DEC Hosts Public Information Sessions On Fishing Licensing System

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Information sessions on New York State's current commercial fishing licensing system will be held in Southampton and Southold next month, lawmakers said.

New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele and New York State Senator Ken LaValle announced Monday that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will host a series of meetings in July and August to gather feedback from key stakeholders about the fishing licensing system and to garner ideas for reforms to modernize and improve the program.

Last year, the pair blocked the DEC from "continuing the current archaic commercial fishing licensing scheme for another three years," Thiele and LaValle said in a release.

As a compromise, the licensing scheme was limited to one year and DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos agreed to come to Long Island last fall to meet with members of commercial fishing industry, the lawmakers added.

At that meeting, the industry unanimously supported two demands, to challenge the federal quotas, and to reform the commercial fishing licensing system to improve access and transferability of licenses. The commissioner promised action, the lawmakers said.

“I am pleased to see that the DEC is keeping its promise to support a vital Long Island industry that is getting choked out by poor regulation," Thiele said. "Commercial fishermen have long suffered from unfair and inequitable quotas arbitrarily set by the federal government based on faulty data. Additionally, the current regulations related to the transfer of permits and licenses have thwarted the proper operation of this industry.”

"We must resolve these issues with our fishing community at the table in full participation. The economic survival of our commercial fishermen must be our ultimate priority," LaValle said. "I, too, applaud the DEC's efforts to fight for fair and equitable quotas and will continue my efforts to protect this vital industry."

In March, the DEC retained the services of marine fisheries consultant George LaPointe, who will facilitate the meetings. A former commissioner of the Maine Department of Natural Resources, LaPointe will analyze and evaluate the current marine commercial licensing system and provide recommendations on how to improve and revise it, the release said.

Topics to be addressed include specifying qualifications for license issuance; license transferability; identifying means of entry for new participants in New York’s fisheries; apprenticeship; and resolution of the latent licenses issue, lawmakers said.

There are several meetings scheduled throughout Long Island, including two on the East End:

Thursday, August 2, at 6 p.m.

Southampton Town Hall, first floor

116 Hampton Road, Southampton, New York 11968

Tuesday, August 21, 6 p.m.

Suffolk County Marine Environmental Learning Center

3690 Cedar Beach Road, Southold, New York 11971

For an updated list of meeting notices, including Montauk, visit the DEC’s website. DEC will accept comments on the marine commercial licensing system until September 15. Comments can be submitted by email to FW.Marine@dec.ny.gov with subject line “GLP Permits,” or by mail to Maureen Davidson, NYSDEC, 205 Belle Mead Road, Suite #1, East Setauket, NY 11733.

Patch file photo.