S.2785, Johnson

Provisions. This bill establishes an Advisory Council on Seafood Policy within the State Department of Agriculture. The Council would be comprised of individuals drawn from the state’s seafood harvesting, wholesaling, retailing, and processing businesses, the lobster industry, the recreational fishing industry, New York Seafood Council, and the seafood export/import business. The Council would advise the Governor, state agencies, and the Legislature on policies affecting seafood, the seafood industry, and seafood consumers.

Discussion. This bill, which has passed the Senate, has been introduced in each of the past several sessions of the Legislature. From the outset, the Marine Resources Advisory Council has opposed the establishment of this new advisory body because its duties would substantially overlap those of the Council, especially the development and implementation of fishery management policies governing the harvesting, possession, and sale of finfish and shellfish. The Marine Resources Advisory Council is not involved in issues of the marketing of fish, shellfish, and seafood products and it would welcome the establishment of an advisory group focused on this area. Nothing prevents the appointment to the Marine Resources Advisory Council of representatives from the groups that would compose the new Advisory Council on Seafood Policy. Representatives from most of these groups, in fact, already do or have served on the Marine Resources Advisory Council.

Action. The Council approved a motion opposing S.2785 and discouraging the introduction of a companion measure in the State Assembly, voting 9 in favor, 2 opposed, and 1 abstention.

S.4157, Marcellino (ex-DEC Program Bill 26-99)

Provisions. This bill streamlines and renumbers current sections of the Environmental Conservation Law covering, inter alia, the possession and sale of marine fish taken within and outside the state, consolidating these provisions into a new, unified section. It does not substantially alter the substance of these provisions, but it does clarify them. The Council neither discussed nor took a position on this bill, in light of the more substantial legislative proposals remaining on its agenda.