Extends the authority of the department of environmental conservation to manage sharks

2025 Regular Session

DEC gains power to regulate sharks in NY waters through 12/31/2029, including size, catch, seasons, gear, permits, and reporting, aligned with ASMFC and federal plans.

RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY

Summary of Bill A.11381 (2025-2026) — Extends the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to manage sharks

Purpose and intent

Extend and extend the DEC’s regulatory authority over shark management in New York waters.

Allow the department to adopt and enforce regulations governing sharks through December 31, 2029.

Coordinate with regional and federal fishery management frameworks to ensure consistency with existing plans.

Key provisions and changes

Amends Environmental Conservation Law, Section 13-0338, subdivision 4.

New regulatory window: The DEC may fix by regulation measures for shark management “until December thirty-first, two thousand [twenty-six] twenty-nine.” The bracketed text indicates a formal update to extend the deadline to 2029.

Regulatory scope includes:

Size limits for sharks
Catch and possession limits
Open and closed seasons
Closed areas
Restrictions on the manner of taking and landing
Permit requirements and eligibility
Recordkeeping requirements
Requirements on fishing effort and gear
Transportation, possession, and sale controls

Constraints and alignment:

Regulations must be no less restrictive than existing requirements in the Environmental Conservation Law.
Must be consistent with:
Applicable fishery management plans adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)
Applicable provisions of fishery management plans under the Federal Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. §1800 et seq.)

Who/what is affected

Shark fisheries and related activities in New York State waters and potentially adjacent jurisdictions where DEC-regulated shark management applies.

Shipper, fisher, dealer, and enforcement communities subject to DEC shark regulations (permits, reporting, gear restrictions, and sale/transport rules).

Stakeholders operating under ASMFC and federal fishery management plan frameworks will have to ensure DEC regulations align with those plans.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Regulatory horizon: DEC is empowered to implement shark management measures through December 31, 2029.

Legislative pathway: Passed by introduction in the Assembly; referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation.

Practical considerations

The bill provides the DEC with a clear, time-bound authority to regulate sharks, ensuring state-level rules can adapt within a framework that harmonizes with regional and federal management plans.

By requiring compatibility with ASMFC and federal fishery plans, the state aims to maintain consistency with broader conservation and harvest management objectives.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to current NY shark-related regulations or outline potential policy implications for stakeholders.