04-15-2008, 12:51 AM
Every two years the state modifies its fishing regulations and proposes new ones, then offers them to the Great Unwashed Masses for comment before they are instituted.
It's that time again. The Department of Environmental Conservation will accept public comment on the proposals until April 4.
Most of the proposals involve special regulations on specific bodies of water, none of which are in the Southern Tier. But a few of the proposals have statewide impact, such as:
* Prohibiting chumming with fish eggs to protect against fish being harvested specifically for purposes of taking eggs and using them as a method to aggregate and concentrate fish to assist in their fishing success.
* Clarifying what constitutes a "tip-up" by defining it as any device used for fishing through the ice that has a signaling device attached, except a bobber or other floating object on the water, that will visually or audibly signal a strike. The draft regulations also clarify tip-up restrictions.
* Prohibiting the sale of trout eggs to prevent the harvest of trout for the purposes of selling eggs for use in tributary fisheries by anglers.
* Establishing a specific list of bait fish to help clarify and define what bait fish species are acceptable for use.
* Removing American eel from the list of fish that can be spearfished to reduce fishing related mortality for American eels.
* Clarifying that "whitefish" in the Statewide Angling Regulations does not include round whitefish -- an endangered species in New York -- to reduce the likelihood of illegal harvest of round whitefish.
* Restricting the use of weight on the line, leader, swivels or artificial flies used in the Salmon River Fly Fishing only area to reduce snagging of salmonids and provide consistency to the Great Lakes regulations.
To request copies of the complete regulation proposals contact: Shaun Keeler at (518) 402-8920, by e-mail to sxkeeler@gw.dec.state.ny.us. The proposals will also be posted on DEC's Web site at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/34113.html.
Comments on the proposals may be submitted by e-mail to fishregs@gw.dec.state.ny.us or mailed to Shaun Keeler, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Fisheries, 625 Broadway, Albany, N.Y. 12233-4753. Final regulations, reflecting public comments, will go into effect Oct. 1.
It's that time again. The Department of Environmental Conservation will accept public comment on the proposals until April 4.
Most of the proposals involve special regulations on specific bodies of water, none of which are in the Southern Tier. But a few of the proposals have statewide impact, such as:
* Prohibiting chumming with fish eggs to protect against fish being harvested specifically for purposes of taking eggs and using them as a method to aggregate and concentrate fish to assist in their fishing success.
* Clarifying what constitutes a "tip-up" by defining it as any device used for fishing through the ice that has a signaling device attached, except a bobber or other floating object on the water, that will visually or audibly signal a strike. The draft regulations also clarify tip-up restrictions.
* Prohibiting the sale of trout eggs to prevent the harvest of trout for the purposes of selling eggs for use in tributary fisheries by anglers.
* Establishing a specific list of bait fish to help clarify and define what bait fish species are acceptable for use.
* Removing American eel from the list of fish that can be spearfished to reduce fishing related mortality for American eels.
* Clarifying that "whitefish" in the Statewide Angling Regulations does not include round whitefish -- an endangered species in New York -- to reduce the likelihood of illegal harvest of round whitefish.
* Restricting the use of weight on the line, leader, swivels or artificial flies used in the Salmon River Fly Fishing only area to reduce snagging of salmonids and provide consistency to the Great Lakes regulations.
To request copies of the complete regulation proposals contact: Shaun Keeler at (518) 402-8920, by e-mail to sxkeeler@gw.dec.state.ny.us. The proposals will also be posted on DEC's Web site at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/34113.html.
Comments on the proposals may be submitted by e-mail to fishregs@gw.dec.state.ny.us or mailed to Shaun Keeler, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Fisheries, 625 Broadway, Albany, N.Y. 12233-4753. Final regulations, reflecting public comments, will go into effect Oct. 1.