What's happening
This bill creates new programs to prevent and mitigate marine and coastal debris, including "ghost gear," in New York's waters.
Why it matters
Addresses "ghost gear" specifically. By defining "ghost gear" (lost or abandoned fishing gear) and requiring targeted pilot projects for its removal and recycling, the bill tackles a major source of marine life entanglement and habitat damage, which can have cascading effects on fisheries, tourism, and ecosystem health.
Establishes ongoing action and accountability. Mandates a yearly, consultative marine and coastal debris action plan with measurable objectives, progress tracking, and updates, ensuring the issue remains a state priority and adapts to new challenges or findings.
Promotes collaboration and leverages local expertise. Grants and departmental support are directed to New York-based non-profits focused on fishing, conservation, and public engagement, fostering community involvement and innovation in debris prevention and cleanup efforts.
Improves public awareness and reporting. Requires that information about reporting ghost gear is included in fishing licenses, guides, and online resources—making it easier for the public and fishers to help locate and address marine debris, potentially increasing reporting and response rates.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fight Ocean and Beach Trash
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- 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.
Clean Up Coastal Waters
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7693
IN SENATE
February 7, 2020
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- 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 the prevention and mitigation of marine and coastal debris
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Article 13 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new title 9 to read as follows:
TITLE 9
MARINE AND COASTAL DEBRIS PREVENTION AND MITIGATION Section 13-0901. Declaration of policy.
13-0903. Definitions.
13-0905. Responsibilities of the department. § 13-0901. Declaration of policy.
It is declared to be the public policy of this state to protect, preserve and restore its marine and coastal waters and to prevent and mitigate their despoliation by marine and coastal debris, in order to maintain healthy coastal and ocean ecosystems and the benefits they provide to communities. § 13-0903. Definitions.
1. "Marine and coastal debris" shall mean any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed, and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned in the waters of the marine and coastal district, including debris that has been dumped, swept, or blown off commercial and fishing vessels, or stationary platforms at sea, including but not limited to ghost gear, and debris that has been generated on land and blown, swept, or washed out to marine and coastal waters.
2. "Ghost gear" shall mean lost or abandoned fishing gear, including fishing nets, fishing lines, crab pots, shrimp pots, lobster pots or traps, fish or eel pots, and other commercial and recreational fishing equipment, but shall not include lost or abandoned vessels or structural components thereof.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07809-01-9
S. 7693 2
3. "Eligible recipients" shall mean not-for-profit corporations located within New York state with the purpose of promoting sport fishing, increasing participation in recreational angling, increasing public awareness and appreciation of aquatic natural resources, encouraging conservation of fisheries resources, or promoting research related to sport fishing, recreational angling, or aquatic natural resources. § 13-0905. Responsibilities of the department.
1. The department shall prepare and annually update a marine and coastal debris action plan. Such plan shall be developed in consultation with relevant stake holders including, but not limited to, the department of state and the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation, the marine resources advisory council established pursuant to section 13-0350 of this article, local governments, eligible recipients, holders of commercial and recreational fishing licenses, organizations of sporting enthusiasts and persons concerned with environmental issues and animal welfare.
2. Such plan shall include an assessment of the extent of marine and coastal debris and its impact on resources in marine and coastal waters, shall evaluate and prioritize measures to identify, prevent and mitigate the impacts of such debris, and shall identify best practices in the prevention, identification and mitigation of marine and coastal debris. In addition, each annual update shall include information and data on progress in accomplishing the objectives of the prior year's plan and on activities undertaken or supported by the department pursuant to subdivisions three and four of this section and any pilot projects initiated pursuant to subdivision five of this section.
3. The department shall: (a) to the extent feasible, make its facilities in communities adjacent to or within marine and coastal waters available to organizations and entities involved in identification, prevention, mitigation and removal and recycling or other remediation of marine debris to facilitate plan implementation; and (b) to the extent funds are available therefor, support and assist such organizations and entities in efforts to implement the plan.
4. The department shall, at a minimum, provide information on reporting the location of ghost gear when issuing any commercial license for fishing in marine and coastal waters, shall publish such information in any department-generated guide or map for saltwater fishing, and shall include toll-free numbers and links to websites of organizations that accept reports of such locations on its website and on any mobile application for hunting, fishing and wildlife information supported by the department.
5. To extent that funds are available for such purposes, the department shall provide grants to eligible recipients to operate one or more pilot projects in each of the following areas: (a) identification, removal and, to the extent feasible, recycling of ghost gear; (b) monofilament fishing line recycling; and (c) beach debris cleanup.
§ 2. Section 13-0503 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. The board may advise and assist the department in the exercise of its responsibilities under title nine of this article.
§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 11-0323 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 330 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
1. The department shall compile and index each year after the adjournment of the legislature the laws relating to fish and wildlife, as well as invasive species (as defined in section 9-1703 and 9-1710 of this
S. 7693 3
chapter), as amended to date. In addition, information on reporting the location of ghost gear, including toll-free numbers and website links, shall also be included. Copies of the compilation shall be printed in pamphlet form of pocket size in the number for which the legislature may appropriate funds.
§ 4. Subdivision 1 of section 11-0323 of the environmental conservation law, as separately amended by section 19 of part H of chapter 58 and chapter 342 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
1. The department shall compile and index each year after the adjournment of the legislature the laws relating to fish and wildlife, as well as invasive species (as defined in section 9-1703 of this chapter), as amended to date. In addition, information on reporting the location of ghost gear, including toll-free numbers and website links, shall also be included. Copies of the compilation shall be printed in pamphlet form of pocket size in the number for which the legislature may appropriate funds.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that:
(a) the initial marine debris action plan shall be issued not later than 15 months after the date on which this act shall have become a law; and
(b) the amendments to subdivision 1 of section 11-0323 of the environmental conservation law made by section three of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such subdivision pursuant to section 4 of chapter 330 of the laws of 2014, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section four of this act shall take effect.
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 the prevention and mitigation of marine and coastal debris
Purpose
To provide a comprehensive program to manage and mitigate marine and coastal debris.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. amends Article 13 section of the Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new Title 9: Marine and Coastal Debris Prevention and Mitigation. Defines Marine and coastal debris, ghost gear, and eligible recipients. Outlines the responsibilities of DEC to prepare an action plan, make facilities available for mitigation efforts, facilitate reporting ghost gear, and provide available funding as grants to eligi- ble recipients to operate pilot projects.
Section 2. amends section 13-0503 of the Environmental Conservation Law to explicitly authorize the Marine Resources Advisory Council to assist DEC in the implementation of new Title 9.
Section 3 & 4. amends subdivision 1 of section 11-0323 of the environ- mental conservation law and requires the State's fish and wildlife syllabus to contain information to facilitate ghost gear reporting.
Section 5. is the enacting clause.
Justification
Marine and coastal debris and other forms of pollution are ever-increas- ing problems in ocean waters and coastal communities. Such pollution causes environmental and economic damage and threatens navigation, safe- ty, and human health. Ocean-related economic activity benefits New York's economy by more than $24 billion per year, and the continued vitality of the marine and coastal district is paramount to the millions of New Yorkers who make their homes nearby. A number of other states have enacted laws to prevent despoliation of their coasts, but New York currently has no comprehensive management plan to protect its marine and coastal waters.
This policy on marine and coastal pollution will enable the State to join other concerned stakeholders in concerted effort to address the problems created by marine and coastal debris. While New York's Great Lakes are covered under a Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan, there is no plan targeted to protect marine and coastal waters. This bill enables DEC to work with other stakeholders effectively and collabora- tively, enhance its ability to obtain Federal funds and foundation grants, and generally work to mitigate marine coastal waste.
The bill also requires DEC to make its facilities available whenever feasible to volunteer organizations and other entities to facilitate efforts combatting marine debris. DEC may support and assist such efforts, provide grants for pilot projects in the areas of ghost gear identification and removal, monofilament fishing line recycling and beach debris cleanup. Finally, the bill requires DEC to provide informa- tion on reporting the location of ghost gear on its website and fish and wildlife syllabus.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, (a) the initial marine debris action plan shall be issued not later than 15 months after the date on which this act shall have become a law; and (b) the amendments to subdivision 1 of section 11-0323 of the environmental conservation law made by section three of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such subdivision pursuant to section 4 of chapter 330 of the laws of 2014, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section four of this act shall take effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.