Senate Resolution No. 2793

BY: Senator GRIFFO

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
September 26, 2020, as Hunting and Fishing Day in
the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Hunting and Fishing Day

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to promote the participation of
recreational activities in New York State; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 26, 2020, as Hunting and
Fishing Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of National Hunting and Fishing Day; and

WHEREAS, National Hunting and Fishing Day brings together sportsmen
and women to celebrate the rich tradition of hunting, target shooting
and fishing with national, state, regional and local organizations
hosting related events; and

WHEREAS, Launched in 1971 by Congress, National Hunting and Fishing
Day has consistently recognized hunters and anglers for their leadership
in wildlife and conservation; and

WHEREAS, National Hunting and Fishing Day is observed and celebrated
the fourth Saturday in September every year; and

WHEREAS, New York State has more than 110 Wildlife Management Areas,
averaging 1,790 acres each, totaling nearly 197,000 of public acres of
public land available for outdoor recreation by all New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC) manages nearly 400 boating and fishing access facilities
throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, NYSDEC's Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources
is funded primarily by sportsmen and women, through the American System
of Conservation Funding - a "user-pays, public-benefits" approach that
is widely recognized as the most successful System of fish and wildlife
management in the world; and

WHEREAS, Last year alone, New York's sportsmen and women generated
over $72 million through this System to support the conservation efforts
of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to the
benefit of all New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, The State of New York is committed to hunting and fishing
opportunity, as shown by the 2019 statistics where there were
approximately 1,187,980 fishing licenses, permits, and tags and
1,414,862 hunting licenses, permits, and tags; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, 2.11 million people hunted or fished in New York,
almost as much as the combined populations of the Buffalo/Niagara Falls
and Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area; there are also more

resident sportsmen and women in New York than the combined total home
attendance for all New York Giants, New York Jets, and Buffalo Bills
football games, 1.98 million vs. 1.71 million combined attendance; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, sportsmen and women spent 4.95 billion dollars
on hunting and fishing in New York; hunters and anglers support more
jobs in New York than the North Shore-LIJ Health System, the state's
largest employer; and

WHEREAS, Spending by sportsmen and women in New York State generated
623 million dollars in state and local taxes in 2011, enough to support
the average salaries of about 8,775 teachers; and

WHEREAS, Hunting and fishing are intertwined into every community in
this great Empire State, as shown by the millions of New Yorkers who
participate in these activities year in and year out, and it is the
intention of this Legislative Body to bring attention to such activities
that bolster our state's economy and overall well-being; now, therefore
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 26, 2020, as
Hunting and Fishing Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National Hunting and Fishing Day; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.