What's happening
This bill allows Schuylerville to hold up to two fishing tournaments per year on the Hudson River, exempt from "catch and release" orders.
Why it matters
Creates a unique exemption for Schuylerville. The bill specifically allows this village to bypass statewide "catch and release" rules for up to two tournaments per year, setting a precedent for local flexibility in fishing regulations.
Imposes strict fish welfare and environmental protections. Despite the exemption, the bill mandates the use of live wells, immediate release of undersized fish, and the use of special water-filled fish bags and tanks at weigh-in to minimize fish stress and mortality.
Limits ecological impact and tournament scale. By capping participation at 50 boats, restricting fishing to a defined stretch and time window, and banning live bait, the bill aims to balance recreational activity with conservation of the river's fish populations.
Requires liability insurance and oversight. The tournament organizers and participants must provide proof of insurance to the state, ensuring financial accountability and adding a layer of regulatory oversight which may help reduce potential risks or liabilities.
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Allow Schuylerville Fishing Tournaments
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Enacting clause stricken
- 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.
Allow Schuylerville Fishing Tournaments
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Kathleen A. Marchione
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8753
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
October 25, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to allow the village of Schuylerville, Saratoga County, New York, to conduct up to two fishing tournaments per calendar year in the fourteen mile stretch of the Hudson River between Champlain Canal Lock C5 and Champlain Canal Lock C4 and to exempt such tournaments from "catch and release" orders
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, order or regulation to the contrary, the village of Schuylerville, Saratoga County, New York, may conduct up to two fishing tournaments per calendar year in the fourteen mile stretch of the Hudson River between Champlain Canal Lock C5, just north of Schuylerville, and Champlain Canal Lock C4, just north of the town of Mechanicville. Such tournaments shall be exempted from any "catch and release" order issued by the department of environmental conservation and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) Each tournament shall be conducted between the hours of 6:00 am and 2:00 pm, and shall be limited to a maximum of 50 boats. All participating boats shall be outfitted with fully functional live wells, which shall be checked before the tournament by the tournament operators to assure that they are clean and empty. The live wells will only be filled in the designated section of the Hudson River between Lock C5 and Lock C4. All live wells in the boats shall be aerated.
(c) Only artificial bait will be used at each tournament. Live bait is prohibited. No fish caught during the tournament shall be consumed or used for bait.
(d) Only largemouth and smallmouth bass shall be entered into the tournament. All fish brought to the judges to be weighed must be a minimum of 12 inches in length. Fish smaller than 12 inches shall be
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13594-01-7
A. 8753 2
released immediately upon being caught. At weigh-in, all fish caught shall be placed in special fish bags with water in them and shall be promptly carried to the weigh-in scales area. A water tank containing water from the Hudson River tournament area will be available at the weigh-in area to protect fish prior to weigh-in. Each fish caught shall be released back into the Hudson River at the weigh-in area immediately following weigh-in of that fish.
(e) The operator of each boat shall drain the water from the live well or wells on his or her boat back into the Hudson River at the tournament site following the weigh-in or at the conclusion of his or her participation in the tournament.
(f) Sponsors of the tournament and all boaters shall provide the department of environmental conservation with proof of liability insurance covering participation in the tournament not less than ten days prior to the date of the tournament. Participating boaters shall provide such proof to the sponsors of the tournament who shall, in turn, provide it to the department of environmental conservation.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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