For each of the past several years, DEC has proposed a series of changes to marine fishery regulations to allow management to keep pace with evolving conditions in the state’s marine fisheries and, in some cases, to remain in compliance with federally-sanctioned regional fishery management plans for different species. These proposed changes are often packaged in a single rule-making action. Mr. Colvin of DEC briefly discussed with the Council several of the issues that the Department anticipates will be included in the anticipated 1999 rule-making package, which would principally impact the fisheries in 2000. A list of the issues that might be included in this rule-making package is given below. Items in regular type are those presented to the Council by DEC. Items in italics are additional issues suggested by the Council or others present at the meeting.

weakfish

• prohibit pair trawling for this species

striped bass

• allow customers of recreational livery stations to retain 2 legal-size fish
• eliminate the special $100 fee for charter/party boat permits allowing fares to keep 2 legal-size fish
• allow (or not) resumption of commercial fishery in Hudson River
• eliminate 7-fish/day bycatch limit on commercial trawlers
• start season earlier
• raise top of commercial slot limit to 39"
• allow commercial harvests further west in Atlantic Ocean
• raise recreational possession limit to 2 fish

fluke (summer flounder)

• extend at-sea fillet permit to holders of party/charter boat operators license
• allocating commercial quota among gear types (trawl, hook & line, etc.)

commercial fish pots

• require pot registration and catch/effort reporting

black sea bass

• do away with closed recreational season

bluefish

• implement FMP amendment provisions, including commercial catch quota

scup (porgy)

• authorize New York to trade commercial catch quota with other states

monkfish

• raise state minimum size limit to conform to federal limit

mandatory reporting

• require holders of commercial foodfish and shippers/dealers license to file trip reports and weekly dealers reports, respectively, with National Marine Fisheries Service

party/charter boat operators license

• clarify who may/must be licensed

crabs

• habitat impacts of commercial crab dredging in bays

Mr. Colvin indicated that the Department would take the additional suggested issues under advisement. He indicated that, of the above issues, only the removal of the closed recreational season on black sea bass is likely to be dealt with in time to take effect in 1999. This action will likely be taken through emergency rule-making authority. DEC will present detailed proposals for regulatory changes at the Council’s 15 July 1999 meeting.