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Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources

About the Division

The Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources is comprised of the Bureaus of Fish & Wildlife Services, Fisheries, Habitat, Marine Resources, and Wildlife, as well as Division-level offices. Our staff are located throughout the state in Regional Offices, Program Headquarters Offices and Field Stations.

Our regional staff are typically housed in DEC's 9 Regional Headquarters and Suboffices. You are probably most familiar with these offices. Their role is to deliver the Division's program in local areas across the state. If you need information that relates to fish, wildlife, habitat and marine resources issues in your local area, please contact our regional staff.

Each of our Bureaus also provides special services. Field Stations located across the state help deliver these services to you. These facilities include Hale Creek Field Station, Rome Field Station, fish hatcheries and others. The Bureau of Fish & Wildlife Services attends to both resident and non-resident customer needs and includes the Sportsman Education program, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program, Sporting License Sales, and Special Licenses and Permits.

Program Headquarters house the Division's administrative staff and the offices of the Bureaus of Fish & Wildlife Services, Fisheries, Habitat, Marine Resources, and Wildlife. These offices are located in Albany, except for the Bureau of Marine Resources headquarters, which are located on Long Island, closer to the public and resource they serve. Headquarters staff coordinate implementation of the Division's program, and provide support to the Regions.

If you need information about our statewide program that you cannot find on our web pages, please contact us.

Major Funding Sources for Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Programs

The Division is funded from a number of sources, the majority of which are dedicated specifically to the Division's mission. The original (and still the primary) source is the Conservation Fund. The Conservation Fund, established in 1925, consists of hunting, fishing and trapping license fees and miscellaneous other fees and fines collected by the Division.

There are several subaccounts within the Conservation Fund. In 1982, the Return A Gift to Wildlife subaccount was established as a voluntary donation through an income tax check off. This subaccount has been used primarily, but not exclusively, for non-game programs. The Marine Resources Account receives revenue from the sale of commercial permits to fish for marine fish, shellfish and crustacea and from penalties for violations to the Marine and Coastal Resources and Tidal Wetlands sections of the ECL.

The second major source of funding is the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration funded by a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, archery, fishing equipment and motor boat fuels. The wildlife portion, known as the Pittman-Robertson Act (named after the congressional sponsors of this federal legislation), provides funding for Wildlife Conservation and Sportsman Education. The fisheries portion, known as the Dingle-Johnson or Wallop-Breaux Acts, provides funding for fisheries management and boating access. In recent years another significant source of funds from the USFWS has been from the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program. SWG grants are for the identification of species in greatest conservation need and provide for protection and restoration of their populations and habitats.

Our programs also receive support from the State's General Fund. General Fund support originates from New York State taxes, and contributed approximately 8% of the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources' operating budget in FY 2007-08. General Fund dollars are used to protect habitats and benefit a variety of species.




More about Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources:

  • Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Monthly Highlights - Division of Fish, Wildlfie and Marine Resources monthly highlights.
  • Bureau of Fish & Wildlife Services - The Bureau of Fish and Wildlife Services is responsible for Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources administration, special licenses, sportsman education, staff training and development, and extension.
  • Bureau of Habitat - The Bureau of Habitat is made up of wildlife biologists, ecologists and aquatic biologists, who provide scientific input into decisions to monitor, evaluate and respond to environmental stressors in New York.
  • Bureau of Marine Resources - The Bureau of Marine Resources is responsible for the management of living marine resources and their habitats within the Marine and Coastal District of New York State.
  • Bureau of Fisheries - The Bureau of Fisheries strives to conserve and enhance New York's abundant and diverse populations of freshwater fishes while providing the public with quality recreational angling opportunities.
  • Bureau of Wildlife - The Bureau of Wildlife strives to provide the people of New York the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of the wildlife of the state, now and in the future.