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

Latest action Jul 29, 2025

Extends the authority of the department of environmental conservation to manage blackfish.

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Where it stands

Signed into law.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A8281, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Passed as A8281, the matching Assembly bill.

Amends the Environmental Conservation Law.

Committee

Environmental Conservation · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Environmental Conservation · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section 1 of this bill amends Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) § 13-0340-d to extend, until December 31, 2028, DEC's authority to fix by regulation measures for the management of blackfish (Tautoga onitis). Section 2 of this bill provides that the bill shall take effect imme- diately.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 11, 2025Result: passedSenate vote on A8281, the matching Assembly bill.
(58) (1) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation
Senate Environmental ConservationMay 20, 2025Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)

The sponsor's argument

Why Siela Bynoe says this is needed

DEC's regulatory authority for blackfish, or tautog, is necessary in order to preserve the current regulatory program. Failure to extend the existing regulatory authority by December 31, 2025 will result in the loss of regulatory protection for blackfish. This bill would extend DEC's regulatory authority for an additional three years, and ensure that DEC continues to maintain compliance with the Fishery Management Plan for Tautog (FMP) adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. ECL § 13-0105, which sets forth the marine fisheries conservation and management policy, provides that one of the State's objectives shall be the management of the State's trans- boundary and migratory species consistent with any interjurisdictional management plans, interstate or state-federal. Moreover, failure to make necessary regulatory changes as may be required by the FMP could result in the closure of New York's blackfish fishery. In 2018, DEC issued updated management regulations to assist in the rebuilding of blackfish populations. DEC had to substantially shorten the recreational and commercial fishing seasons and decrease the recre- ational possession limit in some areas. The regulatory authority provided by ECL § 13-0340-d allowed DEC to timely adopt measures needed to comply with changes to the FMP.

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.

Full history

Jul 29, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Assembly
Jul 29, 2025
Signed
SIGNED CHAP.197
NY Assembly
Jun 11, 2025
3RD Reading CAL.1381
3RD READING CAL.1381
NY Senate
Jun 11, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 11, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR S7862
NY Senate

Show full history (10 earlier events)

Jun 4, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 28, 2025
1ST Report CAL.1381
1ST REPORT CAL.1381
NY Senate
May 19, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly
May 19, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
May 19, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Senate
May 15, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.168
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.168
NY Assembly
May 13, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
May 12, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Senate
May 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 22, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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