Extends the authority of the department of environmental conservation to manage sharks
This bill extends the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s temporary authority to regulate shark management from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2029. Under the bill, DEC may continue to adopt regulations governing shark fishing and handling, including size limits, catch and possession limits, open and closed seasons, closed areas, methods of taking and landing, permit requirements, recordkeeping, fishing effort and gear restrictions, and rules for transportation, possession, and sale.
The bill does not create a new shark management program; rather, it preserves and extends existing regulatory authority in the Environmental Conservation Law. Any regulations adopted under this authority must remain at least as restrictive as existing statutory requirements and must be consistent with applicable Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission fishery management plans and federal fishery management plans under the Magnuson-Stevens framework.
The bill amends section 13-0338 of the Environmental Conservation Law by changing the sunset date for DEC’s shark-management rulemaking authority from 2026 to 2029. This allows the agency to continue regulating shark harvest and related commercial or recreational fishing activities without interruption, while keeping those regulations aligned with state and federal fishery management requirements. The practical effect is to maintain DEC oversight over shark conservation and fisheries management for an additional three years.
The available context suggests the bill is largely noncontroversial and technical in nature. It was introduced at the request of the Department of Environmental Conservation, indicating agency support, and there is no recorded committee debate or vote opposition in the provided materials. The bill’s passage in the Senate also suggests broad acceptance of the extension.
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided transcripts or voting history. If any concerns exist, they would likely center on the scope of DEC’s regulatory discretion over shark fishing, including limits on catch, gear, and access, but the record provided does not show organized opposition or debate on those issues. The bill appears to be a straightforward extension of existing authority rather than a policy change.