Saltwater Fishing & Boating Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Offshore Wind Fisheries Mitigation Project
• Report Cold-Stunned Sea Turtle Sightings on New York Beaches
• Marine Permit Office - 2023 Renewals & Limited Entry Applications
• Commercial Fishing Winter 2023 Special Harvest Programs
• Enviromental Conservation Police on Patrol

Offshore Wind Fisheries Mitigation Project

New York State, along with multiple state partners, have been working on advancing an initiative to establish a regional fund administrator for fisheries compensatory mitigation which may provide financial compensation to impacted fishing industry members for economic loss from offshore wind development off the Atlantic Coast.

Recognizing the importance of sustaining a vibrant fishing community that can coexist and thrive alongside offshore wind energy development, the States have released a Request for Information (RFI) (PDF) aimed at receiving input from impacted members of the fishing industry, offshore wind developers, corporate and financial management entities, as well as interested members of the public, to inform efforts to establish a regional fisheries compensatory mitigation fund administrator. Comments to the RFI are due by January 31, 2023, at 5 p.m. EST to comments@offshorewindpower.org. 

This effort supports the implementation of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Draft Fisheries Mitigation Framework in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner for impacted Atlantic Coast fishing industry members and offshore wind developers. The States’ RFI seeks feedback on concepts and proposals on how to best establish a single regional administrator for the Atlantic Coast to collect, hold, determine eligibility, and dispense funds for economic losses to affected fishing industry members.

For more information, visit Special Initiative on Offshore Wind's website. 

Report Cold-Stunned Sea Turtle Sightings on New York Beaches

There are four species of sea turtles that can be found in New York's coastal waters: green, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles. They remain local in our area during the warmer months from approximately May through November and will typically begin their migration south to warmer nesting waters by mid-November.

As a result of climate change impacts, warmer water temperatures cause sea turtles to remain in the area longer than usual. When there is a sudden drop in water temperature before sea turtles migrate out of the area, they can fall victim to cold-stunning, a hypothermic condition that results in a lethargic state. Sea turtles that are cold-stunned will wash ashore on New York beaches and require immediate professional care. 

If you see a sea turtle wash ashore, please call the New York State Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline at (631) 369-9829 and relay as much information as possible. The response teams from Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) and New York Marine Rescue Center (NYMRC) need a detailed report of where the animal is located. If possible, write down the coordinates and/or mark the turtle's location with something, such as a stick or driftwood, that will be easy for the team to find.

Please do not touch the animal, put the animal back in the water, or remove the animal from the beach. Sea turtles are federally protected animals and are only to be handled by authorized personnel. Any further sudden changes in temperature or additional stress can lead to death.

Marine Permit Office - 2023 Renewals & Limited Entry Applications

DEC Marine Permit Office has sent out 2023 renewal applications for commercial fishing and recreational lobster permits. If you have not received your renewal applications, contact MPO@dec.ny.gov or call 631-444-0470.

Please remember that 2023 Non-Resident Food Fish License must be renewed no later than January 31, 2023.

The Marine Permit Office will be closed on Monday, December 26, 2022, and Monday, January 2, 2023, in observance of Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The last day to renew a limited entry 2022 permit is Friday, December 30, 2022. 

We are currently accepting applications for new limited entry permits (Food Fish, Crab, Whelk). Complete applications must be received by the Marine Permit Office no later than Tuesday, January 3, 2023. To request an application, visit https://on.ny.gov/limitedentry before December 27, 2022. In the event that we receive more applications than available licenses, a random selection will be held in early February 2023.

Commercial Fishing Winter 2023 Special Harvest Programs

The Winter 2023 Special Harvest Programs include the Weekly Summer Flounder, Weekly Black Sea Bass, and the NYS Cooperative Multi-State Possession and Landing Programs will start on January 1, 2023. Program information and applications to participate in the programs are available on DEC's website.

Cooperative Multi-State Possession and Landing Program

For New York State Commercial Food Fishing License and Food Fish Landing License holders who participate in the Summer Flounder Weekly Harvest Program (Summer Flounder Permit required) or Black Sea Bass Weekly Harvest Program only.

Weekly Black Sea Bass Harvest Program

• Effective Sunday, January 1, 2023, the weekly black sea bass program is established at 400 lbs. weekly. This trip limit will remain in effect until further notice.

Weekly Summer Flounder Harvest Program (Summer Flounder Permit required)

• Effective Sunday, January 1, 2023, the weekly summer flounder program is established at 3,500 lbs. weekly. This trip limit remains in effect until further notice.

For more information about these programs, visit DEC's website.

Environmental Conservation Police on Patrol

Mad for Shad - Nassau County
On Nov. 14, while on foot patrol at West End Beach at Jones Beach State Park, ECO Pabes noticed an angler packing up fishing gear to leave. The angler left his bucket on the beach and walked back to the parking lot, suspiciously checking his surroundings, including which cars were in the lot. When the fisherman failed to see an ECO vehicle, he returned to the bucket and carried it back to the parking lot. ECO Pabes intercepted the angler and inspected the bucket, which held 27 hickory shad, a saltwater fish with a limit of five per day. Officer Pabes ticketed the angler for possessing over the limit of fish and fishing without a Marine registry, returnable to Nassau County First District Court. The ECO also seized the fish and donated them to a wildlife rehabilitator.

Photo: ECO Pabes seized 27 hickory shad in Nassau County

Undersized and Over the Limit - Richmond County
On Nov. 12, ECOs Veloski and Currey joined U.S. Park Police to patrol a popular fishing area in Staten Island. During the patrol, the ECOs observed anglers placing undersized tautog (blackfish) into shopping bags and then hiding the bags under logs, in the sand, and in weeds nearby. The Officers approached the group, questioned the anglers, and discovered a total of 16 blackfish hidden in the area. After determining who caught the fish, the ECOs issued 14 tickets to the subjects for possession of undersized blackfish, possession of over-the-limit blackfish, failure to release without undo harm, and unlawful disposal of solid waste. The anglers are scheduled to appear in Richmond County Court at the end of November.

Tossed and Tucked Tautog - Nassau County
On Nov. 1, while checking anglers fishing for tautog (blackfish) along the Wantagh Parkway bridges in the town of Hempstead, ECO Pabes noticed one angler talking on his phone to another angler using binoculars on the opposite side of the bridge. After the phone call ended, one of the anglers retrieved a bag from his belongings and dumped three blackfish back into the water. Officer Pabes approached the fisherman, who claimed he had not caught any fish. While speaking to the subject, Officer Pabes noticed a large bulge under the angler's sweater. The ECO requested the subject untuck his sweater and two undersized blackfish fell to the ground. The Officer issued three tickets to the angler, all returnable to Nassau First District Court, for possession of undersized fish, failure to release fish without undue harm, and no Marine Registry.

Poaching Striped Bass - Queens County
On Oct. 29, ECOs received a complaint about a group of anglers poaching striped bass and placing the fish at a dock in Howard Beach. However, by the time the Officers received the information, the fishermen already had left the area. The next day, ECOs Milliron and Michalet patrolled Jamaica Bay with members of the U.S. Coast Guard when they received a report that the same boat was out on the water. The ECOs returned to shore and split up to search for the boat. While driving over Cross Bay Bridge, ECO Michalet spotted the boat described in the complaint, notified Officer Milliron, and headed back to the dock. The Officers confronted the anglers, discovered 16 illegal striped bass, and issued 23 tickets to five individuals for possession of over-the-limit striped bass, possession of undersized and oversized striped bass, no Marine Registry, and failure to release fish without undue harm.

Photo caption: ECO Michalet preparing to measure illegal fish in Queens County