Bill Text: NY S05086 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to the regulation of commercial fishing licenses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-08-03 - SIGNED CHAP.383 [S05086 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-S05086-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 5086 2011-2012 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E May 3, 2011 ___________ Introduced by Sens. JOHNSON, GRISANTI -- 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 commercial fishing licenses THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Section 13-0328 of the environmental conservation law, as 2 amended by chapter 366 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as 3 follows: 4 S 13-0328. Commercial licenses; limited entry. 5 1. Commercial food fish licenses. Commercial food fish licenses 6 provided for by section 13-0335 of this title shall be issued as 7 follows: 8 a. [for the period beginning July first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine 9 and ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine, the 10 following persons shall be eligible to be issued a commercial food fish 11 license: 12 (i) persons who held a valid commercial food fish license in nineteen 13 hundred ninety-eight; 14 (ii) persons who held a valid commercial food fish license in nineteen 15 hundred ninety-six but not in nineteen hundred ninety-seven; and 16 (iii) persons who submitted applications to the department during the 17 period commencing January first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine and ending 18 on the effective date of this section and who were eligible to receive 19 such license but had not been issued such license during such period. 20 b.] for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE 21 through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number 22 of [residential] RESIDENT commercial food fish licenses and the number 23 of [non-residential] NON-RESIDENT commercial food fish licenses shall 24 not exceed the following annual limits: EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD11226-01-1 S. 5086 2 1 (i) [for two thousand four, the number of licenses shall be limited to 2 the greater of the number of licenses issued in two thousand two or the 3 number of licenses issued in two thousand three; 4 (ii) for two thousand five, the number of licenses shall be limited to 5 the number of licenses issued in two thousand four, plus fifty percent 6 of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two thousand 7 four and the limit established in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph; 8 (iii) for two thousand six, the number of licenses shall be limited to 9 the number of licenses issued in two thousand five, plus fifty percent 10 of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two thousand 11 five and the limit established in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph; 12 (iv) for two thousand seven, the number of licenses shall be limited 13 to the number of licenses issued in two thousand six, plus fifty percent 14 of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two thousand 15 six and the limit established in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph; 16 (v)] for two thousand [eight] TWELVE, the number of licenses shall be 17 limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand [seven] ELEVEN, 18 plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of licenses 19 issued in two thousand [seven] ELEVEN and [the limit established in 20 subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph] ONE THOUSAND FIFTY-THREE; 21 [(vi)] (II) for two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN, the number of licenses 22 shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand 23 [eight] TWELVE, plus fifty percent of any difference between the number 24 of licenses issued in two thousand [eight] TWELVE and the limit estab- 25 lished in subparagraph [(v)] (I) of this paragraph; 26 [(vii)] (III) for two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN, the number of licenses 27 shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand [nine] 28 THIRTEEN, plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of 29 licenses issued in two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN and the limit estab- 30 lished in subparagraph [(vi)] (II) of this paragraph; 31 [(viii)] (IV) for two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number of 32 licenses shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thou- 33 sand [ten] FOURTEEN, plus fifty percent of any difference between the 34 number of licenses issued in two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN and the limit 35 established in subparagraph [(vii)] (III) of this paragraph. 36 [c.] B. for the period beginning January first, two thousand TWELVE 37 through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, persons 38 who were issued a commercial food fish license in the previous year 39 shall be eligible to be issued such license. 40 [d.] C. for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] 41 TWELVE through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the 42 department shall issue commercial food fish licenses to persons who were 43 not issued such license in the previous year provided that the total 44 number of such licenses issued to such persons does not exceed the 45 difference between the number of licenses established in paragraph [b] A 46 of this subdivision and the number of such licenses issued pursuant to 47 paragraph [c] B of this subdivision, subject to the following: 48 (i) licenses shall be issued in the order in which the applications 49 were received, except that where multiple applications are received by 50 the department on the same day, applicants for whom the department has 51 received notice of successful completion of an apprenticeship pursuant 52 to subdivision seven of this section shall be considered by the depart- 53 ment prior to other applicants; 54 (ii) licenses may be issued to individuals only; 55 (iii) licenses shall be issued to applicants who are sixteen years of 56 age or older at the time of the application; and S. 5086 3 1 (iv) licenses shall be issued only to persons who demonstrate in a 2 manner acceptable to the department that they received an average of at 3 least fifteen thousand dollars of income over three consecutive years 4 from commercial fishing or fishing, or who successfully complete a 5 commercial food fish apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of 6 this section. As used in this subparagraph, "commercial fishing" means 7 the taking and sale of marine resources including fish, shellfish, crus- 8 tacea or other marine biota and "fishing" means commercial fishing and 9 carrying fishing passengers for hire. Individuals who wish to qualify 10 based on income from "fishing" must hold a valid marine and coastal 11 district party and charter boat license. No more than ten percent of the 12 licenses issued each year based on income eligibility pursuant to this 13 paragraph shall be issued to applicants who qualify based solely upon 14 income derived from operation of or employment by a party or charter 15 boat. 16 2. Commercial lobster permits. Commercial lobster permits provided for 17 by section 13-0329 of this title shall be issued as follows: 18 [a. for the period beginning July first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine 19 and ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine, the 20 following persons shall be eligible to be issued a commercial lobster 21 permit: 22 (i) persons who held a valid commercial lobster permit in nineteen 23 hundred ninety-eight; 24 (ii) persons who held a valid commercial lobster permit in nineteen 25 hundred ninety-six but not in nineteen hundred ninety-seven; and 26 (iii) persons who submitted applications to the department during the 27 period commencing January first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine and ending 28 on the effective date of this section and who were eligible to receive 29 such permit but had not been issued such permit during such period. 30 b.] for the period beginning January first, two thousand TWELVE, 31 through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, only 32 persons who were issued a commercial lobster permit in the previous year 33 shall be eligible to be issued such permit. 34 3. Commercial crab permits. Commercial crab permits provided for by 35 section 13-0331 of this title shall be issued as follows: 36 a. [for the period beginning July first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine 37 and ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine, the 38 following persons shall be eligible to be issued a commercial crab 39 permit: 40 (i) persons who held a valid commercial crab permit in nineteen 41 hundred ninety-eight; 42 (ii) persons who held a valid commercial crab permit in nineteen 43 hundred ninety-six but not in nineteen hundred ninety-seven; and 44 (iii) persons who submitted applications to the department during the 45 period commencing January first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine and ending 46 on the effective date of this section and who were eligible to receive 47 such permit but had not been issued such permit during such period. 48 b.] for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE 49 through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number 50 of [residential] RESIDENT commercial crab permits and the number of 51 [non-residential] NON-RESIDENT commercial crab permits shall not exceed 52 the following annual limits: 53 (i) [for two thousand four, the number of permits shall be limited to 54 the greater of the number of permits issued in two thousand two or the 55 number of permits issued in two thousand three; S. 5086 4 1 (ii) for two thousand five, the number of permits shall be limited to 2 the number of permits issued in two thousand four, plus fifty percent of 3 any difference between the number of permits issued in two thousand four 4 and the limit established in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph; 5 (iii) for two thousand six, the number of permits shall be limited to 6 the number of permits issued in two thousand five, plus fifty percent of 7 any difference between the number of permits issued in two thousand five 8 and the limit established in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph; 9 (iv) for two thousand seven, the number of licenses shall be limited 10 to the number of permits issued in two thousand six, plus fifty percent 11 of any difference between the number of permits issued in two thousand 12 six and the limit established in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph; 13 (v)] for two thousand [eight] TWELVE, the number of permits shall be 14 limited to the number of permits issued in two thousand [seven] ELEVEN, 15 plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of permits 16 issued in two thousand [seven] ELEVEN and [the limit established in 17 subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph] SIX HUNDRED SIXTEEN; 18 [(vi)] (II) for two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN, the number of permits 19 shall be limited to the number of permits issued in two thousand [eight] 20 TWELVE, plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of 21 permits issued in two thousand [eight] TWELVE and the limit established 22 in subparagraph [(v)] (I) of this paragraph; 23 [(vii)] (III) for two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN, the number of permits 24 shall be limited to the number of permits issued in two thousand [nine] 25 THIRTEEN, plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of 26 permits issued in two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN and the limit established 27 in subparagraph [(vi)] (II) of this paragraph; 28 [(viii)] (IV) for two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number of permits 29 shall be limited to the number of permits issued in two thousand [ten] 30 FOURTEEN, plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of 31 permits issued in two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN and the limit established 32 in subparagraph [(vii)] (III) of this paragraph. 33 [c.] B. for the period beginning January first, two thousand TWELVE 34 through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, persons 35 who were issued a commercial crab permit in the previous year shall be 36 eligible to be issued such permit. 37 [d.] C. for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] 38 TWELVE through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the 39 department shall issue commercial crab permits to persons who were not 40 issued such permit in the previous year provided that the total number 41 of such permits issued to such persons does not exceed the difference 42 between the number of permits established in paragraph [b] A of this 43 subdivision and the number of such permits issued pursuant to paragraph 44 [c] B of this subdivision, subject to the following: 45 (i) permits shall be issued in the order in which the applications 46 were received, except that where multiple applications are received by 47 the department on the same day, applicants for whom the department has 48 received notice of successful completion of an apprenticeship pursuant 49 to subdivision seven of this section shall be considered by the depart- 50 ment prior to other applicants; 51 (ii) permits may be issued to individuals only; 52 (iii) permits shall be issued to applicants who are sixteen years of 53 age or older at the time of the application; and 54 (iv) permits shall be issued only to persons who demonstrate in a 55 manner acceptable to the department that they received an average of at 56 least fifteen thousand dollars of income over three consecutive years S. 5086 5 1 from commercial fishing or fishing, or who successfully complete an 2 apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section. As used in 3 this subparagraph, "commercial fishing" means the taking and sale of 4 marine resources including fish, shellfish, crustacea or other marine 5 biota and "fishing" means commercial fishing and carrying fishing 6 passengers for hire. Individuals who wish to qualify based on income 7 from "fishing" must hold a valid marine and coastal district party and 8 charter boat license. No more than ten percent of the permits issued 9 each year based on income eligibility pursuant to this paragraph shall 10 be issued to applicants who qualify based upon income derived from oper- 11 ation of or employment by a party or charter boat. 12 4. Commercial whelk or conch licenses. Commercial whelk or conch 13 licenses provided for by section 13-0330 of this title shall be issued 14 as follows: 15 a. for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE 16 through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number 17 of [residential] RESIDENT commercial whelk or conch licenses and the 18 number of [non-residential] NON-RESIDENT commercial whelk or conch 19 licenses shall not exceed the following annual limits: 20 (i) [for two thousand four, the number of licenses shall be limited to 21 three hundred or the number of licenses issued in two thousand three, 22 whichever is greater; 23 (ii) for two thousand five, the number of licenses shall be limited to 24 the number of licenses issued in two thousand four, plus fifty percent 25 of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two thousand 26 four and the limit established in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph; 27 (iii) for two thousand six, the number of licenses shall be limited to 28 the number of licenses issued in two thousand five, plus fifty percent 29 of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two thousand 30 five and the limit established in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph; 31 (iv) for two thousand seven, the number of licenses shall be limited 32 to the number of licenses issued in two thousand six, plus fifty percent 33 of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two thousand 34 six and the limit established in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph; 35 (v)] for two thousand [eight] TWELVE, the number of licenses shall be 36 limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand [seven] ELEVEN, 37 plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of licenses 38 issued in two thousand [seven] ELEVEN and [the limit established in 39 subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph] TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-ONE; 40 [(vi)] (II) for two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN, the number of licenses 41 shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand 42 [eight] TWELVE, plus fifty percent of any difference between the number 43 of licenses issued in two thousand [eight] TWELVE and the limit estab- 44 lished in subparagraph [(v)] (I) of this paragraph; 45 [(vii)] (III) for two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN, the number of licenses 46 shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand [nine] 47 THIRTEEN, plus fifty percent of any difference between the number of 48 licenses issued in two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN and the limit estab- 49 lished in subparagraph [(vi)] (II) of this paragraph; 50 [(viii)] (IV) for two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number of 51 licenses shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thou- 52 sand [ten] FOURTEEN, plus fifty percent of any difference between the 53 number of licenses issued in two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN and the limit 54 established in subparagraph [(vii)] (III) of this paragraph. 55 b. for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE 56 through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, persons S. 5086 6 1 who were issued a commercial whelk or conch license in the previous year 2 shall be eligible to be issued such license. 3 c. for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE 4 through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, persons 5 who were not issued a commercial whelk or conch license in the previous 6 year shall be eligible to be issued such license provided that the total 7 number of such licenses issued to such persons shall not exceed the 8 difference between the number of licenses established in paragraph a of 9 this subdivision and the number of such licenses issued pursuant to 10 paragraph b of this subdivision, subject to the following: 11 (i) licenses shall be issued in the order in which the applications 12 were received, except that where multiple applications are received by 13 the department on the same day, applicants for whom the department has 14 received notice of successful completion of an apprenticeship pursuant 15 to subdivision seven of this section shall be considered by the depart- 16 ment prior to other applicants; 17 (ii) licenses may be issued to individuals only; 18 (iii) licenses shall be issued to applicants who are sixteen years of 19 age or older at the time of the application; and 20 (iv) licenses shall be issued only to persons who demonstrate in a 21 manner acceptable to the department that they received an average of at 22 least fifteen thousand dollars of income over three consecutive years 23 from commercial fishing or fishing, or who successfully complete an 24 apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section. As used in 25 this subparagraph, "commercial fishing" means the taking and sale of 26 marine resources including fish, shellfish, crustacea or other marine 27 biota and "fishing" means commercial fishing and carrying fishing 28 passengers for hire. Individuals who wish to qualify based on income 29 from "fishing" must hold a valid marine and coastal district party and 30 charter boat license. No more than ten percent of the licenses issued 31 each year pursuant to this paragraph shall be issued to applicants who 32 qualify based upon income derived from operation of or employment by a 33 party or charter boat. 34 5. Marine and coastal district party and charter boat licenses. Marine 35 and coastal district party and charter boat licenses provided for by 36 section 13-0336 of this title shall be issued as follows, except that 37 this subdivision shall not apply to the owner or operator of a party 38 boat or charter boat whose vessel is classified by the United States 39 Coast Guard as an Inspected Passenger Vessel and which is licensed to 40 carry more than six passengers: 41 a. [for the years two thousand eight through two thousand eleven, the] 42 THE annual number of marine and coastal district party and charter boat 43 licenses issued shall not exceed [the number issued in two thousand 44 seven by more than one hundred licenses] FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN. 45 b. [for the years two thousand eight through two thousand eleven, 46 persons] PERSONS who were issued a marine and coastal district party and 47 charter boat license in the previous year shall be eligible to be issued 48 such license. 49 c. [for the years two thousand eight through two thousand eleven, the] 50 THE department shall issue marine and coastal district party and charter 51 boat licenses to persons who were not issued such license in the previ- 52 ous year, provided that the total number of [such] licenses issued [to 53 such persons] does not exceed [the difference between the annual limit 54 established in paragraph a of this subdivision and the number of such 55 licenses issued in the previous year pursuant to paragraph b of this 56 subdivision] FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN, subject to the following: S. 5086 7 1 (i) licenses shall be issued in the order in which the applications 2 were received; 3 (ii) licenses shall be issued only to persons who hold an Uninspected 4 Passenger Vessel license issued by the United States Coast Guard. 5 6. License or permit reissuance. 6 a. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions one, two, three and 7 four of this section, the department may permit reissuance of a license 8 or permit to a member of the immediate family of the prior holder of 9 such license or permit; provided that the individual to whom the license 10 or permit is being reissued is at least sixteen years of age. The 11 department may permit a license or permit holder to designate in writing 12 a member of his or her immediate family to whom the license or permit 13 shall be reissued in the event that the license or permit holder dies 14 prior to surrendering his or her license or permit to the department. 15 b. In the event that a designated immediate family member does not 16 wish to engage in the commercial fishing activities authorized by such 17 license or permit, the department may permit such person to identify an 18 alternate person to whom the license or permit shall be reissued. The 19 department is authorized to adopt regulations concerning the reissuance 20 of licenses or permits pursuant to this subdivision. 21 [b.] C. The holder of a reissued license or permit shall engage in the 22 activity authorized by the license or permit within three years of the 23 reissuance date. If the license or permit holder fails to engage in such 24 activity during the three years following reissuance, the license or 25 permit shall lapse at the end of the three year period and shall not be 26 renewed unless the department, in its discretion, determines that the 27 license or permit holder's inactivity was justified by significant hard- 28 ship or unavoidable circumstances. 29 7. Commercial license apprenticeship program. The department is 30 authorized to adopt regulations establishing an apprenticeship program 31 for persons who wish to obtain a commercial crab permit pursuant to 32 section 13-0331 of this title, a commercial food fish license pursuant 33 to section 13-0335 of this title or a commercial whelk (conch) license 34 pursuant to section 13-0330 of this title. Upon successful completion of 35 the apprenticeship program, a person shall become eligible to receive a 36 commercial crab permit, commercial food fish license or a commercial 37 whelk (conch) license, as applicable, subject to the provisions of para- 38 graph [d] C of subdivision one, paragraph [d] C of subdivision three, 39 and paragraph c of subdivision four of this section, respectively. 40 S 2. This act shall take effect December 31, 2011.