BILL NUMBER:  S7222

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend chapter 305 of the laws of 2013 amending the
environmental conservation law, relating to the management of American
lobster, in relation to the effectiveness thereof

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of this bill would amend Environmental Conservation Law
(ECL) § 13-0329(17) to extend, until December 31, 2019, the closure of
lobster fishery for Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
(ASMFC) Area Six (Long Island Sound) annually from September 8 until
November 28.

Section 2 would make it take effect immediately.

 JUSTIFICATION :

The Southern New England lobster stock is experiencing persistent
recruitment failures caused by both environmental impacts, such as low
oxygen in the water and warming waters, and fish mortality. In
February 2012, the American Lobster Management Board of the ASMFC
approved Addendum XVII to Amendment 5 of the American Lobster
Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to implement a 10 percent
              

reduction in the exploitation of the lobster stock. The addendum
addresses rebuilding the Southern New England lobster stock and
contains conservation measures with respect to lobster conservation
management areas (LCMAs) 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to mitigate declining
lobster populations in the New York area. All applicable states were
to comply with the requirements of the Addendum by December 15, 2012.

In consultation with each Lobster Management Conservation Team in New
York, DEC met its obligations by, among things, (i) instituting
seasonal closures for LCMAs 4, 5, and 6 to meet the FMP mandated take
reduction, (ii) including within the seasonal closure a two week gear
removal and two week gear replacement grace period, and (iii)
prohibiting lobster traps from being baited more than one week prior
to season reopening.

The bill would extend DEC's regulatory authority for three years to
ensure that DEC has the necessary authority to adopt regulations
associated with LCMA 6.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

ECL § 13-1329(17) was added by Chapter 305 of the Laws of 2013.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.