What's happening
This bill extends the state's authority to manage fluke (summer flounder) fishing until 2029.
Why it matters
Continues local control over fluke (summer flounder) management until 2029, allowing the Department of Environmental Conservation to set rules such as catch limits, size limits, and fishing seasons. This directly affects recreational and commercial fishers along New York's marine and coastal waters, especially on Long Island and in coastal communities reliant on fluke fishing.
Aligns state regulations with federal and interstate fishery management plans,. ensuring New York remains eligible for federal funding, avoids penalties, and maintains access to regional fisheries, which is important for both the local seafood economy and conservation efforts.
Prevents a regulatory gap that could arise if the state's authority lapsed,. which would create uncertainty for fishers, businesses, restaurants, and consumers who depend on clear, predictable rules about fluke fishing in New York waters.
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Who cares
Commercial and Recreational Fishermen
They are directly affected by regulations on fluke (summer flounder) size limits, catch limits, and fishing seasons, which impact their livelihoods and access to this fishery.
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
As the agency whose regulatory authority is being extended, DEC staff and leadership have a direct stake in maintaining their ability to manage and enforce sustainable fluke fisheries.
Environmental and Conservation Groups
Organizations focused on marine conservation and sustainable fisheries care about the continued management of summer flounder to prevent overfishing and protect marine ecosystems.
Seafood Industry and Consumers
Businesses involved in the processing, distribution, and sale of fluke, as well as consumers who purchase summer flounder, are interested in stable regulations ensuring a continued supply of this fish.
Headline styles
Extend Flounder Fishing Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by S10042
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.197
- Rules report cal.197
- Reported
- Reported referred 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.
Extend Fluke Fishing Rules
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Rachel May
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
11361
IN ASSEMBLY
May 13, 2026
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Powers) -- (at request of the Department of Environmental Conservation) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to extending the authority of the department of environmental conservation regarding the management of fluke-summer flounder
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 13-0340-b of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 311 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows: § 13-0340-b. Fluke - summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus).
The department may, until December thirty-first, two thousand [twenty-six] twenty-nine, fix by regulation measures for the management of fluke or summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), including size limits, catch and possession limits, open and closed seasons, closed areas, restrictions on the manner of taking and landing, requirements for permits and eligibility therefor, recordkeeping requirements, requirements on the amount and type of fishing effort and gear, and requirements relating to transportation, possession and sale, provided that such regulations are no less restrictive than requirements set forth in this chapter and provided further that such regulations are consistent with the compliance requirements of applicable fishery management plans adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and with applicable provisions of fishery management plans adopted pursuant to the Federal Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. § 1800 et seq.).
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15006-01-6
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.