The following are the agenda items tentatively scheduled for discussion at the Council's meeting on 10 April 2007.  Check the Council's web page (see below) for items added to the agenda after this bulletin is distributed.

• draft minutes, 13 March 2007 Council meeting
• implementing Amendment IV to the tautog fishery management plan in New York
• review of marine resource-related legislation current introduced into the State Legislature 

Bills New in 2007

A06377, exempts repeated sale of same vessel from state sales and compensating use taxes

S04044, limits nets that can be used in certain marine waters around New York City to hand nets and small cast nets used to harvest menhaden (for bait)

DEC Program Bill #104, extends/renews various DEC regulatory authorities, commercial license caps, license eligibility criteria, etc.

Re-filed Bills, No Current Council Position

A02803, revises current income eligibility criteria for issuance of state commercial foodfish license and special striped bass commercial harvest permit to 50% of average annual earned income over previous three years from fishing  or an average over the previous three years of $10,000 from fishing

S01354, establishes standards that must be met for DEC to establish areas in the Marine District that are closed to fishing

Re-filed Bills the Council Currently Opposes

A06253, directs DEC Commissioner to establish designated zones for crab traps within Great South Bay

A02851, offers a tax credit to commercial fishermen for the purchase and installation of certain equipment related to commercial fishing.

A02852, provides for a diesel motor fuel and motor fuel tax exemption for commercial fishermen

A00989/A05986/S3202, eliminates requirement for operators of commercial fishing vessels to pay diesel fuel taxes and then seek a full refund of these payments

A04145, provides exemption to petroleum business and other state taxes to owners/operators of vessels providing"charter" sportfishing services.

A01544, creates an advisory council on seafood policy within the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

A02299, prohibits the taking of striped bass from the Hudson River for commercial purposes

A01147, prohibits taking striped bass from the Hudson River for commercial purposes while allowing recreational harvest

A01395, prohibits the taking of horseshoe crabs without a permit; permits to be issued only for taking horseshoe crabs for medical or research purposes or to such persons holding commercial lobster permits as determined by DEC

A01392, extends the limits of a “essential fish habitat protection” zone along north shore of Long Island

A00880, establishes a marine life protection task force within DEC and charges it to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the needs to protect marine life in New York’s Marine District and the adequacy of current laws and regulations to provide this protection

A01284/S664, allows commercial lobster licenses to be transferred between persons who each possess a commercial foodfish license

A01103, prohibits the purchase or sale of fish caught in New York waters that contains PCB levels higher than 1 part per million

Re-filed Bills the Council Currently Supports

A00449/S216, bans the release of more than 25 balloons inflated with a lighter-than-air gas within a 24- hour period

A03320, prohibits disposal of dredged spoils containing toxic pollutants into the waters of New York’s Marine District

Check the Council’s web page, http://www.msrc.sunysb.edu/MRAC, for other items added to the agenda after this bulletin is distributed.  For further information about the Marine Resources Advisory Council or items covered in this bulletin, to make arrangements for addressing the Council on an agenda item or submitting written comments on an agenda item, or to suggest an agenda item, contact:  William M. Wise, Chairperson, Marine Resources Advisory Council; phone 631/632-8656; FAX 631/632-9441; wwise@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

 

 

Page last modified Friday, March 30, 2007 by George E. Carroll