Commercial Fishing
DEC's Marine Permit Office is currently issuing permits by mail or appointment only. We encourage customers to submit applications by mail, send us an email with questions, or call to make an appointment for curbside service. The Marine Permit Office can be reached at 631-444-0470 or MPO@dec.ny.gov.
Updates
- Register to participate in Winter 2021 Special Harvest Programs starting January 5, 2021, including Weekly Harvest Programs and a Cooperative Multi-State Program.
- New York received approximately $6.7 million in CARES Act relief funding to support the recovery of New York's commercial fishing, seafood, aquaculture, and for-hire fishing industries from the impacts of COVID-19.
- Due to the public health emergency, the Commercial Tautog Tagging Program is suspended for the entirety of the current tagging season, April 16, 2020 through January 25, 2021.
Commercial Fishing in New York State
Commercial fishing and the maritime industry are traditional and important components of New York State's culture and economy. New York State works closely with its stakeholders to protect the sustainability of the commercial fishing industry as well as the living marine resources of New York's marine and coastal district. For certain commercially harvested species, annual commercial quota allocations are provided by NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Fishery management tools such as fishing trip limits and quota management plans have been implemented for quota managed species.
For a complete list of New York State commercial fishing licenses, visit Marine Permits and Licenses.
Fishing Limits
Trip limits and fishery status (open or close) are updated often to manage the allocated quota distribution throughout the fishing year. Please check the Commercial Quota Harvest Limits webpage for updated trip limits and fishery status information on quota managed species of New York's marine and coastal district. Regulations for these and other commercially harvested marine fish are located in Part 40 6 NYCRR (leaves DEC website).
For information about New York's commercial lobster, crab and whelk fisheries, please visit the Commercial Limits for Lobsters, Crabs and Whelk webpage.
Quota Distribution Plans
Photo Credit: Peter Anderson
New York State quota distribution plans are developed based on the quota allocations received from NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, review of fishery management plans and meetings and discussions with the commercial fishing industry. Quota distribution plans have been developed for the following marine species:
Interstate Fisheries Management
New York State participates in several fishery management organizations. The Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission (ASMFC) is made of the 15 Atlantic coast states and coordinates the management of marine and anadromous resources found in the states' marine waters. The Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAMFC) is a group of regional fishery management councils that cooperatively manage marine resources found in the federal marine waters of that region. NOAA Fisheries is a branch of the federal government that is dedicated to the conservation and management of the marine resources of our country. NOAA Fisheries works cooperatively with the ASMFC and MAMFC to manage our shared marine resources. To learn more about these organizations, please use the links in the column to the right.
For more information about commercial fishing in New York, please contact us by phone at (631) 444-5621 or email us.
More about Commercial Fishing :
- Tautog Tagging Program - 2020 New York State Commercial Tautog Tagging Program requires all commercially harvested tautog must be tagged in order to be sold or offered for sale.
- Special Harvest Programs - Description and rules for the Summer Flounder Weekly program.
- Commercial Quota Harvest Limits - Commercial saltwater fishing - size and possession limits
- Commercial Fishing Quota Usage Report - Summary of information used to determine commercial fishing limits.
- Commercial Harvest Limits - This is a table of commercial fishing harvest limits including emergency regulatory actions.
- Black Sea Bass Quota Distribution Plan - Commercial Black Sea Bass Quota Distribution
- Bluefish Quota Distribution Plan - Commercial Bluefish Quota Distribution
- Scup Quota Distribution Plan - Commercial Scup Quota Distribution
- Summer Flounder Quota Distribution Plan - Commercial Summer Flounder Quota Distribution
- Horseshoe Crab Quota Distribution Plan - Commercial Horseshoe Crab Quota Distribution
- Commercial Limits for Lobsters, Crabs & Whelk - Commercial Fishing Limits for Crustaceans, Horseshoe Crabs & Whelk
- Commercial Fishing Vessels - This page provides information on the 70-foot length restrictions set by law on commercial fishing vessels for the taking of fish, shellfish, or crustaceans. This page also includes a list of the exempted vessels.
- Commercial Fisheries Licensing Review - Progress of reviewing and revising how we manage the licensing of commercial marine fishermen in New York State
- Fishery Observer Coverage - New York State increased observer coverage of commercial fishing vessels.
- Map of Closed Horseshoe Crab Areas - Maps on this page display which areas are closed to Horseshoe Crab fishing.
- Map of Lobster Management Areas - Large Map of American Lobster Management Areas
- Map of Prohibited Crab Dredging Areas - Consult this Map to learn which areas are closed to crab dredging.
- New York Seafood Industry Roundtable Meetings - New York State will be hosting a series of roundtable meetings to discuss the state of the seafood industry.
