BILL NUMBER: S9681
SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
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 OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this to extend the ability for DEC to limit the number of
Jonah Crabs for commercial purposes.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill would extend, for two years, until December 31,
2026, the ability for the department of environmental conservation to
fix by regulation limits on the taking of Jonah Crabs for commercial
purposes.
 
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, 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:
This is a new bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.