Extend Fishing License Limits

Section 1. Subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of section 13-0328 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 225 of the laws of 2017, are amended to read as follows:

1. Commercial food fish licenses. Commercial food fish licenses provided for by section 13-0335 of this title shall be issued as follows:

a. for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, the number of resident commercial food fish licenses and the number of nonresident commercial food fish licenses shall not exceed the following annual limits:

(i) for two thousand eighteen, the number of licenses shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand seventeen, plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two thousand seventeen and nine hundred sixty-nine[.]; and

(ii) for two thousand nineteen, the number of licenses shall be limited to the number of licenses established in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.

b. for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, persons who were issued a commercial food fish license in the previous year shall be eligible to be issued such license.

c. for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, the department shall issue commercial food fish licenses to persons who were not issued such license in the previous year provided that the total number of such licenses issued to such persons does not exceed the

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD14408-05-8

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difference between the number of licenses established in paragraph a of this subdivision and the number of such licenses issued pursuant to paragraph b of this subdivision, subject to the following:

(i) licenses shall be issued in the order in which the applications were received, except that where multiple applications are received by the department on the same day, applicants for whom the department has received notice of successful completion of an apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section shall be considered by the department prior to other applicants;

(ii) licenses may be issued to individuals only;

(iii) licenses shall be issued to applicants who are sixteen years of age or older at the time of the application; and

(iv) licenses shall be issued only to persons who demonstrate in a manner acceptable to the department that they received an average of at least fifteen thousand dollars of income over three consecutive years from commercial fishing or fishing, or who successfully complete a commercial food fish apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section. As used in this subparagraph, "commercial fishing" means the taking and sale of marine resources including fish, shellfish, crustacea or other marine biota and "fishing" means commercial fishing and carrying fishing passengers for hire. Individuals who wish to qualify based on income from "fishing" must hold a valid marine and coastal district party and charter boat license. No more than ten percent of the licenses issued each year based on income eligibility pursuant to this paragraph shall be issued to applicants who qualify based solely upon income derived from operation of or employment by a party or charter boat. For the income evaluation of this subdivision, the department may consider persons who would otherwise be eligible but for having served in the United States armed forces on active duty, provided that such individual has received an honorable or general discharge, shall not be deemed ineligible.

2. Commercial lobster permits. Commercial lobster permits provided for by section 13-0329 of this title shall be issued as follows:

for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen, through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, only persons who were issued a commercial lobster permit in the previous year shall be eligible to be issued such permit.

3. Commercial crab permits. Commercial crab permits provided for by section 13-0331 of this title shall be issued as follows:

a. for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, the number of resident commercial crab permits and the number of non-resident commercial crab permits shall not exceed the following annual limits:

(i) for two thousand eighteen, the number of permits shall be limited to the number of permits issued in two thousand seventeen, plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of permits issued in two thousand seventeen and five hundred sixty-three[.]; and

(ii) for two thousand nineteen, the number of permits shall be limited to the number of permits established in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.

b. for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, persons who were issued a commercial crab permit in the previous year shall be eligible to be issued such permit.

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c. for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, the department shall issue commercial crab permits to persons who were not issued such permit in the previous year provided that the total number of such permits issued to such persons does not exceed the difference between the number of permits established in paragraph a of this subdivision and the number of such permits issued pursuant to paragraph b of this subdivision, subject to the following:

(i) permits shall be issued in the order in which the applications were received, except that where multiple applications are received by the department on the same day, applicants for whom the department has received notice of successful completion of an apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section shall be considered by the department prior to other applicants;

(ii) permits may be issued to individuals only;

(iii) permits shall be issued to applicants who are sixteen years of age or older at the time of the application; and

(iv) permits shall be issued only to persons who demonstrate in a manner acceptable to the department that they received an average of at least fifteen thousand dollars of income over three consecutive years from commercial fishing or fishing, or who successfully complete an apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section. As used in this subparagraph, "commercial fishing" means the taking and sale of marine resources including fish, shellfish, crustacea or other marine biota and "fishing" means commercial fishing and carrying fishing passengers for hire. Individuals who wish to qualify based on income from "fishing" must hold a valid marine and coastal district party and charter boat license. No more than ten percent of the permits issued each year based on income eligibility pursuant to this paragraph shall be issued to applicants who qualify based upon income derived from operation of or employment by a party or charter boat.

4. Commercial whelk or conch licenses. Commercial whelk or conch licenses provided for by section 13-0330 of this title shall be issued as follows:

a. for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, the number of resident commercial whelk or conch licenses and the number of non-resident commercial whelk or conch licenses shall not exceed the following annual limits:

(i) for two thousand eighteen, the number of licenses shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand seventeen plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two thousand seventeen and two hundred fifty-two[.]; and

(ii) for two thousand nineteen, the number of licenses shall be limited to the number of licenses established in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.

b. for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, persons who were issued a commercial whelk or conch license in the previous year shall be eligible to be issued such license.

c. for the period beginning January first, two thousand eighteen through December thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, persons who were not issued a commercial whelk or conch license in the previous year shall be eligible to be issued such license provided that the total number of such licenses issued to such persons shall not exceed the difference between the number of licenses established in paragraph a of

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this subdivision and the number of such licenses issued pursuant to paragraph b of this subdivision, subject to the following:

(i) licenses shall be issued in the order in which the applications were received, except that where multiple applications are received by the department on the same day, applicants for whom the department has received notice of successful completion of an apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section shall be considered by the department prior to other applicants;

(ii) licenses may be issued to individuals only;

(iii) licenses shall be issued to applicants who are sixteen years of age or older at the time of the application; and

(iv) licenses shall be issued only to persons who demonstrate in a manner acceptable to the department that they received an average of at least fifteen thousand dollars of income over three consecutive years from commercial fishing or fishing, or who successfully complete an apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section. As used in this subparagraph, "commercial fishing" means the taking and sale of marine resources including fish, shellfish, crustacea or other marine biota and "fishing" means commercial fishing and carrying fishing passengers for hire. Individuals who wish to qualify based on income from "fishing" must hold a valid marine and coastal district party and charter boat license. No more than ten percent of the licenses issued each year pursuant to this paragraph shall be issued to applicants who qualify based upon income derived from operation of or employment by a party or charter boat.

5. Marine and coastal district party and charter boat licenses. Marine and coastal district party and charter boat licenses provided for by section 13-0336 of this title shall be issued as follows, except that this subdivision shall not apply to the owner or operator of a party boat or charter boat whose vessel is classified by the United States Coast Guard as an Inspected Passenger Vessel and which is licensed to carry more than six passengers:

a. for the years two thousand [seventeen] eighteen through two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, the annual number of marine and coastal district party and charter boat licenses issued shall not exceed five hundred seventeen.

b. for the years two thousand [seventeen] eighteen through two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, persons who were issued a marine and coastal district party and charter boat license in the previous year shall be eligible to be issued such license.

c. for the years two thousand [seventeen] eighteen through two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, the department shall issue marine and coastal district party and charter boat licenses to persons who were not issued such license in the previous year, provided that the total number of licenses issued does not exceed five hundred seventeen, subject to the following:

(i) licenses shall be issued in the order in which the applications were received;

(ii) licenses shall be issued only to persons who hold an Uninspected Passenger Vessel license issued by the United States Coast Guard.

§ 2. This act shall take effect December 31, 2018, provided that any regulations necessary for the timely implementation of the provisions of this act on its effective date may be promulgated on or before such date.