What's happening
This bill extends the state's authority to regulate commercial Jonah crab catches until 2028.
Why it matters
Directly affects commercial crab fishers and lobster license holders in New York. , particularly those working in coastal and Long Island Sound areas, by maintaining state-level oversight of how many Jonah crabs can be harvested.
Ensures continued alignment with broader regional and federal management plans. , meaning New York will keep its crab fishing regulations consistent with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and federal conservation standards, helping to prevent overfishing and support sustainable crab populations.
Extends a temporary regulatory authority rather than making it permanent. , signaling ongoing uncertainty or evaluation about the long-term approach to Jonah crab management and potentially affecting business planning and resource management for those in the commercial fishing industry through at least 2028.
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Who cares
Commercial Crab Fishers
This group cares because the extension directly affects their ability to legally harvest Jonah crabs for two more years, impacting their livelihoods and business planning.
Holders of New York Commercial Lobster Licenses
They are stakeholders since the regulations also apply to them, influencing how they manage their operations if they catch Jonah crabs as part of their activities.
State Environmental Regulators
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation and related agencies care because the bill extends their authority to regulate Jonah crab harvesting, ensuring alignment with broader fishery management plans.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission & Conservation Groups
These organizations are concerned with sustainable fisheries management and will care that state regulations remain consistent with interstate and federal conservation efforts.
Headline styles
Extend Jonah Crab Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A11377
- Ordered to third reading cal.1443
- 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.
Extend Jonah Crab Limits
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Judy Griffin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10566
IN SENATE
May 26, 2026
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 extending provisions related to the regulation of the amount of Jonah crabs that may be taken
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1-a of section 13-0331 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 260 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as follows:
1-a. The department may, until December thirty-first, two thousand [twenty-six] twenty-eight, fix by regulation the limit of Jonah crabs that may be taken for commercial purposes by commercial crab permit holders and by holders of New York commercial lobster licenses provided that such regulations shall be 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. section 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.
LBD15893-01-6
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 provisions related to the regulation of the amount of Jonah crabs that may be taken
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to extend the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to limit the number of Jonah crabs that may be taken for commercial purposes in the state.
Summary of provisions
Section one would extend for two years, until December 31, 2028, DEC's authority to limit the number of Jonah crabs that may be taken for commercial purposes in the state.
Section two establishes the effective date.
Justification
Jonah crabs are often caught as bycatch in lobster traps. Once consid- ered a nuisance and a pest that stole the bait in the traps now increased fishing pressure and market demand has led to a dramatic increase in the taking of the species.
Jonah crabs are not managed federally but instead are managed by indi- vidual states with interstate coordination by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. New York's role in this framework in central to the wholistic management of the species and allowing DEC to set commer- cial limits is the most fundamental tool in helping protect and manage this important species.
Prior legislative history
2024: S.9681 Martinez - A.10278 Lucas - Chapter 260.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
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.