Responsible Springtime Seal Spotting

New York has five species of seals that are found in our marine waters, Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) being the most commonly seen species. Spring is peak seal pup season on Long Island and it is completely normal for healthy seals and their pups to be seen on beaches “hauling out” or resting.

Please give any seals that you may see plenty of space and do not attempt to touch them. Seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and by law you must stay at least 50 yards (150 feet) away from them at all times.

Seals can become stressed and ill if they are approached too closely, so please observe from a safe distance.

If you see any seals, please call the Riverhead Foundation hotline at (631) 369-9829.

For more information about seals, visit Marine Mammals of New York.

Striped Bass Cooperative Angler NEW Online Logbook

If you fish for striped bass, you are encouraged to join the Striped Bass Cooperative Anglers Program (SBCA). By participating in the program you can provide DEC with valuable fishing effort information, which is used to help manage and maintain a healthy striped bass population.

Participating anglers contribute information by filling out paper logbooks and mailing them to DEC. Recently we’ve developed the SBCA Online Logbook Survey123 App, which participants can use to electronically log trips from either a smartphone or computer! We've created the online logbook to make entering data more efficient and user friendly, and we need participants to help us test it. If you are interested in participating in this program and using the new electronic log book, please contact sbcaprogram@dec.ny.gov. 

For more information about the SBCA Program in the Marine and Coastal District, email sbcaprogram@dec.ny.gov. If you fish for striped bass north of the George Washington Bridge, you can participate in the Hudson River Cooperative Angler Program.

Please note: Striped bass season in the Marine and Coastal District (south of the George Washington Bridge) is open April 15th till December 15th and you are allowed one (1) fish over 28” total length per individual per day. In the Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) striped bass season is open from April 1st till November 30th and the individual daily possession limit is one (1) fish that is either 18-28” (inches) OR greater than 40” total length.

To learn more about protecting our marine wildlife with the New York State DEC, view this short video sponsored by the Town of North Hempstead.

Recreational Marine Fishing Registry and Regulation Changes

Before going fishing, you must enroll in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry.

The registry is required when:

• Fishing in the Marine and Coastal District, which stretches from the new Mario M. Cuomo (formerly the Tappen Zee) Bridge to three nautical miles off the shores of New York City and Long Island.
• Fishing for migratory fish of sea in the Hudson, Delaware or Mohawk Rivers and their tributaries. 

After you have registered, it’s important to reference the Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations to know which fishing seasons are open as well as the size and possession limits for each species.

Effective March 30, 2018, NYSDEC has implemented the following regulation updates:

* A party/charter boat customer who lands and possesses more than 30 scup during September 1 - October 31 must obtain a dated original fare receipt from the licensed vessel.
** Summer flounder may not have heads or tails removed or be otherwise cleaned, cut, filleted, or skinned until brought to shore, with the following exception: the white side fillet or white skin only of a legal size fluke may be removed to use as bait. The carcass of the fluke with dark side completely intact must be retained for inspection of size limit and counts against the possession limit.

Visit Saltwater Fishing Regulations for the most up-to-date information or call (631) 444-0430.

Recreational Fishing Catch Sampling

Starting in December 2015, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC) Division of Marine Resources assumed responsibility for conduct of the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) in New York state.

Make sure to look for our NYSDEC field staff who will be on party boats, at boatyards, local beaches and other saltwater access points conducting this confidential fishing survey. This data is used to help manage our fisheries and any input from our local fishermen is always greatly appreciated.

Visit the Recreational Catch Sampling web page for more information.

Terrapin Excluder Devices (TEDs) Required on Near Shore Crab Pots

Effective March 28, 2018, Terrapin Excluder Devices (TEDs) are now required to be installed on non-collapsible commercial and recreational crab pots set in near shore harbors, creeks, coves, rivers and tributaries in New York's Marine and Coastal District. TEDs measuring 4-3/4" x 1-3/4" must be installed on all funnel entrances of crab pots set in these areas.

An interactive map of waterbodies that require TEDs is available for your reference.

Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) are found in the estuaries of the marine district. Terrapins are attracted to the bait in crab pots and enter them the same way a crab does. Terrapins, like all turtles, breathe air, so a trapped terrapin will drown. TEDs work by stopping most terrapins from entering crab pots while still allowing crabs through.

For more information about TEDs, visit Crabbing in New York.

Important Dates

Marine Resources Advisory Council Meeting

When:
May 8, 2018, 2:00 PM

Note: The MRAC Legislative Review meeting scheduled for April 17, 2018 has been postponed and will take place during the May 8, 2018 meeting.