The Council's 15 April 2008 meeting will be its annual meeting to review marine fisheries-related legislation currently pending before the New York State Legislature (Note:  bills on which the Council has a pre-existing position will be discussed only at the specific request of one or more councilors).  Bills to be discussed:

Newly-filed Bills

A09053, sorts out the respective regulatory roles for DEC and Dept. Aquaculture & Markets re commercial agriculture
S06784/A09723, revises length limits on commercial fishing vessels operating in State waters

Re-filed Bills On Which the Council Has No Curent Position

A07708, exempts cultivated bay scallops from regulations pertaining to wild-harvested scallops
S01354, constrains the ability of DEC to establish no-take areas in Marine District

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
S0552/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
A06377, exempts sale of certain marine vessels from state sales and other taxes where these taxes have already been paid on the vessel in the past
S02803, sets new income requirements for full-share striped bass tag allotment and commercial foodfish license

Re-filed Bills the Council Currently Supports

A00449/A07630/S0216, 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.somas.stonybrook.edu/MRAC for 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 Wise, Chairman
Marine Resources Advisory Council
Phone: 631-632-8656
Fax: 631-632-9441
E-mail: wwise@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

 

Page last modified Tuesday, April 1, 2008 by George E. Carroll