Post by Itrapny on Sept 21, 2009 15:27:08 GMT -5
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Lori Severino
Friday, September 18, 2009 (518) 402-8000
DEC ANNOUNCES PROPOSED FRESHWATER SPORTFISHING REGULATIONS FOR 2010-2012
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced proposed changes to the current freshwater fishing regulations to better enhance fishing opportunities and protect the State’s freshwater fisheries resources. DEC will be accepting public comments on the proposals until November 2, 2009.
“New York provides some of the best fishing in the nation, and every two years DEC modifies existing freshwater sportfishing regulations and proposes new regulations to help ensure that this remains the case,” said Grannis. “I encourage anglers to review these proposed changes and provide us with their comments.”
The proposed regulations are the result of careful assessment of the status of existing fish populations and the desires of anglers for enhanced fishing opportunities. The opportunity for public review follows discussions held with angling interest groups over the past year.
In order to receive input early in the process, changes under consideration for this proposal were available on the DEC website prior to today’s announcement. The feedback received was integral to developing the regulation changes that are now being formally proposed.
Several of the regulations being considered are for the purposes of removing special regulations that are no longer warranted.
The following are highlights of the proposed changes:
$ Eliminate catch and release only regulations in Hempstead Lake (Nassau County) as this warmwater fish community has rebuilt since the restriction was instituted in 2004.
$ Eliminate the 15 inch minimum size limit for black bass at Fort Pond (Suffolk County) and at Lake Ronkonkoma (Suffolk Co.) as recent surveys have shown stable bass populations at these waters.
$ Apply the statewide regulation for pickerel, eliminating the “no size” limit regulation in: Essex, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington County waters.
(MORE)
-2-
$ Apply the statewide regulation creel limit of 50 fish per day for yellow perch and sunfish for Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton Counties, as well as for Schroon Lake, as this limit will help protect against overexploitation.
$ Eliminate special regulation prohibiting smelt fishing at Portaferry Lake in St. Lawrence County as no smelt runs have been reported in many years.
$ Delete the 5 +5 brook trout special regulation (Regions 5, 6 & 7), which allows for an additional 5 brook trout under 8 inches as part of the daily limit, as there is no basis for retaining this special regulation for this species.
Regulations for the purposes of protecting vulnerable game fish species:
∙ Prohibit fishing from March 16 until the opening of walleye season in May in a section of the Oswegatchie River in St. Lawrence County to protect spawning walleye.
∙ Ban possession of river herring (alewife and blueback herring) in the Waterford Flight (Lock 2-Guard Gate 2) on the Saratoga County side of the Mohawk River, where blueback herring, declining in numbers, are especially vulnerable to capture.
∙ Establish a catch and release, year round, season at Randall Pond in Suffok County to protect black bass population and improve the quality of bass fishing on this water.
Regulations that pertain to the use of bait fish:
∙ Allow the use of alewives and blueback herring as bait in Lake Champlain, Clinton County, Essex County, Franklin County, Warren County, Washington County and Canadarago Lake (Otsego County).
∙ Remove the baitfish prohibition regulation for Weed Mines Pond (Columbia County).
∙ Add new state land trout waters to bait fish prohibited list for Essex, Hamilton, and Washington Counties to guard against undesirable fish species introductions and preserve native fish communities.
Regulations that are intended to specifically enhance angling opportunity for game species or provide for unique angling experiences:
∙ Allow ice fishing for rainbow trout in Glen Lake, Warren County.
∙ Establish a 1.8 mile section for catch and release, artificial lures only trout fishing on Chittenango Creek located between Cazenovia and Chittenango.
(MORE)
-3-
The full text of the proposed regulation changes are also be available on DEC’s website at www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/57841.html .
Comments on the proposals being submitted by e-mail should be forwarded to fishregs@gw.dec.state.ny.us or mailed to Shaun Keeler, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Fisheries, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753.
Final regulations, following full review of public comments will go into effect October 1, 2010.
Friday, September 18, 2009 (518) 402-8000
DEC ANNOUNCES PROPOSED FRESHWATER SPORTFISHING REGULATIONS FOR 2010-2012
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced proposed changes to the current freshwater fishing regulations to better enhance fishing opportunities and protect the State’s freshwater fisheries resources. DEC will be accepting public comments on the proposals until November 2, 2009.
“New York provides some of the best fishing in the nation, and every two years DEC modifies existing freshwater sportfishing regulations and proposes new regulations to help ensure that this remains the case,” said Grannis. “I encourage anglers to review these proposed changes and provide us with their comments.”
The proposed regulations are the result of careful assessment of the status of existing fish populations and the desires of anglers for enhanced fishing opportunities. The opportunity for public review follows discussions held with angling interest groups over the past year.
In order to receive input early in the process, changes under consideration for this proposal were available on the DEC website prior to today’s announcement. The feedback received was integral to developing the regulation changes that are now being formally proposed.
Several of the regulations being considered are for the purposes of removing special regulations that are no longer warranted.
The following are highlights of the proposed changes:
$ Eliminate catch and release only regulations in Hempstead Lake (Nassau County) as this warmwater fish community has rebuilt since the restriction was instituted in 2004.
$ Eliminate the 15 inch minimum size limit for black bass at Fort Pond (Suffolk County) and at Lake Ronkonkoma (Suffolk Co.) as recent surveys have shown stable bass populations at these waters.
$ Apply the statewide regulation for pickerel, eliminating the “no size” limit regulation in: Essex, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington County waters.
(MORE)
-2-
$ Apply the statewide regulation creel limit of 50 fish per day for yellow perch and sunfish for Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton Counties, as well as for Schroon Lake, as this limit will help protect against overexploitation.
$ Eliminate special regulation prohibiting smelt fishing at Portaferry Lake in St. Lawrence County as no smelt runs have been reported in many years.
$ Delete the 5 +5 brook trout special regulation (Regions 5, 6 & 7), which allows for an additional 5 brook trout under 8 inches as part of the daily limit, as there is no basis for retaining this special regulation for this species.
Regulations for the purposes of protecting vulnerable game fish species:
∙ Prohibit fishing from March 16 until the opening of walleye season in May in a section of the Oswegatchie River in St. Lawrence County to protect spawning walleye.
∙ Ban possession of river herring (alewife and blueback herring) in the Waterford Flight (Lock 2-Guard Gate 2) on the Saratoga County side of the Mohawk River, where blueback herring, declining in numbers, are especially vulnerable to capture.
∙ Establish a catch and release, year round, season at Randall Pond in Suffok County to protect black bass population and improve the quality of bass fishing on this water.
Regulations that pertain to the use of bait fish:
∙ Allow the use of alewives and blueback herring as bait in Lake Champlain, Clinton County, Essex County, Franklin County, Warren County, Washington County and Canadarago Lake (Otsego County).
∙ Remove the baitfish prohibition regulation for Weed Mines Pond (Columbia County).
∙ Add new state land trout waters to bait fish prohibited list for Essex, Hamilton, and Washington Counties to guard against undesirable fish species introductions and preserve native fish communities.
Regulations that are intended to specifically enhance angling opportunity for game species or provide for unique angling experiences:
∙ Allow ice fishing for rainbow trout in Glen Lake, Warren County.
∙ Establish a 1.8 mile section for catch and release, artificial lures only trout fishing on Chittenango Creek located between Cazenovia and Chittenango.
(MORE)
-3-
The full text of the proposed regulation changes are also be available on DEC’s website at www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/57841.html .
Comments on the proposals being submitted by e-mail should be forwarded to fishregs@gw.dec.state.ny.us or mailed to Shaun Keeler, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Fisheries, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753.
Final regulations, following full review of public comments will go into effect October 1, 2010.