In this issue:
On December 16, 2024, the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board met to vote on possible 2025 striped bass recreational measures. The board voted to not take immediate board action.
What happens now?
The board voted to initiate an Addendum process that will be finalized at the annual ASMFC meeting in October 2025. This will specify management decisions for 2026.
What do I need to know about the 2025 fishing season?
The 2025 regulations for striped bass, both the recreational and commercial fishery will remain status quo. Keep up to date on current fishing regulations by visiting the DEC website.
Scientific Illusatrion by ASMFC
Cold stun season is here and sea turtles that frequent New York waters need your help! Cold stunning is a hypothermic condition that results in a lethargic state, which causes these animals to appear dead when discovered washed ashore on local beaches.
There are four species of sea turtles that can be found in New York waters: Atlantic Green, Kemp’s Ridley, Loggerhead, and Leatherback Sea turtles. These four species remain in New York waters during the warmer months and typically migrate south towards warmers waters by mid-November.
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. New York Marine Rescue Center (NYMRC) needs 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. Check out NYMRC's events page to learn more about how you can help cold stunned sea turtles in New York State.
Cold Stunned Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Photo Courtesy of NYMRC
In August 2024, the DEC’s Division of Marine Resources Artificial Reef program, in coordination with the Oakland Family, deployed a 70-foot fishing vessel “Jana Marie” on DEC’s Twelve Mile Reef. Twelve Mile Reef is the Artificial Reef Program’s deep-water site located approximately 12 miles south of Shinnecock and Moriches Inlets with depths ranging from 120 to 140 feet. Under controlled flooding conditions, the “Jana Marie” slowly sunk beneath the surface and started her final journey to the sea floor to begin a new life as a habitat source for many marine species.
The Jana Marie is now an artificial reef placed in memory of avid fisherman Doug Oakland. The Oakland family partnered with the Long Island Artificial Reef Society, a local 501c3 dedicated to artificial reef building, by raising funds to complete this memorial project offshore where Doug loved to fish. Doug's son and daughter, Christian and Caroline, put together the “Purple Tuna Tournament”, a fishing tournament out of Shinnecock Inlet in honor of their father and his fight against Pancreatic Cancer. “We, as a family, are very proud that we were able to accomplish that in his name” said Stephanie Oakland, wife of Doug Oakland.
The Artificial Reef Program is popular with local anglers and divers and helps to support the Long Island economy. The Artificial Reef Program biologists manage the State's 16 artificial reefs. For more information about the Artificial Reef Program visit DEC's website.
The Jana Marie slowly settling down to its new home on Twelve Mile Reef
NOAA Fisheries will be discontinuing the NOAA Fish Online iOS eVTR app on January 31, 2025, after which all Fish Online eVTRs will need to be submitted through the Fish Online Web app. This effort will streamline reporting through one Fish Online platform and allow NOAA Fisheries to devote additional resources to improve the user’s overall experience.
Here is what you need to know:
- As of January 31, 2025 vessel operators will no longer be able to submit eVTRs through the NOAA Fish Online iOS eVTR reporting app from the Apple Store.
- GARFO will start phasing out the app starting in October of 2024, meaning there will be no more updates to the iOS app.
- Vessel operators are encouraged to begin to switch to the Fish Online Web app or any other of the approved reporting apps. Go to the Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting Software Options webpage for more information.
- The Fish Online Web app works on all iOS devices.
Questions?
If you have any questions or need assistance with installing the Fish Online Web app please contact the Vessel Reporting Help Desk at (978) 281-9188 or reach out to your local Port Agent.
There will be four 5-day lunar closures banning the harvest of horseshoe crabs around the full and new moon periods in May and June. These harvest closures provide protections to horseshoe crabs during the periods of greatest horseshoe crab spawning activity in New York. All commercial harvest of horseshoe crab is prohibited during these periods, allowing horseshoe crabs to deposit eggs on shore and spawn uninterrupted.
Horseshoe Crab are a quota managed species. The total annual commercial bait harvest of horseshoe crabs may not exceed the amount allocated to New York State by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Beginning in 2004, New York voluntarily reduced the horseshoe crab quota to 150,000 crabs to protect the sustainability of the horseshoe crab population. For more information, please review the Horseshoe Crab Quota Distribution Plan (PDF).
Please consult the Commercial Limits for Lobsters, Crabs, and Whelk webpage for more information about horseshoe crab management measures.
Scientific Illustration Provided by ASMFC
Permit renewal applications for 2025 were mailed out on November 15, 2024. If you do not receive your renewal application in the mail, please contact the Marine Permit Office at 631-444-0470 or MPO@dec.ny.gov.
Food Fish, Crab, Whelk, and Lobster license holders who have not yet renewed their permits for 2024 must renew them by Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
The Commission releases for public comment Draft Addenda on Recreational Measures Setting Process for Bluefish, Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass. The states of Maine through North Carolina have scheduled hearings to gather public input on the Draft Addenda between January 14 and January 29, 2025, and written comments will be accepted through February 15, 2025.
The Draft Addenda consider changes to the process used by the Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) to set recreational management measures (bag, size, and season limits) for bluefish, summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The Council is considering an identical set of options through a framework action. The option that is ultimately selected by the Commission and Council is intended replace the currently used Percent Change Approach implemented through the Harvest Control Rule Framework/Addenda, which will sunset at the end of 2025. The Draft Addenda propose five possible options for setting recreational measures. Taking final action on these addenda in 2025 will not implement any specific bag, size, or season limits, but start a new specification process for setting recreational management measures starting with 2026 measures.
New York's public hearing details are:
The Draft Addenda are available at ASMFC's website (PDF) or on the Commission’s Public Input webpage. All those interested in the management of summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish are encouraged to provide input by participating in public hearings. Public comment will be accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) on February 15, 2025 and should be sent to Chelsea Tuohy, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Recreational Measures Setting Process).
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and New England Fishery Management Council are seeking applications from fishing industry representatives to fill two open seats on the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP).
NTAP is a joint advisory panel of the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. The primary purpose of the panel is to provide advice and direction on the conduct of trawl research in the northeast region, with a focus on the multispecies bottom trawl survey conducted by NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). NTAP also discusses and recommends research priorities, and members frequently participate in recommended research projects.
Applications are currently being sought to fill the following open seats:
- One fishing industry representative appointed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
- One fishing industry representative appointed by the New England Fishery Management Council
Individuals with expertise in gear design and construction, trawl gear efficiency, trawl mensuration, commercial trawl fisheries, or survey design are encouraged to apply.
Applications can be downloaded by visiting the NTAP website. The completed application should be submitted to hhart@mafmc.org by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
On Nov. 19, ECOs Pansini and Kortz of DEC’s Marine Enforcement Unit conducted a joint offshore fisheries patrol with officers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement. The patrol focused on enforcing speed restrictions to reduce the likelihood of collisions between vessels and the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Law Enforcement Officers did not observe any federal violations during the offshore patrol but checked a fleet of vessels fishing for striped bass when they re-entered State waters. One vessel checked had four anglers on board who possessed nine over-the-limit and undersized striped bass. In New York, one striped bass between 28 and 31 inches may be kept per person, per day. ECOs ticketed each angler for possessing too many striped bass, catching undersized striped bass, and failing to possess valid marine registries. The tickets are returnable to Kings County Criminal Court.
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ECO Kortz with members of NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement with nine illegally caught striped bass in Kings County
On Nov. 21, ECOs Currey, Keegan, Rappold, and Veloski teamed up with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) law enforcement officers to inspect seafood wholesalers to ensure proper size, tags, and sanitary conditions of regulated seafood. ECOs Currey and Rappold inspected a grocery store in Queens and discovered 19 untagged tautog (blackfish). Blackfish are highly regulated species and require a tag when caught and sold in New York for commercial purposes. ECOs ticketed the store for offering untagged tautog for sale.
Illegal tautog (blackfish) discovered at grocery store in Queens County
On Dec. 3, ECOs Farner and Clinger received a complaint about an individual taking fish illegally at Breezy Point in Queens County. The Officers approached the angler when he returned to his vehicle, but the subject was not in possession of any visible fish, just a backpack with a strong fish odor. The ECOs searched the area and discovered a bag approximately 100 yards from the parking lot and hidden in some woods that contained six undersized striped bass. As the Officers were leaving the area, they observed the subject’s car driving back to the fishing access site. They followed his vehicle and caught the subject searching in the woods for the bag the Officers had retrieved. ECOs ticketed the subject for possession of over-the-limit and undersized striped bass. The six striped bass ranged from 17 and 25 inches. The allowable catch limit for striped bass in marine waters is one per day between 28 and 31 inches.
Undersized striped bass caught illegally at Breezy Point in Queens County
On Dec. 5, ECOs Farner and Clinger observed four anglers catching striped bass and quickly putting the fish into bags and coolers in Richmond County. The Officers approached the anglers and discovered 35 undersized striped bass. ECOs issued a total of eight tickets for possession of over-the-limit and undersized striped bass, returnable to Richmond County Court.
ECOs Farner and Clinger seize 35 illegally caught striped bass in Richmond County
Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC) Meeting
Date: January 14, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual/ In Person at 123 Kings Park Blvd. Kings Park, NY 11754
For agenda and additional information, please visit the MRAC website.
Striper Day
Date: January 19, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Ward Melville High School, 380 Old Town Rd, Setauket-East Setauket, NY 11733
New York Boat Show
Date: January 22 - 26, open noon until 8:00 p.m. weekdays, from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Location: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City
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