Extends the authority of the department of environmental conservation to manage squid

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

This bill would extend DEC's regulatory authority for squid for an addi- tional three years, and ensures that DEC continues to be able to main- tain compliance with any applicable federal management plan or Inter- state Fishery Management Plan (FMP) adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). ECL § 13-0105, which sets forth the marine fisheries conservation and management policy, provides that one of the State's objectives shall be that the management of the State's transboundary and migratory species shall be consistent with any inter- jurisdictional management plans, interstate or state-federal. Moreover, failure to make necessary regulatory changes as may be required by an applicable FMP could result in the closure of New York's fishery for that species. Authority to establish appropriate regulations consistent with the Federal FMP for squid is essential in order to provide uniform protection for this resource. Squid are managed by a Federal quota system which is applicable to federal waters and federal permit holders only. DEC must have the ability to timely set and adjust trip limits and to close fisheries when quotas are reached, or to adopt other management regulations such as minimum mesh size, in squid fisheries which are not subject to the federal regulations. DEC's regulatory authority for squid is necessary to preserve the current regulatory program. Failure to extend the existing regulatory authority by December 31, 2026 will result in the loss of regulatory protection for this species.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.