DEC staff persons Steve Heins, Chart Guthrie, and Melissa Cohen gave a presentation to the Council on the I Fish New York Program (IFNYP).

IFNYP is federally-funded through the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program (WCRP). Marine and freshwater fisheries staff within Dec Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources worked jointly to develop the program proposal. The federal grant provides the program with funding for approximately 15 months. Restrictions imposed on the ability of the Department to hire staff have hampered the initiation of the program. Currently, only seasonal staff has been hired pending permission to hire full-time professional staff. After the 15-months, the Department hopes to find other federal funding to continue the program.

The main objective of IFNYP is to bring the activity of sport fishing to all New Yorkers. Ideally, through the program, anyone who has a desire to fish would have the resources and knowledge necessary to do so effectively and enjoyably. A secondary objective of the program is to build public awareness and understanding of freshwater and marine resources. The initial phase of this program focuses mostly on residents in urban areas of New York City, western parts of Long Island, and Westchester County. Eventually, the program will expand to urban centers in other parts of New York State. Program staff conducted a baseline survey last year by handing out sheets at fishing events and by interviewing people on docks to assess the public’s knowledge of fishing regulations and fish consumption advisories. The program’s web site will also be used to convey information to the public and to secure public input to the program.

The program is being implemented through three phases: introductory; basic; and advanced. Introductory phase programs include fishing clinics, fishing or marine/maritime festivals, and other similar events. The goal in this phase is to reduce any apprehension among would-be anglers, such as “fishing gear is complicated and difficult to use.” Program staff have worked with the New York City Housing Authority to offer instructional fishing clinics in each of the five boroughs. These events typically drew approximately 1,000 persons. The basic phase of the programs includes a mix of sport fishing education activities: fishing instruction programs; clinic assistance package; in-school and curriculum development program; and training programs. The in-school program has been underway for two years and features in-school visits by IFNYP staff to instruct students in the fundamentals of aquatic ecology and, later in the year, to take the students on a fishing trip. The advanced program offers such activities as evening seminars given by local bass pros or avid fishermen to instruct other anglers in specialized fishing equipment, skills, etc. Currently, these seminars deal only with freshwater fishing, but it is hoped to expand the coverage to also include salt water fishing techniques.

Another objective of IFNYP is to increase the awareness of the fishing public regarding important environmental issues affecting fishing or the freshwater and marine environments. These issues include contaminants in fish (e.g., health advisories concerning fish consumption) and hazardous material disposal. Upgrading existing recreational fishing facilities and, possibly, acquiring new facilities are additional program goals. Program staff will develop partnerships with state and local park agencies to promote and bring about improvement in recreational fishing access.

Once the current grant supporting the IFNYP ends, federal funding is not available through other wildlife grants. The goals of most wildlife programs do not include public outreach and education. The Department is assessing alternative sources of funding to continue this innovative and popular program. Among the possible alternative federal funding sources being considered is the Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration (Wallop-Breaux) Program. The Department has discussed with the New York Sea Grant Program a partnership under which Sea Grant would actually employ staff to fully implement the program, with funds provided by DEC. This arrangement may be made in time to have a full-time IFNYP staff person hired January 2004. For many years, DEC had a contract with Cornell University to run a sport fish and aquatic resource education program (SAREP) funded through the Wallop-Breaux aid to sport fish restoration program. Last year, this arrangement with Cornell ended and SAREP funding was rolled into IFNYP. These monies will allow the program to continue for a while beyond the availability of the current federal funding, but the Department continues to search for a way to establish the IFNYP as a permanent education/outreach activity.

Councilor Joe McBride suggested supporting IFNYP with freshwater fishing license revenues and promoted linking IFNYP with after-school programs regularly at many New York City schools. Mr. Gordon Colvin of DEC responded that the Conservation Fund Advisory Board might not be receptive to having these license revenues too compartmentalized. He reiterated that IFNYP is a high priority for the Department, which is committed to finding the money to keep this program running.

Chairman Wise thanked Messrs. Heins and Guthrie and Ms. Cohen, asking that the Council be kept informed from time to time with the IFNYP progress.