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Fisheries Issues and Meetings

Information on this page pertains to New York State's saltwater recreational and commercial fishing.

Upcoming Meetings

March 27- Public Hearing on Menhaden Fishery Management Plan, Amendment 2

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is in the process of implementing harvest reductions for Atlantic menhaden (bunker), which will be incorporated in the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Menhaden, Amendment 2. Public hearings will be held in all Atlantic Coast states prior to final implementation of Amendment 2 to obtain public input on the best methods for reducing overfishing. A meeting will be held in New York State on March 27 at 7 PM at DEC's Marine Resources Headquarters, 205 North Belle Mead Road, East Setauket, NY. For more information regarding Amendment 2, view the public information document (PID) available on ASMFC's website at www.asmfc.org (the document is found under "Public Input").

April 17- Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC) Meeting

The next Marine Resources Advisory Council meeting will be held on April 17 at the DEC Bureau of Marine Resources Headquarters in East Setauket, NY at 2 PM. Please check the MRAC website at www.somas.stonybrook.edu/community/MRAC/index.html for an agenda as it becomes available. MRAC provides advice to the DEC pertaining to New York State's living marine resources and the fisheries these resources sustain.

Recent Issues and Updates

Atlantic Herring 2012 Directed Commercial Fishery Closure

Effective March 3, 2012, the 2012 directed Atlantic herring fishery in Management Area 2 closed to account for catch overages and to prevent overfishing. The closure remains in effect through December 31, 2012 for all state and federal coastal waters between Massachusetts and North Carolina. Vessels targeting other fish in the closed area may catch up to 2,000 pounds of herring per trip to account for unintentional catch (bycatch). This closure is in accordance to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Sea Herring Amendment 2, Section 5.1.1 and Addendum II to Amendment 2, Section 2.1.3.1.

FINAL 2012 New York State Commercial Fisheries Quota Distribution Plans

The final quota distribution plans for black sea bass, bluefish, scup, and summer flounder for the 2012 commercial fishing year are now posted on DEC's Commercial Fishing web pages.

Tautog Commercial and Recreational Regulation Changes

On December 30, 2011, DEC adopted new tautog regulations to comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Addendum VI Tautog Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The FMP called for states to adopt regulations by January 1, 2012 to reduce coast-wide tautog harvest to end overfishing and to rebuild tautog stocks. Based on the FMP, New York State had to reduce tautog harvest by 48%. The regulations that are now in effect are below.

  • Recreational Limits
    The season has changed to October 8 through December 4 and the minimum size limit has increased to 16 inches. The daily possession limit remains at 4 fish.
  • Commercial Limits
    The minimum length increased to 15 inches. All other limits remain the same.

ASMFC is now reviewing the measures needed to rebuild tautog stocks and these regulations may be modified later this year.