Saltwater Fishing & Boating Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Celebrate National Ocean Month in June
• NOAA Fish Online Account Update for Federal Fishing Reporting
• Marine Recreational Angler Records Program
• Report Shark Sightings to DEC Shark Spotter Digital Survey
• Upcoming Meetings and Public Comment Deadlines 

Celebrate National Ocean Month in June

June is National Ocean Month, and people across the globe celebrate World Ocean Day on June 8. New York's marine environment includes thousands of miles of nearshore coastline and millions of acres of ocean stretching out to three nautical miles offshore.

The ocean provides essential habitat for diverse species of marine life, including fish, sharks, whales, sea turtles, and many more. In addition to serving as a home to some of the world's most vulnerable species, the ocean supports numerous important human services including transportation, commerce, and renewable energy development, as well as providing irreplaceable aesthetic and recreational value.

The New York Ocean Action Plan (OAP) helps to develop coordinated and inclusive efforts that focus on improving the health of our ocean ecosystem and its capacity to provide sustainable benefits to New Yorkers. Notable actions within the OAP include whale monitoring in the New York Bight, establishing ocean health indicators, and developing outreach initiatives targeting ocean awareness and stewardship.

Everyone’s actions contribute to a healthy ocean!

Plastics and other discarded materials become marine debris when they enter the sea. Help protect our ocean and marine life by reducing your single-use plastic consumption and remembering to Bring Your Own Bag (#BYOB) when going to the store. You can also join in on Plastic Free July, a global campaign to help learn about and reduce single-use plastic waste. For more information about marine debris, download a printable factsheet available in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF). 

NOAA Fish Online Account Update for Federal Reporting

Fishing operators of most Greater Atlantic Region Fisheries Office (GARFO) permitted commercial, for-hire, and private recreational tilefish vessels must submit a vessel trip report (VTR) for each fishing trip. If you are the operator of a federally permitted for-hire vessel with a permit for a species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) or the operator of a federally-permitted private recreational tilefish vessel, you are required to submit an electronic Vessel Trip Report (eVTR).

VTRs are important because they provide data that informs fishery science and management decisions. GARFO Fish Online is a one-stop shop to submit eVTRs, check your landings data, and manage your federal permits. Visit NOAA's website for instructions to set up a Fish Online account. For additional questions about federal vessel trip reporting, call (978) 281-9246 or send them an email. 

NOAA recently published a final rule implementing electronic VTR requirements for most federally permitted commercial fisheries and New England For-Hire Vessels. This rule will require federally permitted vessels with reporting requirements to submit all vessel trip reports electronically, beginning November 10, 2021. Vessels issued a Mid-Atlantic Council for-hire permit have been required to submit vessel trip reports electronically since March 2018. This action is intended to increase data quality and timeliness of vessel trip reports.

Reeling In Big Fish? Enter Your Catches to New York's Marine Recreational Angler Records Program! 

From deep, offshore ocean waters to surfcasting on sandy beaches, New York's marine waters offer exciting world-class saltwater fishing opportunities.

The Marine Recreational Angler Records Program recognizes exceptional saltwater fish and blue crab caught in New York, including both long-standing state records and annual angler achievement awards for the longest fish of a qualifying species. 

Think you caught record-breaking fish? Review the rules of entry, current records, and qualifying lengths on DEC's website: New York Marine Recreational Angler Records Rules (PDF). To submit your catch information to DEC, use the online entry form or download and print out a form (PDF).

Fish on New York's artificial reefs! Check out New York's Artificial Reef Guide (PDF) to learn about the fishing and diving opportunities that exist on artificial reefs. You can also learn more about reef site characteristics, materials used, coordinates of patch reefs, and the history of deployments by visiting DEC's Artificial Reef Interactive Map.

Be sure to check New York's Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations for the current open season and size limit regulations before you head out on your next fishing trip. Anglers 16 years and older must enroll in the no-fee Recreational Marine Fishing Registry, register through DECALS online, by calling 1-866-933-2257 or visiting a License Issuing Agent. 

(Photo Caption: Matthew Kessinger with his 13.45 pound State Record Atlantic bonito caught in November 2020 on Atlantic Beach Artificial Reef)

Report Shark Sightings to DEC Shark Spotter Digital Survey

Sharks are apex predators at the top of the ocean food chain, and they have been successfully roaming the seas for over 400 million years. Sharks play an important role in regulating and maintaining healthy and balanced marine ecosystems.

Many shark species are vulnerable to heightening fishing pressure due to low reproduction rates, older maturity ages, and longer gestation periods. Protecting and conserving vulnerable apex predators like sharks is essential because their presence has complex consequences on marine ecosystems.

DEC Shark Spotter is a citizen science-based program that seeks public sightings of sharks in New York waters using an online digital survey. This program was developed to gather valuable data to gain a better understanding of local shark populations and their behavior. Check out the Shark Spotter Public Viewer for a catalog of sharks reported to DEC.

Visit DEC's website for more information on Coastal Sharks in New York.

Upcoming Meetings

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) June Meeting
Monday, June 7 – Thursday, June 10, 2021 

Summary of Meeting Agenda (PDF):

• Monday, June 7, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Executive Committee Meeting - Closed Session
• Tuesday, June 8
  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: 2020 MRIP Estimation Methodology Presentation
  • 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Review public comments and consider final action on the Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment.
  • 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Recreational Reform Initiative
•  Wednesday, June 9
  • 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog
  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Longfin Squid and Butterfish
  • 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Illex Squid 2021-2022 Specifications
  • 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Unmanaged Commercial Landings Report
  • 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Habitat Update
  • 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Offshore Wind Updates
• Thursday, June 10 
  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: ASMFC Policy Board Remand of Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocations - Council Discussion
  • 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Business Session 

Visit MAFMC's website for the complete meeting agenda and registration information. 

Public Comment Deadlines

Proposed Changes to Whelk Harvesting
Public Comment Deadline - June 21, 2021

DEC announced proposed changes to whelk harvesting regulations in New York's Marine and Coastal District to adopt a minimum size limit for whelk to protect immature females in the population and increase their potential to reach reproductive maturity. Proposed regulation changes include:

• Implementing a minimum size limit of 5½ inches in length or three inches in width for the harvest of channel and knobbed whelk.
• Mandatory use of bait bags in whelk traps to decrease the amount of horseshoe crabs needed for bait and lessen harvest pressure on New York's horseshoe crab population.
• Adopt gear and reporting regulations consistent with current rules for crab and lobster fisheries.

The proposed regulations and additional information are available on DEC's website. The proposal is available for public comment through June 21, 2021. Written comments on the proposed regulations can be sent to:

Kim McKown
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
205 Belle Mead Road, Suite 1
East Setauket, NY 11733
Email: fw.marine@dec.ny.gov

Recreational Striped Bass Circle Hook Requirements
Public Comment Deadline - June 28, 2021

Effective April 21, 2021, anglers are required to use non-offset (inline) circle hooks when recreational fishing for striped bass with bait, which is defined as any whole or part of a marine or aquatic organism or terrestrial invertebrate. The full text of the regulation is available on DEC's website. The public comment period is open from May 12 through June 28, 2021.

• A non-offset (inline) circle hook means the point and barb of the hook are in the same plane as the shank and the tip of the hook is turned perpendicularly back toward the shank.
• Bait is defined as any whole or part of a marine or aquatic organism or terrestrial invertebrate, both live or dead.
• Circle hooks are not required when fishing with an artificial lure, whether or not they are tipped with bait as previously described.
• Some examples of artificial lure exemptions include pork rinds on bucktail jigs, eel skin plugs, tube and worm, and any man-made flies.

The full text of the regulation is available on DEC's website. The public comment period is open through June 28, 2021. Written comments may be submitted to:

Carol Hoffman
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Marine Resources
205 N. Belle Mead Road, Suite 1, East Setauket, NY 11733
Email: FW.Marine@dec.ny.gov

Visit Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations for current regulations in effect.