SPEARFISHING LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
IN THE NYS ASSEMBLY AND SENATE!
You may recall that as the result of conversations that we had last year with NYS Assemblyman Fred Thiele, legislation was introduced into the NYS Assembly in the form of Legislative Bill A10109. This bill clarified current spearfishing regulations that were nearly impossible to interpret, and made it quite clear that spearfishing, and the use of spearguns, is a completely legal method of harvest for recreational fishing in the state of New York.
Due to scheduling considerations, this Bill was never brought up for vote during legislative session. We are therefore thrilled to announce that Assemblyman Thiele has reintroduced this Bill as Assembly Bill A05179. We are even more thrilled to announce that this Bill has also been introduced in the New York State Senate by co-sponsors Senator Lee Zeldin and Senator Kenneth LaValle as Senate Bill S03823.
Obviously, this is great news for spearfishers and divers, but is also great news for the environment. Spearfishing is widely recognized as the most sustainable method of harvesting fish, with virtually no excess mortality, and no by-catch. This is why we are also pleased to announce that progress is also being made on another spearfishing Bill that would allow existing commercial fishermen to choose to harvest a portion of their existing quota for Striped Bass through the use of spearguns, therefore reducing excess mortality and by-catch in that fishery. This Bill has been introduced in the NYS Assembly as A03890, and in the Senate as S03059.
We hope that you will contact your State Legislators to express your support for these Bills, and to thank your legislators for their support of the diving and fishing community.
Bill Pfeiffer
Editor
Northeast Dive News
