Relates to free sport fishing clinics

BILL NUMBER:S6776

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to free sport fishing clinics

Purpose of the bill

The bill would provide additional educational opportunities for fishing without a license.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill would amend Environmental Conservation Law ("ECL") § 11-0305(16) to expand the Department of Environmental Conservation's ("DEC") authority to conduct free sport fishing clinics and to authorize DEC to designate entities, in addition to DEC employees, to conduct such clinics.

Section 2 of the bill provides for an immediate effective date.

Existing law

DEC has authority to hold free fishing days pursuant to ECL §11-0305(14). DEC employees are authorized to conduct up to four sport fishing clinics per DEC region pursuant to ECL § 11-0305(16).

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Statement in support

DEC conducts fishing clinics to help introduce individuals and families to recreational angling. These clinics help connect New York's citizens to nature, as well as provide instruction to novices seeking to learn how to fish. For clinics designated as free sport fishing clinics by DEC, participants are not required to have a fishing license. Current authority limits to four the number of free sport fishing clinics that may be held annually per DEC region, and specifies that DEC employees must provide at least part of the instruction at the events.

This bill would authorize DEC to expand the number of free sport fishing clinics that may be conducted annually, allowing additional people to be introduced to recreational angling without having to purchase fishing licenses if the clinic is held on a fresh water

body. Similarly, if the clinic is held in the marine district, the participant would not be required to sign up for the recreational marine fishing registration to participate in the clinic. The bill would also dispense with the requirement that DEC staff provide the actual instruction and allow organizations designated by DEC to conduct free sport fishing clinics. Clinics conducted by such organizations in such a manner would be undertaken pursuant to guidelines established by DEC.

Budget implications

It is possible that additional fishing license revenues and associated expenditures will accrue if clinic participants introduced to recreational angling via these clinics take up angling as an individual or family activity.

Effective date

This bill would take effect immediately.