Chairman Wise reminded the Council that, at its May 2005 meeting, it had received and discussed a petition from Mr. Richard Wilson, signed by a number of persons, requesting that the state, through law or regulation, prohibit the setting of gill nets within 1500’ of any state park shoreline.  Mr. Wilson has observed a fisherman setting gill nets directly off Montauk and Camp Hero State Parks.  He feels that resources in and immediately adjacent to a state park are primarily there for enjoyment in a recreational manner and he feels that this commercial activity interferes with that and would like to see the practice stopped.  At that meeting, the Council recommended that, in lieu of formal legislative or regulatory action, this issue would be best addressed through informal negotiation and authorized Chairman Wise to arrange a meeting between the parties involved to accomplish this.

Mr. Wise reported that, subsequent to that Council meeting, he received written communications from Mr. Wilson that made it clear that Mr. Wilson was intent on moving forward with his petition regardless of the outcome of any informal discussions with the fisherman involved and had asked that the issue of his petition be again put on the agenda for today’s Council meeting.  Mr. Wise informed the Council that he had not felt comfortable moving forward to broker an informal meeting between Mr. Wilson and the fisherman in question and, thus, the meeting did not take place.

The Council held a brief discussion of the petition.  DEC Division of Law Enforcement staff reiterated their conclusion, stated at the previous Council meeting, that the gill netter in question was not violating any present law or regulation in setting gill nets in these waters.  Mr. Wise reminded the Council that the May 2005 Council meeting was attended by several East End gill-netters who said, that although this practice is legal, out of courtesy to park attendees, they do not set their nets right off state park beaches.  

Councilor Joe McBride stated that he still believes  that a gentlemen’s agreement should be sought before the state is asked to formally ban gill netting off state parks.  He expressed concerns that such a ban might eventually be expanded to include other types of fishing off state parks, such as guided saltwater fly-fishing.  Councilor Tom Jordan said that he has spoken to the gill netter in question, who has told him that he will never set his nets again in that area and that he feels that the incident is over and should be forgotten about.  Chairman Wise spoke on behalf of the petition, stating that, in designated areas as state parks, the state was clearly expressing a view that the natural resources in and immediately adjacent to such areas are set aside for recreational enjoyment.  Captain Otterstedt of the DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement warned the Council that, if the proposed gill netting ban were to expand to include any type of commercial fishing off state parks, this could have a broad effect, potentially other fisheries.

Councilor Sima Freierman made a motion that the Council not endorse Mr. Wilson’s petition.  Councilor McBride seconded the motion.  Ms. Freierman’s motion was adopted by a vote of 8 in favor, 1 opposed, 0 abstentions.

 

Page last modified Saturday, August 20, 2005 by George E. Carroll