What's happening
This bill establishes a marine mammal and sea turtle protection area around certain New York islands and creates an advisory committee.
Why it matters
Designates specific coastal waters around Plum Island, Great Gull Island, and Little Gull Island as critical habitats. for marine mammals and sea turtles, recognizing their ecological importance and the presence of state-designated natural protective features.
Empowers the Department of Environmental Conservation to create regulations aimed at preventing harassment and enhancing protection. for marine mammals and sea turtles in the designated area, which could impact boating, research, and tourism activities.
Establishes an advisory committee with broad representation from government, scientific, educational, and conservation organizations. , ensuring that management of the area draws on diverse expertise and stakeholder input, and emphasizing collaboration on education, research, and resource use.
Specifically notes that the act does not impose new fishing restrictions. , addressing potential concerns from local fishing communities and ensuring that conservation efforts focus on direct threats to marine mammals and sea turtles rather than fishing activities.
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Who cares
Department of Environmental Conservation
The bill would authorize the department to issue rules protecting marine mammals and sea turtles and preventing their harassment in designated waters around Plum, Great Gull and Little Gull islands.
Commercial and recreational fishers
The bill expressly states that it would not impose new fishing restrictions.
Environmental groups and marine education and research organizations
Representatives would serve on an advisory committee addressing the protection area's management, educational research and use.
Suffolk County, Southold and Brookhaven officials
The county executive and the two town supervisors would each have representation on the advisory committee, which would meet at least twice a year.
Headline styles
Protect Sea Turtles and Seals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A6520
- Ordered to third reading cal.1404
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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.
Protect Marine Mammals and Turtles
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5871
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the marine mammal and sea turtle protection area; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Article 11 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new title 20-A to read as follows:
TITLE 20-A
MARINE MAMMAL AND SEA TURTLE PROTECTION AREA Section 11-2050. Establishment of the marine mammal and sea turtle
protection area.
11-2052. The marine mammal and sea turtle protection area advi-
sory committee. § 11-2050. Establishment of the marine mammal and sea turtle protection
area.
1. There shall be created the marine mammal and sea turtle protection area consisting of the waters in the area from mean high water seaward fifteen hundred feet, except further seaward in shallow areas to the outermost limit of waters fifteen feet in depth, around Plum Island, Great Gull Island and Little Gull Island. Such boundaries shall be described and depicted upon a map and a copy of any and all such documents shall be forwarded to the commissioner for inventory, research and reference purposes for the general public. Such protection area may also be designated as a New York state bird conservation area pursuant to section 11-2001 of this article.
2. For purposes of this title the marine mammal and sea turtle protection area shall mean:
(a) a site providing habitat to species including:
(i) harbor seals (Phoca vitulina);
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10153-02-9
S. 5871 2
(ii) harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena);
(iii) gray seals (Halichoerus grypus); and
(iv) sea turtle species including kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and leatherback (Dermochelys coreacia);
(b) presence of a state-designated natural protective feature; and
(c) location within the boundaries of two estuaries of national significance.
3. The department is authorized to promulgate regulations to prevent the harassment and for the protection of marine mammals and sea turtles within the marine mammal and sea turtle protection area. § 11-2052. The marine mammal and sea turtle protection area advisory
committee.
There shall be created within the department the marine mammal and sea turtle protection area advisory committee whose non-governmental members shall serve without pay, meet not less than twice each year, and whose sole purpose shall be to advise as to the management, educational research and utilization of the marine mammal and sea turtle protection area. Provided, however, the utilization of such area shall be consistent with the mission of the department pursuant to section 11-2050 of this title. In addition to representatives of the department, the advisory committee shall consist of, but not be limited to one representative each from the department of state, the marine resources advisory board, the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation, the state museum, American museum of natural history, Cornell laboratory of ornithology, environmental groups, marine education and research groups, the dean of the marine sciences research center at Stony Brook, the Suffolk county executive, and the town supervisors of Southold and Brookhaven. The commissioner may appoint additional members as appropriate, who shall serve at his or her pleasure.
§ 2. Nothing in this act shall be deemed to impose new fishing restrictions.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section 11-2052 of the environmental conservation law, as added by section one of this act, shall expire and be deemed repealed April 1, 2030.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the marine mammal and sea turtle protection area; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to recognize the importance of the marine mammals and sea turtles around Plum Island, Great Gull Island and Little Gull Island.
Summary of provisions
This bill would add a new title 20-A to the Environmental Conservation Law to:
* designate the area from mean high water seaward fifteen hundred feet around Plum Island, Great Gull Island and Little Gull Island as a Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Protection Area;
* define the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Protection Area to mean:
* a site providing habitat to species including harbor seals, harbor porpoises, and sea turtles;
* the presence of a federally designated coastal barrier; and,
* location within the boundaries of two estuaries of national signif- icance
* authorize the Department of Environmental Conservation to adopt regu- lations preventing the harassment, and providing for the protection, of marine mammals and sea turtles; and,
* establish a Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Protection Area Advisory Committee.
Nothing in this act shall be deemed to impose new fishing restrictions.
Justification
Plum Island, Great Gull Island, and Little Gull Island are isolated from Long Island and the mainland and their geological formations and their surrounding waters provide important habitat for marine mammals, sea turtles and many other animals as well as plants. This area is of unique and significant physical and biological character, qualities and values in the state, supporting important marine species. This legislation will further recognize the importance of, and provide additional protections to, the diverse and important marine mammal and sea turtle species. This legislation is not intended to impose new fishing restrictions.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: A.10474-A - delivered to senate 2017-18: A.8153 - delivered to senate
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section 11-2052 of the environmental conservation law, as added by section one of this act, shall expire and be deemed repealed April 1, 2030.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.