Saltwater Fishing & Boating Newsletter

CARES Act Disaster Fishery Relief Survey

DEC is requesting New York State marine and coastal fishery stakeholders to complete a brief survey to help determine priorities and offer input on how to best appropriate funds provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act.

New York has been allocated approximately $6.7 million in CARES Act relief funding to support the recovery of commercial fishing, seafood, aquaculture, and for-hire fishing industries from the impacts of COVID-19. Eligible individuals and businesses must demonstrate a 35 percent fishery-related revenue loss during a period in 2020 as compared to the prior five-year average over the same period. Once New York’s fishery relief plan is approved by NOAA Fisheries, DEC will provide application instructions based on the final fishery relief plan criteria. At that time, DEC will work cooperatively with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to distribute funds as quickly as possible.

Please complete the survey by August 5, 2020. For more information, visit CARES Act Marine Fisheries Relief Program on DEC’s website.

MAFMC Requesting Feedback on Promoting American Seafood

On May 7, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. The purpose of this Executive Order is “to strengthen the American economy; improve the competitiveness of American industry; ensure food security; provide environmentally safe and sustainable seafood; support American workers; ensure coordinated, predictable, and transparent Federal actions; and remove unnecessary regulatory burdens”.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) invites the public to provide input on ways to reduce burdens on domestic fishing and to increase production within sustainable fisheries. Recommended actions may include changes to regulations, orders, guidance documents, or other similar actions.

Please visit MAFMC's Executive Order Comment Form to submit any comments or suggestions you would like the Council to consider. Comments may also be sent via email to msabo@mafmc.org with the subject line "Executive Order Comments." All comments must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. The Council will review responses at its August 2020 meeting.

Online Reporting for Commercial Harvesters

Commercial fishing harvesters can report their catch quickly and easily online! Reporting electronically has many benefits worth considering, including fulfilling your monthly reporting requirements, saving money on postage, reducing the time it takes to complete hand-written reports, and the added convenience of reporting wherever you are. By using the Standard Atlantic Fisheries Information System (SAFIS) on a desktop computer or the eTrips/Mobile 2 app on a phone or tablet, commercial anglers can submit their trip reports and/or dealer reports.

If you are a commercial harvester, commercial dealer, or party/charter angler who would like to begin online reporting, please contact the Vessel Trip Report (VTR) office for the Division of Marine Resources to set up your SAFIS account by calling (631)-444-0857 or send an email to VTR@dec.ny.gov.

If you have already established a SAFIS account or for more information about the reporting software, review helpful user instructions found below:

• SAFIS eTrips Instructions 
• Harbor Light Software eTrips Support

To learn more about options for electronic reporting, visit the SAFIS website.

DEC Seeking Striped Bass Recreational Anglers

DEC is seeking volunteer recreational striped bass anglers to help provide valuable data that is critical to track population dynamics for striped bass in our local waters. By joining the Striped Bass Cooperative Angler (SBCA) Program, you can assist DEC by collecting and providing data about your fishing trips that help us better understand New York’s dynamic striped bass population. Get involved in conservation and management through the SBCA, by emailing sbcaprogram@dec.ny.gov or calling (631) 380-3308.

A new online logbook is now available for SBCA volunteers. Using the Survey123 app enables anglers to log their trips directly on their phone or from a computer. You can find instructions on how to install the app and log trips and more information about the SBCA online (PDF).

Upcoming Meetings

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Summer Meeting Webinar
Monday, August 3, 2020 - Thursday, August 6, 2020

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) August Meeting Webinar
Monday, August 10, 2020 - Thursday, August 13, 2020