What's happening
This bill extends the state's authority to manage blueback herring until the end of 2029.
Why it matters
Continued state oversight of blueback herring impacts coastal and river communities, especially in the Hudson River Valley and Long Island, where these fish are historically significant to local ecosystems and fisheries.
Extending management authority allows the Department of Environmental Conservation to regulate fishing limits, habitat protection, and restoration projects, which could benefit both commercial fishers and conservation interests.
The bill maintains a legal framework for New York to align with regional fisheries management plans—important for the health of migratory fish populations and compliance with federal or multi-state conservation efforts through 2029.
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Who cares
Commercial and Recreational Fishers
Those who fish for blueback herring or related species are directly impacted by management restrictions and timelines, as it affects their operations and livelihoods.
Environmental and Conservation Groups
Organizations focused on aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity care about the extension of management authority, as it helps protect blueback herring populations and broader riverine health.
State and Local Environmental Agencies
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation and related agencies are responsible for implementing and enforcing the law, so their authority and workload are affected by the extension.
Scientists and Researchers
Those studying fish populations, river ecosystems, or the impacts of conservation policy have a vested interest in continued management and data collection related to blueback herring.
Headline styles
Extend Herring Management
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 23
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.224
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.195
- Substituted for A11354
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–1
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.953
Show 1 earlier action
- 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 Blueback Herring Protections
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jaime R. Williams
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10041
IN SENATE
April 24, 2026
Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- (at request of the Department of Environmental Conservation) -- 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 extending the authority of the department of environmental conservation to manage blueback herring
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph g of subdivision 1 of section 13-0339-a of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 313 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
g. blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) until December thirty-first, two thousand [twenty-six] twenty-nine,
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15007-01-6
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 extending the authority of the department of environmental conservation to manage blueback herring
Purpose of the bill
The purpose of this bill is to extend the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to manage blueback herring.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends ECL § 13-0339-a(1)(g) to extend, until December 31, 2029, DEC's authority to fix by regulation measures for the management of blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis).
Section 2 of this bill provides that the bill shall take effect imme- diately.
Justification
DEC's regulatory authority for blueback herring is necessary in order to preserve the current regulatory program. Failure to extend the existing regulatory authority by December 31, 2026 will result in the loss of regulatory protection for this species.
This bill would extend DEC's regulatory authority for blueback herring for an additional three years, and ensure that DEC continues to be able to maintain compliance with any applicable federal management plan or Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). ECL § 13-0105, which sets forth the marine fisheries conservation and management policy, provides that one of the State's objectives shall be that the management of the State's transboundary and migratory species shall be consistent with any inter- jurisdictional management plans, interstate or state-federal. Moreover, failure to make necessary regulatory changes as may be required by an applicable FMP could result in the closure of New York's fishery for that species.
Prior legislative history
DEC's authority was last extended by Chapter 313 of the Laws of 2023.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.