N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 13-0341: Trawls; use prohibited in certain waters

§ 13-0341. Trawls; use prohibited in certain waters.

For the purposes of this chapter, a trawl shall be defined as a net

which is towed or dragged through the water column, capturing fish by

straining the water, but shall not include a seine which is used to

encircle fish. The term trawl shall include but not be limited to the

otter trawl, the beam trawl, the Paranzella or two-boat trawl, the pair

trawl, the Danish seine and the Scottish seine. Trawls shall not be set

or used in the water areas of the marine district described in the

following subdivisions:

1. In the waters of the county of Richmond and in the counties of

Kings or Queens, northerly and westerly of a line from the sea end of

the breakwater at Rockaway Point to Romer Shoal lighthouse, including

Jamaica Bay and its adjacent bays, inlets, creeks and basins.

2. a. In the Atlantic Ocean within one-half mile of the coastline and

in all connecting tidal waters inshore of the coastline, from Rockaway

Inlet Jetty at Rockaway Point to the Town of Babylon bathing pavilion at

Cedar Island Beach, and in all tidal waters inshore of a line from the

Town of Babylon bathing pavilion to the sea buoy (BW S-I, Bell) at the

entrance of Fire Island Inlet and thence to the seaward end of Fire

Island Inlet Jetty at Democrat Point.

b. Seaward of Rockaway Inlet within an arc with a radius of one and

one-half miles measured from the point at 40Á32.4' N latitude, 73Á56.5'

W longitude, which is at or near the most southerly terminus of the

Rockaway Inlet Jetty at Rockaway Point.

c. Seaward of East Rockaway Inlet within an arc with a radius of one

and one-half miles measured from the point at 40Á34.9' N latitude,

73Á45.3' W longitude, which is at or near the most southerly terminus of

the East Rockaway Inlet Jetty at Silver Point.

d. Seaward of Jones Inlet within an arc with a radius of two miles

measured from the point at 40Á34.4' N latitude, 73Á34.6' W longitude,

which is at or near the most southerly terminus of the East (Short Beach

side) Inlet Jetty, during the period January 1 through June 14.

e. Seaward of Fire Island Inlet within an arc with a radius of two

miles measured from the point at 40Á37.2' N latitude, 73Á18.4' W

longitude, which is at or near the most southerly terminus of the Fire

Island Inlet Jetty at Democrat Point, during the period January 1

through June 14.

3. In Mecox Inlet within one-half mile of the narrowest part of the

mouth of such inlet and seaward of Moriches and Shinnecock Inlets within

separate arcs each with a radius of one and one-half miles measured from

a point for Moriches Inlet at 40Á45.4' N latitude, 72Á45.2' W longitude,

and for Shinnecock Inlet at 40Á50.2' N latitude, 72Á28.3' W longitude,

which points are midway between the points at the most southerly termini

of the east and west jetties at the entrance to each inlet.

4. In the Harlem River and the East River east of the Robert F.

Kennedy Bridge and in Long Island Sound west of a line drawn from

Hewlett's (King's) Point to the north end of Hart Island, thence to the

south end of Glen Island, and in their adjacent bays, coves, creeks and

confluent waters.

5. In Flanders Bay, Great Peconic Bay, Little Peconic Bay, Noyac Bay

and Shelter Island Sound, including all waters forming a part thereof or

tributary thereto, lying westerly of an imaginary line extending from

the most southerly point of Orient State Park to the most easterly point

of Shelter Island, also known as Ram Head, and from this point in a

generally southerly direction to the most northerly point of Cedar

Point, including all of Orient Harbor, Hallock Bay and Northwest Harbor.

6. In the county of Suffolk in the waters lying westerly of an

imaginary line extending in a southerly direction from the most easterly

end of Plum Island to the most northerly end of Gardiners Island, and

westerly of Gardiners Island, and westerly of a line extending in a

southerly direction from the most southerly end of Gardiners Island to

Goff Point; provided, however, that vessels and motorboats owned and

operated by citizens who are residents of the state may be used in such

waters in connection with the operation of trawls and other types of

nets towed by such boats and vessels. Nothing in this subdivision shall

be construed as legalizing the operation of any trawls in the waters

described in subdivision 5 of this section.

7. In Long Island Sound, including all waters forming a part thereof

or which are tributary thereto: a. west of an imaginary line from the

New York-Connecticut boundary shore line extending easterly and

southerly to Eaton's Point Neck on Long Island from April 1 to November

1.

b. South of a line from Hewlett Point on Great Neck eastward to Sands

Point on Manhassett Neck, then to Matinicock Point, then to Oak Neck

Point, then to Rocky Point at Centre Island, then to Lloyd Point, then

to Eaton's Neck Point, buoy 13, then to buoy "1" (privately maintained)

off the Northport Power Plant, then to buoy "NR" off the north of the

Nissequogue river, then to buoy "1" off Stony Brook Harbor, and then to

Crane Neck Point.

c. In the Nissequogue River.

d. Within Stony Brook Harbor.

e. Within one-half mile of the shore between an imaginary line

extending north from Crane Neck Point and an imaginary line extending

north from the shore intersect of the Riverhead-Brookhaven town line

near Wading River, including all bays, harbors and tributaries landward

thereof, including Port Jefferson Harbor, Conscience Bay, Setauket

Harbor and Mount Sinai Harbor.

f. Within one mile of the shore of Fishers Island, or between the

shore of Fishers Island and the Connecticut-New York State boundary line

wherever such boundary line is within less than one mile of the shore of

Fishers Island.

8. In the waters of the Great South Bay, Moriches Bay and Shinnecock

Bay, including all tidal waters and all waters forming a part thereof or

tributary thereto.

9. The department is authorized to adopt regulations prescribing the

minimum size net mesh, and the manner in which such nets may be

possessed and used, in trawl fisheries for summer and winter flounder.