Fisheries Issues and Meetings
Information on this page pertains to New York State's saltwater recreational and commercial fishing.
Recent Issues and Updates
Marine Resourcs Advisory Council Meeting: January 15, 2013
On January 15, 2013 the Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC) will meet at the DEC Bureau of Marine Resources at 2:00 PM.
Recreational Black Sea Bass
The recreational black sea bass fishery in New York State will remain open on January 1, 2013. Originally this recreational fishery was open only through December 31, 2012. However, the season has been extended from January 1, 2013 through February 28, 2013. The federal recreational black sea bass fishery (in the EEZ, 3-200 miles from shore) will open on January 1, 2013.
Lobster V-Notching Regulations
On July 11, 2012, new V-notching regulations for American lobsters were implemented for commercial lobster harvest in several Southern New England Lobster Conservation Management Areas (LMA). This rule will require state licensed lobster harvesters taking lobsters in Lobster Management Area 4 (New York ocean waters south of Long Island ) to mark with a V-notch all legal-sized egg-bearing lobsters. A V-notch is a triangular cut on the tail fin of a legal-sized egg-bearing lobster that takes several molts to disappear. It is illegal to harvest a lobster that has been marked thusly. The V-notch protects female lobsters from harvest for two years. The rule will also require state licensed lobster harvesters who fish for lobster in more than one LMA to abide by the most restrictive V-notch rules of the LMAs listed on their permit. More details, including regulatory text and an impact statement, are available on DEC's Emergency Regulations web page. To view all the state lobster regulations, including size limits and pot and trap restrictions, visit 6 NYCRR Part 44, DEC's lobster regulations webpage.
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.
