What's happening
This bill directs the New York State Attorney General to sue federal agencies over fishing quotas deemed unfair to New York's commercial fishermen.
Why it matters
The bill responds to longstanding complaints from New York’s commercial fishing industry. that current federal and interstate quota allocations are based on outdated or incomplete data, leading to economic disadvantages for New York fishermen compared to those in other states.
If successful, legal action could lead to increased fishing quotas for New York. , potentially resulting in more jobs and greater economic activity in the state’s coastal communities.
The bill signals a more aggressive stance by New York against federal agencies. like the National Marine Fisheries Service, potentially setting a precedent for other states dissatisfied with federal resource allocation formulas.
Litigation could prompt broader scrutiny and possible reform of how fishery quotas are determined nationwide. , raising questions about equity, scientific data quality, and interstate competition for marine resources.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Challenge Unfair Fishing Quotas
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Fight Unfair Fishing Quotas
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3197 A. 2514
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
January 20, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, MURRAY, PALUMBO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT in relation to directing the state attorney general to bring any and all legal actions against the National Marine Fisheries Services or any other federal or interstate agency challenging existing inequitable fishing quotas that discriminate against New York state commercial fishermen
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) was enacted by the United States Congress in 1976 to restrict foreign fishing vessels in the United States offshore waters from 3 miles to 200 miles off the shoreline. The MSA also sought to regulate fishing in federal waters by establishing various management tools such as a state by state quota allocation system for commercial fishermen. These state by state quotas created by the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service, pursuant to the MSA, are based upon faulty and incomplete collection data, which discriminate against commercial fishermen in the state of New York. As a result of these discriminatory practices, New York's quota for black sea bass, bluefish, scup, and summer flounder are much lower than would be allocated under a fair non-discriminatory system. For example, New York's summer flounder quota was less than half of that allocated to Rhode Island, New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina. This discriminatory quota system has resulted in unwarranted economic and job losses. It is the purpose of this act to direct the state attor-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04089-01-7
S. 3197 2 A. 2514
ney general to commence legal proceedings challenging this discriminatory fishing quota system.
§ 2. The state attorney general is hereby directed to commence any and all legal actions against the National Marine Fisheries Services and any other federal or interstate agency necessary to overturn said fishing quotas as arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory against residents of the state of New York.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.