LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the NYS Congressional delegation to
support H.R. 1584 which would amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conser-
vation and Management Act to extend the authorized time period for
rebuilding of certain overfished fisheries, and for other purposes

WHEREAS, Commercial fisheries are a critical component of eastern Long
Island's local economy, and like its agricultural traditions, constitute
an important aspect of the area's heritage; and
WHEREAS, The fishing industry operates within one of the most heavily
regulated business environments in the nation, with an administrative
framework of multiple layers of government such as the federally
appointed Marine Fisheries Councils, the States' Atlantic Marine Fisher-
ies Commission, the United States Congress, the National Marine Fisher-
ies Services, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the New York State Legis-
lature, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation;
and
WHEREAS, The federal and state regulations promulgated from these and
other entities have resulted in significant and continuing negative
consequences to commercial fishermen and related industries, including
resort tourism, restaurants, and recreational aspects of the region's
economy; and
WHEREAS, The nationwide economic downturn is further compounding the
problem and community advocates are calling upon government to remove
onerous burdens and streamline regulations, particularly those which
have been called into question for creating long-standing inequities
across the northeastern United States; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, numerous efforts at reform have been under-
taken for public consideration such as the East End Economic and Envi-
ronmental Task's Blueprint for Our Future, the Pombo-Frank bill in the
House of Representatives, as well as a myriad of initiatives from indi-
vidual lawmakers and advocacy groups; and
WHEREAS, United States Senator Charles Schumer of New York has
proposed a standardization of the quotas for the northeast region to
level the playing field for commercial fishermen, and to ease draconian
deadlines and restrictions which have been based upon questionable
statistical methods; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to support
federal legislation to ensure parity for New York in regard to other
states such as Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rhode Island; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the reforms include: (1) changes to length of fishing
seasons, along with the number and size of fish that may be kept; (2)
developing and evaluating a new type of data collection system to ensure
the most accurate statistics are used in considering future recommenda-
tions; (3) an annual analysis of the cumulative socioeconomic impacts to
a fishing community when determining timelines, cutbacks, and quotas, as
well as developing multiyear management plans to reflect an average of
fishing quotas, rather than attempting to offset annual fluctuations;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.