Schumer: Black Sea Bass Fishing Season Extended for Long Island Anglers; Extension Comes After Schumer Pressed NOAA Administrator to Review Earlier Decision that Limited Season

Press Release

Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator has agreed to extend the fishing season for black sea bass. This decision comes after an April meeting that Schumer had with NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco over flawed catch data from 2009 that restricted the 2010 fishing season. In his meeting Schumer called for an expansion of the black sea bass fishing season in 2010.

"The decision to extend the Black Sea Bass fishing season is tremendous
news for Long Island fishing fans and the local economy," said Schumer.
"Long Island's fishing industry pumps untold millions of dollars into New York's economy each year, employs thousands of people on Long Island, is a fundamental part of our heritage, recreation and traditions, and is a major contributor to tourism."

The decision by NOAA to extend the fishing season for black sea bass will allow recreational anglers to continue their catches for an additional 90 days, a huge boon to the struggling Long Island recreational and charter boat fishing industries. The season will now run from May 22 to October 11 with an additional window from November 1 to December 31. The additional black sea bass fishing is crucial for the recreational fishing industry in New York which was suffering because of overly stringent summer flounder regulations. Black sea bass fishing is a very popular attraction once the shortened summer flounder season ends on Long Island. The size and bag limit will be 12-1/2 inches and 25 fish per angler.

Under the old regulations, the Black Sea Bass season was set to only run for approximately two months. Restrictions on the sea bass season were imposed based on flawed catch data from 2009. More recent data on sea bass catches proved that original estimates from 2009, which resulted in the lower catch quotas for 2010, were inaccurate. Schumer presented this data to Dr. Lubchenco in early May.

As of 2000, the overall economic contribution of sport and commercial fishing, as well as the seafood industry, pumped an estimated $11.5 billion into New York's economy. Today, the fishing industry in New York is reeling. The commercial fishing fleet in Greenport at one point numbered more than 30 boats, as of today there are only 2 boats. Montauk's popular "Viking" fleet of recreational boats is experiencing more than 30% in lost business, tackle and bait shops are on the verge of closing doors, and coastal downtowns are losing ancillary business.

Schumer has been a long-time advocate of Long Island's fishing industry. Recently he introduced legislation that would allow economic hardship to be included in a list of conditions considered when determining fishing limits.
"The bottom line is that we need better science and more precise data to guide the decisions that govern when our fishing community can fish. Today's decision to look at improved data and ease fishing restrictions is a move in the right direction," continued Schumer.

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