Saltwater Fishing & Boating Newsletter

In This Issue:

• 2023 Atlantic Striped Bass Commercial Fishing Permits and Tags
• Commercial Tautog Fishing Season Closes: Return Unused Tags 
• DEC Urges New Yorkers to Avoid Close Encounters with Marine Mammals
• Reducing Vessel Speeds to Help North Atlantic Right Whales
• DEC Announces Start of $1.7 Million Marsh Restoration Project
• Cornell Cooperative Extension Monkfish Marketing Surveys
• 2023 New York Sea Grant Seafood Summit
• Upcoming Fishery Meetings 

2023 Atlantic Striped Bass Commercial Fishing Permits and Tags

The 2023 Atlantic striped bass commercial fishing season begins on Monday, May 15, 2023.

In order to receive instructions to order commercial striped bass tags for the 2023 season, permit holders must have successfully completed both of the following actions:

1. Renewed your 2023 Food Fish License and Commercial Striped Bass Harvester Permit. If you have not received your 2023 renewal, contact DEC's Marine Permit Office at MPO@dec.ny.gov or 631-444-0470. 
2. Account and report for all 2022 commercial striped bass tags. If you have renewed your 2023 permits but have not received your order materials by February 8, 2023, contact DEC by emailing VTR@dec.ny.gov or call 631-444-0857. 

Commercial Striped Bass Harvester Permits must be renewed by April 15, 2023, but DEC encourages permit holders to renew immediately to ensure tags are received prior to the season opening. Permit holders must order directly through the tag manufacturer once they receive tag order instructions. For additional information or questions, call 631-444-0457.

Commercial Tautog Fishing Season Closes: Return Unused Tags 

The commercial tautog fishing season ends on January 25, 2023, and permit holders must return all unused or damaged tautog tags with a completed Commercial Tautog Tag Return Form (PDF) and Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) to DEC by February 15, 2023. Tags can be returned in-person or by mail to NYSDEC, 123 Kings Park Blvd, Kings Park, NY 11754. 

The 2023-2024 commercial tautog fishing season opens on Sunday, April 16, 2023, and tag orders cannot be processed until all tags have been accounted and/or reported for from the previous season. More updates for the 2023-2024 season will be posted on the Tautog Tagging Program webpage once available.

DEC Urges New Yorkers to Avoid Close Encounters with Marine Mammals

DEC is reminding New Yorkers along coastal shores to always keep a safe distance from marine mammals and resist the urge to intervene when an animal comes ashore. Marine mammals, which include whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals, are protected by federal and state laws to ensure they are not harmed and to keep people at a safe distance. 

The public can best help injured or distressed marine mammals by reporting sightings immediately to the New York Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline at (631) 369-9829 so that trained responders can properly assess and care for these animals. The hotline is monitored by the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and New York Marine Rescue Center which are federally permitted and trained to handle and administer professional medical care for marine mammals.

When a whale or dolphin strands on a beach, it’s likely already severely sick or injured. Attempts to push animals back toward the water may be well-intended but can cause further injury or delay professional care for the animal. If a distressed animal or carcass washes ashore, do not attempt to intervene or touch the animal.

In New York, seals are most commonly seen in winter and spring resting on coastal shores, which is known as “hauling out”. Remember that while they may appear friendly and adorable, seals are wild animals with sharp teeth, capable of biting and sharing disease. Always keep people and pets at least 50 yards away from seals. Signs that you are too close to seals include raising their flippers, yawning, eating sand and rocks, or showing their teeth as the seal pictured here is doing. For more information, visit DEC's website.

Reducing Vessel Speeds to Help North Atlantic Right Whales

NOAA Fisheries implements vessel speed restrictions and recommendations to help reduce the likelihood of lethal collisions between vessels and endangered North Atlantic right whales. All vessels 65 feet (19.8 meters) or longer must travel at 10 knots or less in Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs) at certain times of the year. Voluntary Dynamic Management Areas (DMAs) are also established based on visual sightings documenting the presence of three or more right whales within a discrete area. Mariners are encouraged to avoid these areas or reduce speeds to 10 knots or less while transiting through these areas. 

DEC Announces Start of $1.7 Million Marsh Restoration Project

DEC announced the start of construction on a marsh restoration project at Fireplace Neck Tidal Wetland Area in the town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County. In coordination with New York State Office of General Services (OGS), DEC will complete the nearly $1.7-million restoration project to help stabilize the marsh system, improve ecological functions, and create a more resilient marsh prepared for the effects of climate change and global sea level rise.

Fireplace Neck Tidal Wetland Area is a 108-acre salt marsh located on Long Island's south shore, adjacent to Bellport Bay. Historical marsh development and vegetation degradation in the early 20th Century altered the natural flow of water and sediments in the wetland. Habitat loss and the conversion of dry high-marsh habitat into low-marsh mudflats has contributed to a less resilient coastline that faces growing threats from extreme weather events and sea level rise.

Construction has been funded through the Ocean and Great Lakes Fund and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants program. The wetland area is closed to public access for the duration of the restoration project. Construction is expected to be completed by April 2023. Waterfowl hunting opportunities along the Bellport Bay shoreline will still be allowed provided hunting activities are conducted over Bellport Bay only. For more information, visit DEC's website.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Monkfish Marketing Surveys

Over the next two years, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE Suffolk) will work closely with numerous commercial fishermen and seafood dealers/processors throughout the Greater Atlantic region to develop an effective means of promoting and marketing monkfish. Additionally, CCE Suffolk will engage in public outreach events, such as information booths and local seafood tastings, to both educate and encourage people to become more familiar with eating monkfish. CCE Suffolk will also be holding three workshops throughout the course of this project with partners in both the commercial fishing and seafood industry to capitalize on progress and maintain a solid working relationship throughout the industry.

By the end of this project, CCE and its partners hope to make monkfish a popular and desirable staple of any seafood market or dinner table. Regionwide success in this regard will not only breathe life into a once-lucrative fishery, but also support local fishermen and businesses, reduce the carbon footprint, and reduce commercial fishing pressure on other heavily fished sought-after species. With so many potential benefits attached to monkfish, this may very well be the golden goose that Northeast’s commercial fishery needs.

Your input is invaluable to CCE Suffolk's project! Complete the following surveys to help improve the understanding of the monkfish fishery and better serve this community. 

• Monkfish Consumer Survey
• Monkfish Fisherman Survey
• Monkfish Dealer/Processor Survey
• Monkfish Retailer Survey

If you'd like to participate or are interested in this project, please contact Tara McClintock, CCE Fisheries Specialist at taf4@cornell.edu or call 631-727-7850 x 317.

2023 New York Sea Grant Seafood Summit - Register Now! 

New York Sea Grant and their partners are proud to present the 7th Annual “New York Seafood Summit” where a group of seafood professionals with vested interest in New York’s seafood industry will meet to foster active communications and build productive relationships and collaboration throughout the state. This year’s summit will focus on innovations in seafood.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023 – 1pm - 4pm: Innovations in Fish Feed for Aquaculture
Cornell University Department of Food Science, 411 Tower Road, Stocking Hall, Ithaca, NY

Thursday, March 9, 2023 – 1pm - 4pm: Innovations in Value-added Seafood Production Culinary Institute of America, 1946 Campus Drive, Hyde Park, NY

Friday, March 10, 2023 – 1pm - 4pm: Innovations in New York Fishing and Marketing
Cornell Cooperative Extension, 423 N. Griffing Ave., Riverhead, NY

Register online to attend the Summit and check out more details by visiting New York Sea Grant's website.

Upcoming Fishery Meetings

New York Marine Resources Advisory Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 24, 6:00 - 9:00 pm (Evening Meeting)
DEC Marine Resources Headquarters, 123 Kings Park Blvd., Kings Park, NY

• Details to listen to the meeting are available on DEC's website.
• Once available, a complete agenda for the meeting can be found on Marine Resources Advisory Council's website.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Winter 2023 Meeting
Tuesday, January 31 - Thursday, February 2
The Westin Crystal City, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA

• This will be a hybrid meeting (both in-person and remote) to allow for remote participation by Commissioners and interested stakeholders.
• Visit ASMFC's website for additional details. 

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) February 2023 Meeting
Tuesday, February 7 - Thursday, February 9
Hotel Washington, 515 15th Street Northwest Washington, DC

• This meeting will be a hybrid meeting (both in-person and remote) to allow council members and stakeholders to participate either virtually or in person.
• The meeting will also be live streamed for listen only access.
• Visit MAFMC's website for webinar, live stream, and additional meeting details.