee will try to bring back to the Council at its January 2003 meeting a revised, prioritized needs list along with a proposed plan to secure the money to fund the items on the list.