Bill Text: NY K00998 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 21, 2022, as World Fish Migration Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2022-05-25 - adopted [K00998 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-K00998-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 998

BY: M. of A. Rules (Giglio JA)

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        May 21, 2022, as World Fish  Migration  Day  in  the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are  set  aside  to  increase  awareness  of  serious
environmental  issues  that  affect  the  lives  of citizens of New York
State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern  and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May  21,  2022,  as  World
Fish Migration Day in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  World Fish Migration Day (WFMD) culminates every two years
in a global celebration to create  awareness  about  the  importance  of
migratory fish and free-flowing rivers; this international day of events
is coordinated by the World Fish Migration Foundation; and

  WHEREAS,  On World Fish Migration Day, organizations from around the
world coordinate their own event around the common theme  of  Connecting
Fish,  Rivers  and  People;  this  year's  focus after years of a global
pandemic and lockdown is "Breaking Free"; and

  WHEREAS, With millions of man-made barriers  littering  the  world's
waterways,  migratory  fish  want to break free too; on May 21, 2022, we
will celebrate the hundreds of dam  removals  executed  and  planned  in
recent  years,  and  encourage  fish heroes far and wide to advocate for
free-flowing rivers, the removal of barriers, and the return  of  rivers
full of fish; and

  WHEREAS,  Migratory  fish  travel  throughout rivers to fulfil their
life cycles, some swimming more than 10,000  kilometers;  they  navigate
using  the currents and magnetic fields, as well as their sense of taste
and smell; and

  WHEREAS, Billions of people around the  world  depend  on  fish  for
food, sport, research and intrigue; however, many migratory fish species
are  critically  endangered  or threatened; the main causes are man-made
barriers which disrupt the natural flow  of  rivers  and  prevent  their
usual migratory routes; and

  WHEREAS,  Many  fish need to migrate to reproduce, feed and complete
their life cycles; migratory fish are a crucial link in the  food  chain
and  play  an  important  role  in creating healthy and productive river
systems; and

  WHEREAS, Furthermore, they provide  an  important  food  supply  and
livelihood for millions of people around the world; and

  WHEREAS,   Fish  are  ecologically,  culturally,  economically,  and
recreationally important, and we  must  ensure  the  survival  of  these
species  for  generations to come by bringing awareness about the plight

of migratory  fishes;  each  and  every  event  hosted  for  World  Fish
Migration  Day helps to shine light on the issues and brings us one step
closer to helping our rivers and fish Break Free; and

  WHEREAS,  The  main  goal  of  World  Fish  Migration Day is raising
awareness for migratory fish and  the  rivers  they  rely  on;  creating
awareness is an essential first step to make real change; and

  WHEREAS,  World  Fish  Migration  Day  seeks to improve the public's
understanding of the importance of migratory fish and how we can  reduce
our  impact  on  them;  by  taking  action,  we are creating sustainable
commitments  from  NGOs,  governments  and  industry   on   safeguarding
free-flowing rivers and restoring swimways for migratory fish; and

  WHEREAS,  It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious environmental issue, and more  must  be  done  to  increase
activity  at  the  local, state, national and international levels; now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to proclaim May 21, 2022, as World
Fish Migration Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  the  World Fish Migration Foundation; and The Honorable
Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.